Denis and Praslin islands as pilot sites to develop coastal management model
The coastal zones of countries worldwide, including Seychelles, are the key locations of human development, residence and socio-economic activities such as tourism and fisheries.
The Grand Anse-Amitié coast of Praslin (left) and Denis Island, the two sites where the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project is being carried out
Logically, the pressures on these limited resources are projected to escalate further with population growth and increasing development. Hence, in pursuit of sustainable development, the wise management of these areas is imperative.
In an attempt to tackle these issues head on, the Green Islands Foundation (GIF) is currently carrying out an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project on two pilot sites in Seychelles; the Grand Anse-Amitié coast of Praslin and on Denis Island. These two sites represent different but representative coastal scenarios of the Seychelles and hence, offer the chance for replication in many other coastal areas, once the project is completed.
So what is the ICZM? Simply, it is a continuous and dynamic process that requires the active and sustained involvement of the interested public and the many stakeholders with interests in how coastal resources are allocated and conflicts are mediated. The ICZM process provides a means by which the concerns of local, regional and national levels are discussed and future directions negotiated.
The specific aim of the project that the GIF is carrying out is to address the management issues and user conflicts in these two sites so as to develop the ICZM models and technical tools for application on other coasts of Seychelles.
The ICZM model will include current and future land use plans, ecologically sensitive areas and their conservation, areas prone to flooding and disasters, amongst other issues. It is the GIF’s plan to develop innovative models of effective stakeholder-driven management. These models will be presented to the government for endorsement. They will lay the foundation for enhanced future management of development pressures which incorporates the needs and tolerances of the environmental systems. The project is funded by the European Union under the Regional Coastal Management Programme (ReCoMaP).
Initial stakeholder consultations have already been carried out on Praslin in March and on Denis last month, to identify the key issues with regards to management of the areas and the current state of the environment at these sites.
The beach fronts, wetland areas and river outlets on Praslin and restoration areas on Denis Island were also visited and photographs were taken. These visits were key starting points for the ReCoMaP project. The key issues that were raised included erosion, beach casts of seaweed on Praslin, tourism intensity, water quality, biodiversity and overfishing. These issues will now be the starting point to enable the identification of key indicators for the project, data collection and development of the ICZM model.
Two workshops will be organised, one at each project pilot site. The first one will take place during the first week of May on Denis Island and the one on Praslin will be held during the end of May. The main aims of the two-day workshops are to raise awareness on the project in the communities at each site and get feedback on any user conflict issues that need addressing. Some basic training will also be provided on the second day which will enable the stakeholders to be actively involved in data collection during, and after the project.
These workshops will also identify key stakeholders to sit on a steering committee for each pilot site. The committee will be responsible to ensure that data is being collected, the ICZM plan is seen through even after the project is completed, and that a bottom-up approach to management is being taken. All stakeholders of the Grand Anse-Amitié coast of Praslin and Denis Island are welcome to attend the workshops. For further information and to make reservations (logistic purposes), please contact Green Islands Foundation on 288829 from 8am to 4pm or email office@gif.sc. The specific dates and venue for the workshop on Praslin will be announced later.
Helena Francourt
Green Islands Foundation