Ephelia Resort contributes to national tree planting campaign |13 June 2016

Seychelles has to plant 20,000 trees over the next few years towards the initiative to create a network of forest conservation programme throughout the 53 nations of the Commonwealth.

To help Seychelles achieve that target, the Constance Ephelia Resort at Port Launay is contributing 1,000 mangrove trees towards that initiative.

The ‘1,000 Tree Planting Campaign Day’ which will see the hotel plant 1,000 trees throughout the year, forms part of its activities to mark World Environment Day which was on June 5 and Global Wellness Day on June 11.

The tree planting campaign forms part of The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy Initiative where citizens of this bloc of countries are urged to lead the world in efforts to protect the forest – forest that their communities and the planet as a whole depend on.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy will show that, irrespective of geography, economy, culture or tenure, solutions exist to the threats facing these critical ecosystems.

It must be noted that other groups, organisations, schools and individuals have also contributed their part towards the initiative by planting trees at various locations.

As stated by the general manager of Ephelia Resort, Kai Hoffmeister, the hotel has a small nursery where mangrove trees are being prepared for a larger rehabilitation project of the species.

The nursery has seeds planted in pots as their survival rates are higher than direct planting.

Ephelia Resort has valid reasons to embark on such a project as the establishment is located at Port Launay, in the west part of Mahé, that has one of the most lush vegetations of mangroves. Adding to that, the area is one of only two places in Seychelles that contains all seven types of mangroves. The other one being on the Aldabra atoll.

Mangroves protect shorelines from damaging storm and hurricane winds, waves, and floods. They also help prevent erosion by stabilising sediments with their tangled root systems. They maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land.

Mangrove forests are also home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species. These fisheries form an essential source of food for thousands of coastal communities around the world. The forests also serve as nurseries for many fish species, including coral reef fish.

Alain Decommarmond, principal secretary in the department of environment of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, said Constance Ephelia is very environment conscious, has been and is still active in nature conservation and environment projects.

He expressed his satisfaction at seeing the resort continue such activities and its ongoing commitment towards the environment especially the mangroves.

The hotel has quite a substantial mangrove and wetland protection and conservation programme in place. It comprises awareness, clean ups and planting. The wetland is of international importance and protected by RAMSAR. As a partner, Ephelia Resort is implementing a community based management project of the site with other partners like the Port Glaud Environment Club; Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change; Plant Conservation Action Group; Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA); Global Vision International (GVI) and Terrestrial Restoration Action Society of Seychelles (TRASS).