This success story for Seychelles, and for the conservation and eco-tourism world in general, is the result of a rigorous carbon footprint assessment, assurance process and investment in high-quality “carbon credits” to offset the footprint.

Nature Seychelles, the national body that runs the reserve, will highlight this status at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Tourism Expo – to celebrate tourism and biodiversity during World Tourism Day and Week – to be held today at the International Conference Centre.
 
In attendance will be British high commissioner Matthew Forbes, Seychelles Tourism Board chief executive Alain St Ange, who will be opening the Expo, and other invited guests. The British High Commission in Seychelles funded the carbon footprint assessment.

Cousin Special Reserve welcomes thousands of eco-tourists each year. Recognising the environmental impact of these visitors on the island – most of them having flown from Europe and reached the island by boat – and after media reports in Europe urging people not to travel to long-haul destinations, Nature Seychelles decided to make the reserve carbon-neutral.

“We initiated a process that involved measuring all the emissions associated with the island, reviewing opportunities for ongoing reductions and investing in carbon credits from a clean cook stove project in Sudan,” said Kerstin Henri, Nature Seychelles’ director for strategic operations.
 
Nirmal Shah, Nature Seychelles’ chief executive, added: “After seeing European media reports – and one in particular which was reported on locally and had as its title Sylt not Seychelles – we wanted our eco-visitors to come to Cousin conscience-free, knowing their carbon footprint has been neutralised.”

Carbon Clear – a leading carbon management company – measured the reserve's carbon footprint by looking at various activities associated with visitor arrivals on Cousin and its operations. The calculations of the footprint also recognised the contribution of the reforestation programme on the island.
 
Since 1968 the island has been restored, with the result that 85% is covered by natural tropical vegetation. Based on available scientific information, the amount of annual carbon that the island can absorb was netted off against the footprint.

The rest of the footprint was offset using carbon credits bought from a carefully selected and independently verified clean cook stove project in Darfur, Sudan, thus reducing the island’s emissions to net zero.
 
Offsetting by buying carbon credits is internationally accepted as a way of reducing carbon footprints.

“We did not want to purchase credits over the internet or invest in just any generic scheme. The process we initiated lasted about 15 months but provided a verifiable and assured result,” said Mr Shah.

And although this activity was voluntary, an assurance was undertaken with Nexia, Smith and Williamson – a European assurance and audit firm – to certify that both the measurement and offsetting process had been conducted to the highest standards.
 
Congratulating the organisation on the steps it has taken to make Cousin Island Special Reserve carbon-neutral, Carbon Clear’s chief executive Mark Chadwick said: “Nature Seychelles has taken an unprecedented step not only in taking conservation to the next level by going carbon-neutral, but also in seeking an independent audit of its footprint by Carbon Clear and then having the process independently assured.
 
“This commitment speaks volumes about the integrity and care with which the team at Nature Seychelles and Cousin island go about protecting and enhancing the environment.”

Nature Seychelles is a multiple award-winning, non-profit environmental organisation involved in a wide range of activities to improve environmental standards.

Conservation activities on the reserve include monitoring the island’s biodiversity, research, reintroducing endangered species such as the Seychelles magpie robin, eco-tourism and education. Cousin has received international awards for its conservation and eco-tourism efforts.

Forrás: http://www.nation.sc/