Seychelles

Seychelles is an island nation and archipelago state consisting of 115 islands with lush tropical vegetation, beautiful beaches and abundant marine life in the western Indian Ocean. With 42% of its territory set aside for conservation, Seychelles is one of the world's leaders in protecting land for endangered species. As is the case with many fragile island ecosystems, the Seychelles experienced a loss of biodiversity during the first human settlement, with most of the giant tortoises disappearing from the granitic islands. Nowadays, Seychelles is renowned for its successes in protecting its flora and fauna. The country's national bird, the rare Seychelles Black Parrot, is now protected. Between 1500 and the mid-1800s, the then-unknown giant tortoise of Aldabra was hunted for food by pirates and sailors, causing its numbers to plummet to near-extinction levels. Nowadays, a healthy but fragile population of about 150,000 tortoises lives solely on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed atoll of Aldabra One of the most notable conservation efforts in Seychelles is the protection of its coral reefs, which are home to an incredible array of marine life, including sea turtles, rays, and colorful fish. The country has established several marine national parks and reserves, covering an area of 3887 square kilometers, to safeguard these delicate ecosystems. Additionally, Seychelles has implemented sustainable fishing practices, ensuring the long-term health of its marine ecosystem. Seychelles is also at the forefront of renewable energy, with a goal of generating 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050.