Celebrate our natural heritage,
our pride
Today, we celebrate World Environment
Day. The host country for this event, Canada, together with the United Nations
Environment Program, UNEP, have chosen ‘Connecting People with Nature’ as this year’s
theme. For several decades now there has
been a strong trend for people to move from living in rural areas to cities and
towns. The prospect for better paid and physically less demanding jobs acts
like a magnet for those seeking an easier and higher quality of life. In the
process, however, they can lose this important link with nature.
We islanders have always lived
close to nature because islands provide a platform and proximity that supports
an essential and unbreakable connection between island communities and their
natural environment. Our state of mind,
well-being and probably our very existence is intertwined with the health of
our natural environment. In Seychelles,
our forests and mountains provide us with crystal clear water, food, medicine and
other natural resources we need to sustain our livelihoods. Similarly, our
white sandy beaches and turquoise waters are essential elements for recreation,
our well-being and a plentiful supply of a wide array of fish. The things that most Seychellois who travel
abroad for a longer period of time claim they miss the most are the stunning
natural beauty of our islands, the unique creole culture and our simple island
way of life. These are unique attributes
of island life that we take for granted; but once absent, we yearn for them.
Seychelles has taken major steps
to protect, preserve and conserve the natural environment. Most of the local pioneers have left us; some
of the other champions who are still alive will be honoured today by the
President at State House. Whether they were or are politicians,
environmentalists, nature lovers, housewives or professionals, they had and
have one thing in common; the love and respect for their country and the urge
to contribute in the best way possible. On
this day, let us celebrate all of those who have tirelessly given their energy,
strength and other resources towards safeguarding our environment. It is because of them that we are today
living in a Seychelles that we can be proud of. Let’s us pledge to walk in
their footsteps and make our own contribution at home, in our communities and in
our work place. We need to embrace the challenge of cultivating in the younger
generation the love and passion of caring for our unique country.
Last Wednesday the Cabinet took
the decision to add Grand Police to the list of protected areas once the
negotiations with the owners has been successfully completed. We soon hope to celebrate declaration of the
other areas including those in the outer islands that have been proposed for
protection.
Our country is developing very
rapidly and the challenge of safeguarding our environment is increasing. Environmental crimes, habitat fragmentation,
pollution, land degradation, the spread of invasive alien species, the
depletion of natural resources, climate change and other threats all have the potential to erase the gains
that we have made so far. For this World
Environment Day we have decided to launch a campaign against invasive creepers
that are invading our forests. The campaign will be led by the Seychelles National
Park Authority. It will focus first in
priority areas in the Morne Seychellois National Park and later elsewhere.
We want to continue shining a
light on the threats that are eroding the quality of environment and the
actions we are taking to make a difference. You can join us or other
environment groups and take action in protecting our shared natural heritage
and national pride.
Thank you and Happy World
Environment Day 2017.
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