1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
Seychelles islands are an archipelago made up of about 115 islands with a total landmass area of 455 square kilometres. The estuarine and coastal ecosystems which include marshes, wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs, sandy beaches and seagrasses are some of the most threatened natural ecosystems in Seychelles due to rising sea levels, temperatures and changes in the rainfall pattern.
The intervention focuses on 2 of the most populated islands, Mahe (with the capital Victoria) and Praslin. The intervention addresses these issues by aiming at:
1. To reduce the vulnerability of the people of Mahe (the island where Victoria, the capital, is located, at a 2 km distance) and Praslin to water scarcity, and of the built environment to recurring flooding.
2. To restore the ecosystem functionality of degraded catchment areas and eroded coasts (reforestation and removal of invasive alien species and re-colonize with native plants).
3. To create wetlands, clear water bodies and rehabilitate coastal wetlands, enabling improved water flow and retention capacity, and aiding the recovery of coral reef habitat.
4. To create awareness regarding the climate change impacts and train local communities and volunteers in managing climate risk situations. (promoting local stewardship of watersheds) (2,3,4)
5. Protecting endemic tree species such as: Coco de Mer, Lodoicea maldivica, (Millionaire’s salad (Deckenia nobilis), Thief palm (Phoenicophoricum borsigianum); Seychelles stilt palm (Vershaffeltia splendid) Latanier millepatter (Nephrosperma vanhoutteanum) and Latanier palm (Rosheria melanochaetes)). - 70 endemic species were considered for ecosystem rehabilitation (2).
6. Stabilising and reforesting fifty hectares of bare ground and bush vegetation in the watersheds, concentrating on the most degraded areas (bare soils – 10 ha)
The intervention focuses on 2 of the most populated islands, Mahe (with the capital Victoria) and Praslin. The intervention addresses these issues by aiming at:
1. To reduce the vulnerability of the people of Mahe (the island where Victoria, the capital, is located, at a 2 km distance) and Praslin to water scarcity, and of the built environment to recurring flooding.
2. To restore the ecosystem functionality of degraded catchment areas and eroded coasts (reforestation and removal of invasive alien species and re-colonize with native plants).
3. To create wetlands, clear water bodies and rehabilitate coastal wetlands, enabling improved water flow and retention capacity, and aiding the recovery of coral reef habitat.
4. To create awareness regarding the climate change impacts and train local communities and volunteers in managing climate risk situations. (promoting local stewardship of watersheds) (2,3,4)
5. Protecting endemic tree species such as: Coco de Mer, Lodoicea maldivica, (Millionaire’s salad (Deckenia nobilis), Thief palm (Phoenicophoricum borsigianum); Seychelles stilt palm (Vershaffeltia splendid) Latanier millepatter (Nephrosperma vanhoutteanum) and Latanier palm (Rosheria melanochaetes)). - 70 endemic species were considered for ecosystem rehabilitation (2).
6. Stabilising and reforesting fifty hectares of bare ground and bush vegetation in the watersheds, concentrating on the most degraded areas (bare soils – 10 ha)
Quantitative targets
1. Rehabilitating selected watersheds covering 1,800 ha on Mahe Island and about 1,200 hectares on Praslin Island (5 watersheds: Mare aux Cochons Watershed (400 hectares), Mont Plaisir Watershed (50 hectares), Baie Lazare Watershed (100 hectares), Caiman Watershed (100 hectares), and Praslin Fond B’Offay/Nouvelle Decouvert Watershed (50 hectares) by creating conditions for native species to return. The watersheds are occupied by alien invasive species, especially trees that consume water capacities.
2. Rehabilitating the coastal area at two sites covering an impact area of about 1,000 ha.
3. Impacting approx 90,000 people (including the 27,000 inhabitants of the capital, Victoria)
4. Reducing flooding risks in the project areas with a total population of around 8,800 residents.
6. Protecting endemic tree species - 70 endemic species were considered for the ecosystem rehabilitation
7. 150 m of artificial breakwater providing substrate for coral growth and wave energy attenuation and more than 10% of original reef area rehabilitated at NE Point (2)
2. Rehabilitating the coastal area at two sites covering an impact area of about 1,000 ha.
3. Impacting approx 90,000 people (including the 27,000 inhabitants of the capital, Victoria)
4. Reducing flooding risks in the project areas with a total population of around 8,800 residents.
6. Protecting endemic tree species - 70 endemic species were considered for the ecosystem rehabilitation
7. 150 m of artificial breakwater providing substrate for coral growth and wave energy attenuation and more than 10% of original reef area rehabilitated at NE Point (2)
Monitoring indicators defined
Size area rehabilitated;
Number of people impacted and benefiting from the intervention;
Number of endemic species considered for the implementation (2).
Number of people impacted and benefiting from the intervention;
Number of endemic species considered for the implementation (2).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Implementation activities
The intervention was launched in 2014. Over a period of 5 years, the implementation activities consisted of building gabion rock barrages over 7 locations to create freshwater reserves using an approach that emphasises a natural approach to advanced engineering (2018). (6) In the same year, 2018 a tree-planting campaign aimed at rehabilitating watersheds and catchment areas by planting 4,000 trees native to Seychelles. (5) In 2019 a new climate change curriculum guide for teachers of primary five to secondary five classes which takes into account the situation for Seychelles was introduced in schools. (7)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The process innovation consists in the fact that there was a very specific forest rehabilitation method used, developed with the assistance of the University of Seychelles and ETH Zurich. The method consists of the following actions: removal of the non-native plants and shrubs from the forest floor but leaving large trees to keep a shade canopy, providing a very good condition for the native species to regenerate, which do well in low light. In some areas native trees and palms are growing naturally from seed, however, this natural regeneration process can be reinforced. Therefore the team is under-planting – that is to say under the existing canopy of trees – to reinforce regeneration. (5)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is completely new and was specifically developed with the assistance of the University of Seychelles and ETH Zurich. (5)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
There is no mention in the sources that the innovation has been implemented through other projects.
