Ephelia resort celebrates Wetlands Day |07 February 2017

To celebrate World Wetlands Day on February 2, the Ephelia Green Team from Constance Ephelia Seychelles organised two events.

The first event was a mangrove rehabilitation activity with tree planting and clean up. Team members from different departments of the resort joined hands to plant 200 mangrove seeds and 40 mangrove saplings in degraded areas.

Secondly, to support the national Queen’s Canopy initiative which is to plant 20,000 trees within two years, the management of Ephelia was committed last year to plant 1,000 mangrove trees which was achieved by the recent planting on World Wetlands Day. To show their commitment to the environment and to support the national tree planting campaign, the resort has decided to extend their target to 2,000 trees to be planted by the end of 2017.

The resort said the seedlings which were first planted in pots then transplanted in degraded areas, will help them in their scientific approach of mangrove propagation and rehabilitation with regard to growth and survival rate.

The first approach started in December 15 where they planted different species of mangroves using various methods. For example some seeds were planted directly in the marsh, some in pots in the nursery which were later placed in plastic trays. The nursery is situated directly in the mangroves area so the seeds can get used to the tide movement and adapt to the habitat conditions in which they will be  transplanted.

The resort observed that the seedlings in pots in the nursery were not affected by crab bites or extreme weather conditions and their survival rate was higher. After less than a year, once the root system is established, the resort said the saplings will be transplanted in degraded areas where a proper monitoring system will be implemented within 2017.

World Wetlands Day is held on February 2 each year to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in Iran, on February 2, 1971. The convention entered into force in Seychelles on March 22, 2005. Seychelles currently has three sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance or Ramsar Sites. They are the Aldabra Atoll, which comprises seven wetland types, including permanent shallow marine waters, coastal saline lagoon area, marine sub-tidal aquatic sea grass beds and mangrove swamps, also the Mare aux Cochons High Altitude Freshwater Wetlands and the Port Launay Coastal Wetlands (Port Glaud) which is considered to be one of the best mangrove wetlands on the island of Mahé, supporting all seven species of mangroves in Seychelles.

The Port Launay Mangrove RAMSAR Site, being located in the surrounding areas of the Ephelia resort, the hotel is aiming to improve the management of biodiversity within the resort and the surrounding areas, by enhancing the collaboration between the resort and community partners. In line with their Mangrove Management Plan, the resort is implementing the project community-based management of the Port Launay Mangrove RAMSAR Site in Seychelles in collaboration with the Port Glaud environment club, the local non-governmental organisation (NGO) Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S) and Mangroves for the Future (MFF).