Kapisen newsletters to raise awareness of plants |03 August 2009

A set of the Kapisen newsletters was presented to director general of schools Merida Delcy by Plant Conservation Action Group (PCA) chairman Lindsay Chong-Seng.

And the two books – Common Wild Plants of the Seychelles Coastal Lowlands, and Native Plants of Seychelles – were handed over to the National Institute of Education’s curriculum coordinator Elva Gedeon by biologist and illustrator Katy Beaver.

Addressing the officials from the ministry, Mr Chong-Seng said the PCA – a small, voluntary non-governmental organisation – aims to raise the profile of plants in Seychelles.

“It also aims to raise awareness not only of the importance of our native plants and habitats, but also the importance of plants in our everyday lives,” he added.

He said plants form the basis of life for all animals as they are the providers.

Mrs Delcy thanked the PCA for the donation and said school children have become much more environmentally aware. She described the newsletter as being interesting and educational.

“The newsletters will definitely help them to further their knowledge about plants and their conservation,” she said.

Mrs Delcy added that students have access to the internet at schools and so they can also look at the online version of Kapisen, which is named after one of Seychelles’ unique trees.

Included are articles to help students and teachers discover more about native plants. There are also features about invasive species, how plants and animals interact and about restoring damaged habitats.

Some of the material has been written by school children and trainee teachers.

The PCA produces the newsletter twice a year, and so far nine have been brought out. The special Kapisen for schools is the 10th edition, and the ministry helped to fund the printing.

Issues are also circulated online at http://seychelles-conservation:org/kapisen.aspx or http://www.plantecology.etz.ch/publications/books/kapisen. Kapisen reaches the ministry’s Environmental Education Unit via the websites and e-mail links.

Members of the public can also view the sites to learn more about Seychelles’ plants and research activities being carried out here.

The two plant books, both written and illustrated by Ms Beaver, were originally published by the ministry. They are not new publications but have been reprinted to make them available to the general public, as they were previously found only in schools.

The books aim to familiarise readers with the plants here, and there are drawings and descriptions of the various parts of each species so it is easy to identify. Both are available at various book outlets.

Printing of the books was funded by the Environment Trust Fund, the author and the PCA. Profits from their sale will contribute to the work of the action group.