Message of Minister Rolph Payet to commemorate PROTECTED AREA DAY 31st January 2014

As we celebrate protected areas day, let me start by thanking the Government of Seychelles, the many Seychelles NGO’s, Seychellois and foreign conservationists for their contributions and vision to help us achieve more than 50% of our terrestrial territory in terms of protected areas. Governments around the world are eager to consider protected areas because credible research shows that investments in protected areas generates returns of at least 100 times over and above if the protected area did not exist. Today many fishermen agree that marine protected areas has helped to secure their fisheries. Protected areas do not only protect biodiversity but they also provide a range of services such as water, protection of young animals and plants that we eat, medicinal plants, landscape, fresh air and even adaptation to climate change.

Currently only 15% of the planet is under protection. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has asked all countries of the planet to increase the protection of marine and coastal areas of the world to 10% by the year 2020. Whilst this is far below what Seychelles has achieved, it is a step in the right direction as we all share the same planet. Once again Seychelles has shown leadership as a small determined island nation.

There are a number of Protected Areas in Seychelles, declared as National parks by the Government. These are presently managed by Seychelles National Park Authority (SNPA). These include Ste Anne, Curieuse and Ste Pierre, Port Launay , Baie Ternay, Ile Cocos and Silhouette Marine parks. Protected areas also include the terrestrial parks of Morne Seychellois and Praslin. These national parks (excluding Ste Anne, Silhouette and Ile cocos) will celebrate their 35th anniversary this year. I wish to pay special tribute to our partners, the Seychelles Islands Foundation, the Seychelles National Parks Authority, the Island Conservation Society, Nature Seychelles, the Ravins de Fond Ferdinand Foundation, and others for their significant and dedicated role in the management of our protected areas.