(Posted 23rd October 2026)
The Seychelles presently protects 48% of her land areas and 32% of the vast ocean territory under her control.
The 2026 State of Biodiversity Action report, published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, says Seychelles has exceeded the international target to conserve at least 30% of land and sea areas by 2030 and been cited as a model of excellence. It was also named an example for global leadership and other island states and countries bordering oceans were urged to follow this impressive example.
“Seychelles has demonstrated how a small island developing State can strengthen biodiversity conservation through integrated governance, legal reform and ecosystem-based spatial planning,” the report says.
It highlights the country’s “ridge-to-reef” approach, which connects the management of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems under a common policy framework.
The report credits the Nature Reserves and Conservancy Act of 2022 and Seychelles’ marine spatial plan of 2025 with modernising conservation legislation and incorporating ecosystem-based management into national planning.
National ministries and agencies have coordinated legal reforms, conservation assessments, the expansion of protected areas and evaluations of management effectiveness. The marine spatial planning process also involved scientific analysis and extensive stakeholder engagement, according to the publication.
The measures cover forests, coastal habitats, coral reefs, seagrass ecosystems and offshore marine environments. Actions include identifying ecologically important areas, establishing ecological corridors and designating seasonal protection zones for threatened species.
“These measures have exceeded the global ‘30×30’ conservation targets, achieving protection and conservation coverage of 48.1% of terrestrial areas and 32.6% of marine areas under the jurisdiction of Seychelles,” the report goes on to state.
The report, the first comprehensive global assessment of collective progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, is being considered at the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP17, taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, from October 19th to 30th.
In its broader assessment, the report warns that formally designating protected areas does not automatically ensure effective conservation. Countries may meet numerical coverage targets while lacking the personnel, management plans or operational oversight needed to protect those areas effectively.
