Seychelles committed to abiding by UN conventions

From: Seychelles Nation

Mr Payet addressing participants at Monday's opening session of the workshop

A project examining Seychelles' compliance with global environmental conventions took another step forward on Monday May 31, with a day-long workshop to discuss the findings so far.

The multi stakeholder National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) meeting followed on from an initial workshop held in December 2003, at which participants discussed the implications of three United Nations environmental conventions.

The stakeholders regrouped yesterday at the Seychelles Institute of Management (SIM) to further discuss the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).

The workshop was opened by Environment principal secretary, Rolf Payet, who asked the participants – drawn from various NGOs, parastatals, ministries and private businesses – to be as open as possible in discussing the issues surrounding the implementation of the conventions.

Despite their international remit the PS said that the conventions retain their relevance for Seychelles as environmental concerns are applicable both across and within national boundaries.

He also highlighted the fact that the strength of international conventions allows for globally accepted principles, such as that requiring polluters to pay for the damage they cause, to be implemented at a national level.

PS Payet asked the delegates to look at the steps that need to be taken to merge the aims of the conventions to national environmental goals, as well as the capacity that will be required to achieve this.

At a local level the NCSA is being led by consultant Jan Rijpma who said that the consultation process was designed to help "bring the conventions home."

Mr Rijpma said that the NCSA was intended to identify national environmental protection needs and how these could be linked to the objectives of the UN conventions.

The consultant said that the findings of the NCSA may necessitate changes to local environmental legislation, but said that he was confident that the requirements of the conventions would be in line with the demands of the local stakeholders.

The NCSA process has been funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Mr Rijpma said that, upon completion of the consultations, these and other donor organisations could be approached to seek financing to facilitate the implementation of the conventions.

The NCSA process is due to draw to a close early next year, with stakeholders due to meet for another workshop and a possible discussion session, before the final report is drawn up.