Frégate Island Private establishes Indian Ocean’s largest nursery for endemic trees
The Seychelles’ leading luxury eco-retreat, Frégate Island Private has celebrated planting the 100,000th tree since reforestation of the island began 11 years ago. The milestone was achieved as part of a renewed phase of reforestation on Frégate Island, an initiative that by the end of 2009 will see another 30,000 hardwood seedlings planted in what is already the Indian Ocean’s largest endemic tree nursery.
Frégate’s 100,000th tree is an endemic ficus, a type of fig tree which can reach heights of up to 15-20 metres, and is ideally suited to the rocky terrain where it was planted. The nursery includes a sweeping range of endemic tree and shrub species, from the Portia tree (Thespesia Populnea) and Pisonia grandis of the Bougainvillea family to the rare Mimuspos Seychellarum and the peculiarly-named Snottygobbles (Cordia Subcordata)! Perennials are planted on a daily basis, while two new trees are also planted for every new guest arrival.
Saplings from the nursery are transplanted to suitable locations around the island once they have grown sufficiently strong. This helps to create flourishing habitats for Frégate’s indigenous birdlife, including the endangered Seychelles White Eye and Magpie Robin; the Blue Pigeon; and the Fairy Tern. Improved tree cover in turn helps to propagate the dense leafy undergrowth in which Frégate’s most venerable inhabitants, the unique Giant Tenebrionid beetle and giant Aldabra tortoises, can thrive.
The ongoing rehabilitation of its unique natural environment is at the very heart of Frégate’s raison d’etre; it is a project that will span generations, with many thousands more indigenous trees required to fully restore the island to its ‘natural’ level of forestation. Nevertheless, the successful preservation and nurturing of the island’s unique flora and fauna to date is one of the proudest achievements of
Frégate’s ecology team. Man’s arrival in the 17th century heralded the inevitable introduction of damaging invasive species and eventually saw the landscape transformed by extensive coconut and cinnamon monoculture. In 1995, the Frégate Island Ecological Programme was established to halt this process and repair the damage, and stands today as a leading example of how to create a balanced coexistence between man and nature.
Seasons in Style (01244 202 000; www.seasonsinstyle.com) offers six nights for the price of five at Frégate Island Private from £9,735 per person, based on two sharing a one bedroom villa on a full board basis. Includes flights with Air Seychelles and in-resort helicopter transfers. Valid 15 May - 31 July 2010 and 1-30 September 2010.
