NPTS is actively involved in plant conservation through biodiversity surveys, ecological research and conservation on Silhouette island.

Research

NPTS is interested in contributing to the understanding of the origins, relationships and conservation status of Seychelles plants. Important aspects of research on these issues are population gnetics and phylogeography. In order to facilitate such research NPTS is able to provide samples of Acacia cf. pennata, Achyrospermum seychellarum, Asystasia cf. gangetica, Hypoxidia rhizophylla, Malaxis seychellensis, Morinda citriflolia, Piper seychellarum, Platylepis goodyeroides, Platylepis sechellensis, Pseuderanthemum tunicatum, Rapanea seychellarum, Seychellaria thomasseti and Trilepisium gynandrum.

Collaboration

The NPTS has carried out studies of the genetics of Seychelles plants in collaboration with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.  This has included the endemic plants Rothmannia annae and the Seychelles Gastonia species (G. crassa, G. lionneti and G. seychellarum).

We have collaborated with Aride Island Special Reserve and the Seychelles Botanic Gardens in re-establishing the endangered Wright's gardenia Rothmannia annae on Silhouette island. 100 years ago this species was found on several islands but is now restricted to Aride island where 900 trees survive. The first saplings of this species were planted on Silhouette in January and June 2001. Flowering first occurred in late 2006.

We have been working on the conservation of the Critically Endangered Impatiens gordonii with the Seychelles Botanic Gardens and the Eden Project. This species has only been recorded on Mahé and Silhouette islands. For many years it was thought to be extinct but two plants were rediscovered on Mahé. In 1995 a population of some 200 plants was found on Silhouette. We established a new population on Silhouette and carried out research aimed at improving the prospects of this species. The resutls of this work were published in 2011 in Conservation Evidence.

On Silhouette new populations of rare endemic species were established unti this work came to an end with the eviction of conservationists fromt he island. We are conducting research into the diversity of Seychelles ferns and plan more conservation and research projects for the future.

NPTS work on Angiosperm species of importance on Silhouette

Family	Species	Seychelles status	IUCN category	NPTS work
Acanthaceae	Pseuderanthemum aff. tunicatum	endemic? Silhouette only	-	new populations
Apocynaceae	Carissa spinarum	Silhouette only	-	propagation
Arialaceae	Gastonia seychellarum	endemic	Vu	propagation
Balsaminaceae	Impatiens gordonii	endemic	-	new populations
Labiatae	Achyrospermum seychellarum	endemic, Silhouette only	Cr	new populations
Moraceae	Trilepisium gymnandrum	endemic, Silhouette only	Cr	new populations
Myrsinaceae	Rapanea seychellarum	endemic	Cr	monitoring
Nepenthaceae	Nepenthes pervillei	endemic	Vu	monitoring
Nyctaginaceae	Pisonia sechellarum	Silhouette endemic	En	monitoring
Piperaceae	Piper seychellarum	Silhouette endemic	Vu	research
Rubiaceae	Psychotria silhouettae	Silhouette endemic	Cr	research
	Rothmannia annae	endemic	Vu	reintroduction
Sapotaceae	Mimusops seychellarum	endemic	Vu	propagation
	Northea hornei	endemic	Vu	propagation
Palmae	Lodoicea maldivica	endemic	Vu	management
Triuridaceae	Seychellaria thomassetii	endemic	Vu	research