Coastal recreational park opens at Anse à la Mouche |23 August 2014

The Anse à la Mouche coastal recreational park was officially opened yesterday by the Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet.

The attraction, built by the Coastal Adaptation and Management section in the same ministry, has transformed the area into a low key recreational park for the general public and was initially designed as a coastal protection measure project back in 2011.

Present at the opening ceremony were Lena Desaubin, chief executive of Landscape and Waste Management Agency (LWMA); Alain de Commarmond, director general in the Ministry of Environemnt and Energy;  Dan Frichot, special advisor in the Department of Community Development and representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, LMWA and DRDM (Department of Risk and Disaster Management).

In his opening remarks, Minister Payet said Seychelles has never been more vulnerable to nature’s forces particular in coastal areas, than now. Coastal erosion, storm surges, flooding and salt water intrusion, are widely accepted as caused by climate change. It is therefore vital that we, as a small island developing state, find ways to adapt to such changes to maintain sustainability for our region, our islands and our existence.

“In the past Anse à la Mouche was regarded as one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country. Unfortunately during the last seven years, we have seen more intensive and aggressive coastal erosion which is threatening the main road and also the beach that we all enjoy. It is for this reason that in 2011, the Ministry of Environment’s Coastal Adaptation and Management Section decided to start a major coastal protection project to prevent further loss of coastline.  This was followed by extensive landscaping work as the loss of the fringing vegetation became more apparent and critical,” said the minister.

He said his ministry is particular grateful to President James Michel who facilitated and strongly supported the intervention following his visit to the area with officials of the environment department in 2011, following which the ministry was able to secure funding for the implementation of the project under the Contingency Fund, the government’s Capital Expenditure and the Environment Trust Fund for the landscaping works. Overall the project has cost R2.6 million.

“The government is also particularly grateful to the residents of Anse à la Mouche for their continuous support and acknowledgment of the whole process of the project. To note some residents were involved directly in the rehabilitation project such as donating rocks for blocking off vehicles from parking in this area, and for that I would like to commend the residents and encourage more support from the community for such projects,” said Minister Payet.

The minister also acknowledged all those who contributed towards the realisation of the project notably staff of the Coastal Adaptation and Management Section; the School of Agricultural and Horticultural Training Centre for its technical contribution from the beginning of project; the LWMA and its contractors for technical advice and willingness to take up maintenance of the area as well the civil contractors that have worked during the different stages of implementation; the Ministry of Land Use and Habitat and the Ministry of Community Development.

On a community level he said this project is as an example of how the community and the government have worked together in partnership to achieve part objective of the Integrated Coastal Management.

The director of Coastal Adaptation and Management in the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Nimham Senaratne, gave a brief description of the park’s features like rocks, logs and plans used while Mrs Desaubin of LMWA described the names of the plant used to embellish the area which consists mostly of endemic ones.
 
After having undergone three different phases of project implementation including the first phase for the timber piling placement; second phase for the landscaping ground preparatory works and final stage being the green landscaping; the area now transformed into a park can be used by the general public for recreational purposes.

Minister Payet has advised the public to enjoy this part of the coastal area wisely, respecting the natural protection of the place.