The Minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport was there to sign the Designation Order protecting the island after President James Michel had opened it as a national park.

The order now ensures legal protection of 93% of the 20-square kilometre Silhouette island, saving its unique frogs, snails, geckos and plant species.

Silhouette is free from predatory tenreks – found in plenty on many of the other islands – so animals and insects like the Gardiner’s frog (Sooglossus gardineri), the large centipede and other species found nowhere else on earth are safe there.

The island also hosts the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat (Coleura seychellensis), several species of rare orchids, a unique type of pepper and at least two other endemic plant species, experts said on Saturday.

“Silhouette harbours many interesting historical secrets worth discovering and protecting,” said Mr Morgan.

“With the legal protection provided by the national park status, these will now be protected by law.”

Mr Morgan said Silhouette is well known worldwide for hosting an exceptional biodiversity with many unique species of plants and animals.

“All these thrive within remnants of the ancient forests,” he said, adding that even though the government – through its relevant agencies and in partnership with the private sector – spearheads the process of protecting our environment, it is the inhabitants of each community that have the vital role of managing and maintaining their environment.

“I therefore appeal to the inhabitants of Silhouette to take the lead in managing this jewel that God has blessed them with,” he said.

He thanked the Islands Development Company (IDC) for being “a devoted partner in the conservation of Seychelles and which this year celebrates 30 years of existence”.

“This island has remained relatively well preserved over the last 30 years. I also wish to recognise the contributions of the Dauban family in the conservation of the island for many decades,” he said.

Mr Morgan recalled that in September 2007 in Rome, at the Global Island Partnership strategy conference, President Michel made a pledge to the world to declare Silhouette a national park.

“Again at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit last year, he made a similar pledge and today we are happy to see this become a reality,” he said.

The IDC’s chief executive Glenny Savy said the declaration was a milestone for Seychelles and in particular the inhabitants of the island.

“The island has now found its rightful place among other national parks,” he said.

He added that protection of the biodiversity on the island should now be the national pride of the community
The chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board Alain St Ange said the declaration is a big boost for ecotourism.

“There’s a group of tourists who look for nature. Promotion of ecotourism is among our strategies,” he said.

Mr Michel gave an award to Mr Savy in appreciation of the work the IDC has done to preserve the island, and to Thomas Dauban for his family’s contribution to the island’s conservation.

And principal secretary for environment Didier Dogley presented one to the island’s manager Gilbert Esparon.