Dr. Nirmal Shah

Dr. Nirmal Shah has 40 years of experience implementing a wide range of projects in the public, government, private and NGO sectors ranging from ecotourism to agrobiodiversity, from coastal management to bird conservation. He has been responsible for development of policy, legislation and strategies. His recent appointments include being the Seychelles President’s Special Envoy for Environment and Climate Change, the Chair of the Seychelles Fishing Authority and the Chair of the National Environmental Advisory Council

Dr. Shah was involved in the drafting of Seychelles Sustainable Development Strategy in 1990. He was a member of the Seychelles delegation to the first Sustainable Development summit in Rio in 1992 and subsequent sustainable development summits as well as SIDS summits. He was a member of the national committee on MSGs and contributed to reports on SDGs. He has promoted the SDGs through his writings, presentations (including the first SDG Workshop in Seychelles) and the projects he is implementing.

Following my passion for more than 40 years….Second-generation environmental innovator, Conservation Champion, Educator, Writer, Founder, Civil Society Influencer, Change Maker, Implementer, Mentor. “Mr. Coastal Zone” (Seychelles Review); “The Indiana Jones of Conservation” (Highlife magazine); “Seychelles Rennaisance Man” (Silhouette magazine); “Mr. Environment” (SABC tv.); “The Coral Man” (New African magazine); ” Blue Champion” (IOO Newsletter); coral reef “rubble rouser” (Swara magazine); “Marine Purist” (VoyagesAfrique); “the environmental oracle” (a UNDP representative in a national meeting 😆). Implemented wide range of projects in many fields including ecotourism, agriculture, waste management, climate change, fisheries…. Led award-winning, internationally-funded, multi-stakeholder programs ranging from saving endangered birds to introducing environmental education. Pioneered tools such as ICZM, EIAs, EMS, ISO 14001 in Seychelles and the region. Held senior positions in the public, government, private and non profit sectors, consulted for many international organisations including the World Bank, SIDA, UNESCO, UNEP, UNDP, etc., and chaired or member of national and international boards. Wrote or coordinated national strategies and plans including the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the Environment Management Plan for Seychelles…Involved in drafting policy and legislation ranging from protected areas to coastal management to town and country planning. Written hundreds of articles and blogs and authored/coauthored papers. Led delegations to and presented at many of the most important sustainable development, environmental and small island states global conferences and summits of the last 35 + years. Sought by many to identify terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Promoted and facilitated marine science in the Western Indian Ocean. Diplomat for 15 years. Appeared in international media including CNN, BBC, RFI, Skynews, Reuters, PBS, SABC, CCTV….and appearing live on NBC’s The Today Show. Featured in global print media including Guardian, Observer, Financial Times, Economic Times, Spectator…