An international initiative to investigate the effectiveness of the management of protected areas in the East Africa and Western Indian Ocean region has recently published its results. The study was carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Nature Seychelles (BirdLife in the Seychelles), which manages Cousin Island, was praised in the report. Its management of the reserve was described as "high quality, reflecting the experience and technical competence of the NGO managing this Marine Protected Area." The report also praised Nature Seychelles's "well trained staff and substantial investment in skilled management and scientific expertise."

The other selected sites were Malindi/Watamu Marine Parks and Reserves in Kenya, Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park and Mafia Marine Park on mainland Tanzania and Chumbe Island on Zanzibar.

Cousin is the most important nesting site for Hawksbill Turtles in the Western Indian Ocean and hosts the world’s longest running monitoring programme for this species. It boasts a number of other reptiles (five being endemic), five Seychelles-endemic land birds and seven species of nesting seabirds. The Special Reserve also includes the surrounding marine area up to 400m offshore, harbouring globally-threatened fish such as the Humphead Parrotfish.

Its endangered bird success stories include the Seychelles Warbler Acrocephalus sechellensis, whose numbers have increased from only around 30 birds in 1968 when the island was purchased as a reserve to more than 300 out of an estimated total global population of just over 2,000. Conservation efforts on Cousin have also contributed to the improved status of the Seychelles Magpie-robin Copsychus sechellarum, which has recently been downlisted to Endangered in the 2005 IUCN Red List.

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