This beach, which is very popular with local people and tourists alike, has been suffering from erosion of its sand dunes near the road through loss of vegetation.

The Department of Environment is now carrying out a pilot study to control the impact of vehicles and human trampling on the Anse Royale beach ecosystem and to restore the coastline.

The project is funded by the Regional Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Coastal Zones of the Countries of the Indian Ocean (Recomap) and is one of several in Seychelles to benefit.

The project’s aims are to manage and control access to the beach by installing concrete bollards;

to restore the site with coastal vegetation; and, most importantly, to get the local community involved as guardians of the coastline.

Recomap says coastal erosion has been taking place along most beaches on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Surveys conducted along the Anse Royale coastline have shown that wave action is not the only cause of erosion.; it was noted that the dunelands are unhealthy due to loss of vegetation.

Further investigations were carried out and it was seen that a large number of cars were parked on dunelands, leading to destruction of beach fringe vegetation.

Concrete bollards will stop vehicles from driving on to the sand dunes, which will later be replanted. 

Recomap says the project will involve and benefit members of the Anse Royale community, fishermen, school children – for further studies and tree planting – as well as all beach users.