A symbol of environmental excellence. A vital part of the culture and traditions of Seychelles. And an international record breaker that helped create a World Heritage Site. The coco de mer deserves to be cherished for many reasons.

But the ongoing danger of poaching threatens the future of the coco de mer and its Vallée de Mai home. To combat this threat the Seychelles Islands Foundation(SIF) is working to increase its protection, by leading a campaign to review existing coco de mer legislation and helping it through the National Assembly.

Surrounded by myth and legend – such as the suggestion by General Gordon that the Vallée de Mai is the original site of the Garden of Eden, or the belief that on nights of a full moon the coco de mer palms can walk through the forest to breed with one another – the coco de mer is as integral to Seychelles’ culture as its environment and a living example of Seychelles’ commitment to environmental protection. While the coco de mer and the Vallée de Mai are seen as a treasure by most Seychellois, a handful of poachers and illegal coco de mer traders continue to exploit it for their own short-term gain, and by doing so, pose a threat to this most emblematic species and source of national pride.

Environmental vulnerability
The coco de mer is endemic to Seychelles, meaning it is found naturally nowhere else in the world. Its range is limited to Curieuse, the Praslin national park and, most famously, the Vallée de Mai.

The threats caused by having such a small range are further increased by the coco de mer lifecycle. Each coco de mer nut takes five to six years to reach the stage at which it is ready to fall from the parent palm and germinate. Then begins the lengthy process of growing from a juvenile to a mature palm able to reproduce, which takes 20-40 years – depending upon the environmental conditions – creating an incredibly long time period for forest growth.

Economic importance
Approximately 50% of visitors to Seychelles visit the Vallée de Mai, making it the largest single tourist attraction in the country. And while these tourist visits to the Vallée de Mai generate much-needed funding for the SIF’s world heritage site research and protection, they also create a vast amount of employment and economic opportunity on Praslin and throughout Seychelles.

Visitors to the Vallée de Mai are part of the largest single industry on Praslin – tourism. The benefits of such an important tourist attraction for hotels, guest houses, tour guides and travel companies are obvious. But the impact of this economic activity spreads throughout the economy as direct tourism-related businesses interact with and buy from an enormous range of other businesses, traders and service providers. Indeed, one estimate has put the economic benefits of the Vallée de Mai for the island of Praslin at a minimum of ten times the value of the entrance fees.

Poaching and illegal trading of coco de mer is a business carried out by a very small number of people. But because of the importance of the Vallée de Mai to the economy of Praslin, their greed has the potential of harming the livelihoods of almost every person on the island. Protecting the coco de mer is not only the concern of the police and environmental organisations, it’s the concern of every Praslinois.

The Aldabra connection: Half of all the money raised by the Vallée de Mai is spent on the second SIF managed world heritage site – Aldabra. At around 1,000km from Mahé, the logistical difficulties and costs of supporting the small SIF team of scientists and rangers on the atoll are enormous. And due to the ongoing threat posed by pirates in the western Indian Ocean, the income previously generated by Aldabra through visits by passing tourist boats and ships has dried up.

SIF now relies almost exclusively on income from the Vallée de Mai to research and conserve Aldabra, making a threat to the Vallée de Mai a threat to both of Seychelles’ world heritage sites. By protecting the Vallée de Mai, the people of Praslin can be proud of the fact that they are also protecting the largest raised coral atoll in the world and the natural wonders it is home to.

Legal protection
Laws exist to protect the coco de mer, as well as many of Seychelles’ other endemic palms and trees. But with only limited enforcement even the best laws can do no good. The police on Praslin and Mahé need the support of the public in catching coco de mer poachers, gathering evidence and bringing them to trial. And when they are caught and prosecuted, the judiciary needs laws that can deter future poachers.

In the most recent coco de mer poaching case to go to trial the poacher was found guilty of poaching 15 coco de mer, but was given only a six-month suspended sentence and fined only R2,500, roughly equivalent to the cost of a single coco de mer nut. With such light sentences it is unlikely that even a successful prosecution will be sufficient to deter the poachers.

SIF is campaigning alongside the department of environment for a review of the law to protect the coco de mer. But taking action against individual poachers will not stop the illegal trade in coco de mer. To stamp out this abuse of one of Seychelles’ most internationally renowned national symbols, action must be taken against those who control the trade in coco de mer. If the dealers who control the illegal coco de mer trade, both within Seychelles’ borders and for export, can be apprehended, then the coco de mer poachers will no longer have a market for illegally taken nuts and the poaching threat will evaporate. But until concerted action is taken against those who illegally buy and sell coco de mer, the threat to the Vallée de Mai, the Praslin national park and the palm forests of Curieuse will remain.

Help save the coco de mer:
Let us know: If you see or hear of any suspicious activity concerning coco de mer, especially poaching from the Vallée de Mai, contact SIF on (4321735 or 4236220) or the police on 4288000.

Speak up: Refuse to ignore poaching. The coco de mer is the heritage and pride of every Seychellois. Don’t stay silent when it is threatened.

Learn more: Visit the Vallée de Mai and find out about the coco de mer, the Black Parrot and the other endemic wonders that make it such a special place. Entry to the Vallée de Mai is free for all Seychelles residents.

Forrás: www.nation.sc