Protecting the rare and unknown: Continued exploration of Silhouette’s key biodiversity hotspots (KBAs) by ICS |28 September 2026

Figure 2. The ICS team encountered a rarely observed Bouskiya (Trilepisium gymnandrum) tree in flower and fruit during a July 2026 KBA exploration. © Jean-Pierre Barrallon / ICS.

Protecting the rare and unknown: Continued exploration of Silhouette’s key biodiversity hotspots (KBAs) by ICS

Ever heard of KBAs? KBAs stand for Key Biodiversity Areas – a global approach for identifying places that are particularly important for biodiversity. These areas are identified because they support species, ecosystems or ecological processes of significant conservation importance. In Seychelles, KBA assessments received significant attention through a major national project carried out between 2011 and 2013, involving local NGOs, government officers, taxonomic specialists and regional and international researchers. The Government of Seychelles–UNDP–GEF programme funded the project. The objective was to identify areas of exceptional biodiversity and conservation importance across the main granitic islands, including Mahé, Praslin, Silhouette and La Digue.

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