Seychelles celebrates World Wetland Day February 2005

From Ramsar Website: February 2nd 2005.

Introduction:

To celebrate this year's theme of "There is wealth in Wetland Diversity, Don't lose it" the Wetland Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) decided to sponsor various activities for schoolchildren.

The highlight was a 'hike' to one of the high altitude wetland sites on the main island of Mahe. Similar 'field trips' were organised for the schoolchildren on the Islands of Praslin and La Digue on the same day. The respective wetland teams with the aid of the Environment focal points on the islands, conducted field trips to wetland areas with the school children.

Objective:

As our school children are the future environment managers, it was felt that a guided tour to the wetland site would be a most appropriate way to sensitise and educate the students on the theme of this year's wetland day, in other words to experience first hand the "wealth of our wetlands". The 56 students who participated were from various secondary schools on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue islands.

Proceedings:

The Director General of Policy Planning and Services Division (PPS), Mr Francis Bijoux, officially marked the World Wetland Day with an opening ceremony in the morning of the 2nd February, in the presence of the Principal Secretary (PS) of Environment, Mr Rolph Payet.

Participants assemblage at the PPS Head Quarters.

Mr Bijoux highlighted the importance of protecting our wetlands, in order to safeguard the "wealth" of the biodiversity, knowledge and resources that it provides. He made special mention to our recent accession to the convention and how it will be in force by March 25th of this year. This development will greatly help in our aim to conserve and better manage the wetlands, including the role they play and important functions they provide.

The Ministry of Education and Youth, through the Education and Information Section of the Environment Department assisted the Wetland Unit in coordinating the event with the responsible persons at the Secondary Schools. Each school was invited to send 2 students.

All Wetland Unit staff (on the three islands) participated in the activities, with Mr France Sophola (Wetland Supervisor) and Dr. Pugazhendhi Murugaiyan (Senior Wetland Officer) coordinating the day's event.

Other staff from the Policy Planning and Services Division (PPS) also participated in the 'hike' to Mare Cochon; including staff from the Coastal Zone Unit, International Conventions Unit, Forestry and Conservation Sections, were able to offer advice and encouragement along the way. Two qualified rangers from the Forestry office of the Morne Seychellois National Park; Mr. Roy Youpa, and Mr. Terence Valentine guided the 'hiking party'.

Mr Roy Youpa, Ranger (first left) with students of the 'hiking party'

The media were also present at the opening ceremony and from invitation; Mr Nick Watson, a journalist from the Seychelles Nation (national newspaper) also participated in the 'hike'.

Activities on Mahe;

Getting started for the Mare Cochon Hike:

The Mare Cochon wetland is found in the Morne Seychellois National Park situated approximately 350m above seal level. The 'hike' was approximately 2hours along a trail that is maintained by the Forestry division of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Mr France Sophola, Wetland Officer (first left hand corner) giving a brief talk on the safety rules and regulations to the students, before taking the hired bus to the start of the hike

Along the way:

The 'hiking party' of around 34 people was split into two groups, each headed by a guide.
Complimentary bottles of water were handed out to the students, with an activity booklet, which the students were asked to complete during the hike. Along the way the students were shown out the different types of flora and fauna, with emphasis on the 'endemics' of our islands. The students were able to 'tick off' most of these species in the activity booklet.

At Mare Aux Cochons:

Pristine view of the Mare Aux Cochons freshwater marsh at 350m high uphill

The Mare Aux Cochons Wetlands features a walkway through the marsh area towards a 'kiosk' (wooden station) where students rested. At this location Dr Murugaiyan (Senior Project officer) gave a small presentation on the roles of wetlands in our ecosystem, and stressed the importance of protecting and conserving them.

He explained how the Mare Aux Cochon, one of the three high altitudes wetlands of the Seychelles, was 'special' in that it is the only wetland to be found within a Protected Area; the Morne Seychellois National Park. Consequently the several endemic and indigenous species of plants and animals found there are always protected. It is therefore very important that other wetland areas are also protected in order to have the same 'wealth'; richness of biodiversity and a respected natural resource.

It was also explained how the Mare Aux Cochon wetland area is the main supply of freshwater, with streams running from the site towards one of the main rivers on the island. The water also reaches the Port Glaud - Port Launay wetland area, which as mentioned before, is the first International RAMSAR Wetland site for the Seychelles.

At the site, students were in for a surprise when a small quiz competition was organised to test their newly acquired knowledge on wetland plants and animals, and winners were distributed with prizes.

Activities on Praslin and La Digue:

This year, the Wetland Day Activities were also celebrated simultaneously with the islands of Praslin and La Digue. The respective wetland teams, with their team leaders and the assistance of the Environmental focal points, conducted field trips to main wetland areas with various school children on the two islands. Maintenance and 'clean up' activities of the wetland outlets were carried out with the students to demonstrate how it is done.

Handouts detailing the importance of wetlands conservation and management were distributed to them.

Media coverage of the World Wetland Day Activities:

As part of the celebration for the Wetland Day, quizzes and crossword puzzle competitions were organised. The competitions features the theme of wetland conservation were published in the Seychelles Nation (local newspaper) and aired on the AM radio. Winners of the different competitions were awarded with their prizes.

Conclusion:

All participants at the Mare Aux Cochons wetland site.

The activities for the commemoration of World Wetland Day were a great success given that this year's events were limited in number and size (in comparison to previous years) due to the recent events in the South-Eastern area. However, the students actively engaged in the day's events. They expressed interest and appreciation of the Wetland areas. As a result, it has been concluded that more sensitisation trips on wetlands, especially with school children is necessary. The wetland Unit has noted that more of such activities must be organised during the year and included in future work plans.

Acknowledgement:

The Wetland Unit of the Policy Planning and Services Division would like to thank the staff at;

Policy Planning and Services Division;
National Parks & Nature Conservancy;
Forestry Section;
Education and Information section;

Would also like to thank the:

Ministry of Education and Youth,
Seychelles Nation
Seychelles Broadcasting Cooperation

Our sponsors are:

AirTel (Telecommunication)
Mr. Francis Esparon (Contractor)
Mr. Andy Ah-Kon (Contractor)
Mr. Laporte - (Contractor)

"There's wealth in wetland diversity
- don't lose it!"

After tsunami, Seychelles develops disaster alert system

afrol News, 19 January 2005

The tsunami hitting Seychelles on 26 December was the first major disaster in the island nation since 1868. While only one life was lost, the tsunami caused large material damages and new disaster awareness in Seychelles. The islands state, which has now seen its debts frozen, will now develop an up-to-date disaster alert system.

According to the Seychellois government, the country is now working on the development of a national disaster warning system by which the authorities would advise residents on the possibility of a disaster striking. The principal secretary for Environment, Rolph Payet, said this on Tuesday during an interview.
The alert system "will entail thorough education of the public to understand how such a system works and probably use colour coding as in some countries to indicate severity of the potential danger and what specific evasive action people should take," the government explained.
Mr Payet said such a system would take an estimated two years to put in place and may be another five to ensure people understand it well. "We are developing such a system, which is not easy because it will require baseline data and information," he said.
The government representative added that the system in use in Mauritius is mainly for cyclones, which do not occur in Seychelles, but the island of Réunion has a more elaborate system that covers flooding. "We are in discussion with Réunion, which already has a warning system which progressively uses different colours to develop ours," he said.
Mr Payet said that Seychelles would also not want to rely merely on word of mouth, for example passed on by telephone from neighbouring countries because such a system could also raise false alarm. He recalled that even a few days after the 26 December tsunami, false warning followed saying that similar occurrences were imminent causing people to panic.
He noted Seychelles has not had any major disaster since 1868 with lesser ones occurring about seven years ago. Excessive rains in August 1997 caused heavy floods on the archipelago. A study by the UN's Disaster Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) later that year revealed that Seychelles had little experience in handling disasters, and had not developed any comprehensive disaster management structure, legislation or plan.
Seychelles President James Michel on Thursday last week had called improved disaster preparedness. "This unprecedented calamity in our region has taught us, in the most compelling terms, that there is an urgent need for an early warning system in the Indian Ocean region, similar to that which exists in the Pacific," President Michel said.
The Seychellois President further said there was a need for the a special disaster fund in Seychelles to help long-term recovery in view of the widespread damage to infrastructure, public utilities and private property. "Many people have lost their homes and livelihood in Seychelles," President Michel said.
According to the Seychellois government, the tsunami had caused damages worth more than US$ 30 million to the archipelago. "This may seem small compared to the damage inflicted to our neighbours, but it is nonetheless considerable for a small economy like ours," President Michel noted. He called for aid from the international community to set up a relief fund.
Seychelles last week received the first substantial international aid needed for reconstruction by a freezing of the country's debts by the so-called Paris Club of creditor nations. "The suspension takes effect immediately," Paris Club President Jean-Pierre Jouyet told a news conference after talks in Paris on Wednesday. The Seychelles owes some five million dollars in debt payments this year.

Officials trace tidal wave path through Seychelles

Seychelles Nation - 29.12.04

Sunday’s (December 26) tidal waves bent around the edges of both Mahe and Praslin to swing inland toward the southern and western areas of the islands at an even greater force than that of its original impact.

Environment principal secretary Rolph Payet said this Tuesday December 28 when describing to reporters at the Botanical Gardens how the tidal waves originated and spread on Sunday, and why much of the coasts on Seychelles’ two biggest islands sustained severe damage.

The tidal waves on Sunday resulted from an earthquake off the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, which caused the sea floor to shift 10 metres upwards along a 1,000 km rift.

While 10 metres may not seem like much, Mr Payet said that across such a distance an enormous amount of water was displaced, causing sea water to whip out across the ocean.

And it was only ocean that stood between Sunday’s massive Indonesian earthquake and Seychelles – with no barriers to slow it down the tidal waves spanned more than 4,200 kilometres to cause havoc on Mahe and Praslin in ways few, if any, could have predicted.

The waves moved rapidly from the epicentre, first through Sri Lanka where thousands were killed, then on to the Maldives just a few hours later before hitting Seychelles from the Northeast shortly after mid-day.

Mr Payet said officials were still calculating the force at which the tidal wave hit the local islands, but indicated that an estimate would be released later.

Officials at Tuesday’s press briefing also detailed how the tidal waves “refracted” around Mahe’s southern and western peninsulas – around Takamaka and Port Glaud, respectively.

Acting director of the National Meteorological Services (NMS) Denis Chang-Seng said when the tidal waves refracted around the island, more and more water began to accumulate and rush towards West and South Mahe.

He said this was why areas like Port Glaud, Grand Anse, Anse Boileau and others in the Southwest were severely affected while Anse aux Pins, situated on the east coast but lying parallel to the direction of the tidal wave, was spared from the worst of the disaster.

A similar phenomenon was observed on Praslin, where the tidal wave swept inland at Grand Anse and other areas in the island’s Southwest despite the fact that it was sheltered from any direct impact the wave would have had coming from the Northeast.

“The nature of a wave is determined by the coastline and any barriers there may be,” he said. He noted that large bays like Anse a la Mouche and Anse Boileau are especially vulnerable since more water is able to accumulate and gather strength.

The impact of barriers, however, were more noticeable in Northeast Mahe, where it was confirmed by Mr Payet that the reclaimed islands sitting just off the coast saved much of Ma Constance, Pointe Conan and Ma Joie from major flooding.

Mr Payet said this was especially important because as the wave travelled in between Mahe and Ste Anne it began to change – as the passage narrowed the wave grew higher and thus more dangerous, he explained.

This is the same reason that Victoria was hit as hard as it was, Mr Payet added, noting that the ship channel into the port made for a stronger wave as it pushed through the harbour and into town.

As for North Mahe – which was the first to feel the effects of the tidal wave – it is believed that the large rock formations around Glacis and Northeast Point helped to absorb much of the wave’s impact.

Mr Payet said the outer islands were not as affected because unlike the inner islands, they lie beyond the continental shelf where the impact of the tidal waves were not as severe.

Second General Meeting of the International Coral Reef Initiative

From Coral-List 

Summary Record
Presented by the ICRI Secretariat
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The second general meeting of the UK/Seychelles secretariat was held on
3rd to 4th July 2004 in Okinawa, Japan.  The meeting was co-chaired by
Rolph Payet of the Seychelles and Robert Canning of the UK. 

The meeting was productive and fostered greater ownership and purpose
among the coral reef community, including a better sense of how the ICRI
partnership can function as advocate and informal international
co-ordinator.  In brief, links with the CBD were strengthened; the focus
of ICRI working groups was improved; positive outcomes on trade in coral
reefs were reached, and cold water corals are now included in the remit
of ICRI.  The ICRI membership increased with the joining of Norway and
Palau and agreement was reached on Japan and Palau to host the next ICRI
secretariat.  Along with scorecards to mainstream coral reef issues and
an embryonic communication/delivery strategy, the tools exist for ICRI
to chart a more purposeful course.

Summary of decisions adopted and actions agreed.

Decisions
1. Four decisions were adopted:
i. Decision on the next ICRI secretariat; Japan and Palau 
ii. Decision on MPA ad hoc committee
iii. Decision on Cold Water Coral Reefs
iv. Decision on International Trade

Working groups and ad hoc committees with new mandates.
2. The work of ICRI's working groups, ad hoc committees and discussion
groups.
i. Cold water coral ad hoc committee to prepare terms of reference and
a draft work programme on cold water coral reefs and related
ecosystems.
ii. The MPA ad hoc committee to produce by the next Seychelles ICRI
meeting a work plan with its objectives for the next 2 years.
iii. The ICRIN informal ad hoc committee to determine the future of
ICRIN.
iv. ITMEMS 3 planning working group to develop a detailed proposal for
ITMEMS 3 for decision at the next ICRI meeting.

Actions agreed
3. Marjo Vierros to undertake further discussion on peer review of the
CBD targets through a discussion-mailing group.
4. The ICRI secretariat to prepare a response to the letter from
Hamdallah Zedan of the CBD secretariat on the outcomes of COP 7.
5. The ICRI co-chairs to write a letter to the co-chairs of the ICP to
draw attention to relevant CBD COP7 decisions with the aim of
influencing the UN resolution on Oceans.
6. Rolph Payet to lead a discussion group on the ICRI Forum on
activities for the Barbados + 10 meeting in Mauritius, January 2005.
7. France to consider and inform the organisers of the Barbados + 10
meeting and the ICRI secretariat of the possibility of presenting its
initiative towards the protection and   sustainable management of coral
reefs in Small Islands States of the Pacific ocean, to the Barbados + 10
meeting. 

8. The UK to establish the time scale for the FAO Code of Conduct on
Responsible Fisheries review process.
9. Robert Baldi, Paul Holthus and Jamie Oliver to liase with Jock
Campbell in order to prepare an ICRI position paper on the importance of
coral reef fisheries to feed into the CCRF review process to be reported
on at the next general meeting.

10. UNEP CRU to consider comments raised by ICRI in the revision of the
proposed terms of reference on dredging in coral reef areas.
11. The "ICRAN - Reefs for People" proposal and a cover note to be
posted on the Forum until the 3rd September 2004 for members comments. 
The ICRI secretariat to compile views which will be used to moderate the
negotiation of compromise between ICRAN partners.

12. Cold water coral ad hoc committee:
i. Current cold water coral ad hoc committee to be extended to include
representatives from the UK, US, Norway and UNEP, with others invited to
participate.
ii. Cold water coral ad hoc committee to prepare terms of reference and
a draft work programme on cold-water coral reefs and related ecosystems
for consideration by the next ICRI meeting

13. The UK to write a letter to their Overseas Territories to pilot
test the ICRI scorecard.
14. The ICRI secretariat to consider financial support for the
continuation of the ICRI Forum.
15. ITMEMS 3 planning working group to develop a detailed proposal for
ITMEMS 3 for decision at the next ICRI meeting.  Discussion to take
place on the ICRI Forum.
16. Discussion on the ICRI Forum to establish a suitable date for the
next ICRI General Meeting in the Seychelles and potential activities for
the 10th Anniversary of the ICRI Call to Action and the Framework for
Action.

17. ICRI secretariat to produce an ICRI brochure.




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