Wise use of land key to sustainable development |25 January 2012
The gathering at the Seychelles Trading Company’s conference hall has been organised by the government and the United Nations Development Programme.
It is being attended by representatives of the Environment Department, Seychelles Agricultural Agency, Seychelles Tourism Board, University of Seychelles, Fire Services and Rescue Agency, among several other organisations.
Opening the workshop on Monday, the principal secretary for Environment, Didier Dogley, said Seychelles validated its National Action Plan for Sustainable Land Development in April 2011 and most of the delegates took part in the validation process.
He noted that the National Action Plan was prepared in response to important socio-economic and environmental challenges in Seychelles and in line with the aims and requirements of the UN Convention to Combat Deforestation and Land Degradation (UNCCD), a convention which Seychelles ratified in 1997.
Betty Seraphine, project manager of the Biodiversity Project, said land is critically important for residences, tourism, agriculture, forestry, infrastructure for commerce, industry and transport as well as biodiversity conservation.
She noted that if badly planned or managed, such developments will disfigure land and cause erosion or pollution.
Among other threats which may lead to land degradation are wetlands loss and depletion, climate change, wastes and landslides.
On the National Action Plan for Sustainable Land Development validated in 2011, she said the “Vision” was to prevent and reverse land degradation in Seychelles, while protecting the environment and its biodiversity, and ensure that land contributes optimally to sustainable economic, social and cultural development.
On the goals of the National Action Plan, Ms Seraphine said forested land and watersheds, as well as agricultural land and water, should be sustainably managed.
Ms Seraphine also insisted that climate change adaptation measures are adequate to combat land degradation.
The workshop is being conducted by Gunilla Goransson, an international consultant on sustainable land management from Canada.