The drafting process of Seychelles’ new 10-year environment management plan was launched during a one-day workshop at the International Conference Centre yesterday.

                                           

Mr Dogley (above) addressing delegates at the opening of the workshop yesterday

It was a chance for several stakeholders – including environment consultants from both government and the private sector – to discuss issues relating to this 2011-2020 Environment Management Plan for Seychelles (EMPS).

Present were principal secretary for environment Didier Dogley, presidential adviser Dr Rolph Payet – who is also the lead consultant for the plan – and the EMPS programme coordinator Begum Nageon de Lestang.

In his address, Mr Dogley said the 10-year plan is a strategic document that mainstreams environmental management in all sectors.

Its goal is to promote, coordinate and integrate sustainable development programmes across all sectors of the country.
“This plan sets out objectives and activity programmes in a clear format to ease project design and funding through local and international sources,” he said.

It is now 20 years since Seychelles started the management plan approach to protecting the national environment, he added.

Mr Dogley said at the end of this year the current EMPS 2000-2010 will come to an end with experts having confirmed that 85% of the programmes in areas such as biodiversity, forestry and agriculture were satisfactorily carried out, despite the economic difficulties of the last decade. In terms of its programmes, the EMPS has been a success, he stressed.

“The 2011-2020 plan is led by Seychellois consultants and is designed to keep Seychelles ahead in environmental management, not only in the region but also in the global arena,” he said.

He added that now “we must work out how to get every Seychellois involved in safeguarding their environment”.
It will focus on a variety of areas including climate change, society, population and health, biodiversity, forestry and agriculture, tourism and aesthetics.

Mrs Nageon de Lestang said the first draft of this plan will be ready in October and be presented to the cabinet so it can be carried out from January next year.

She said future projects under the plan will get funding from the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme, and from the European Union through the Indian Ocean Commission. The government of Seychelles will also provide funds.

The workshop was also attended by representatives of non-government organisations such as the Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles and the Green Islands Foundation.

 

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