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Exhibition marks International Biodiversity Day |23 May 2018

To mark the International Biodiversity Day yesterday, the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (MEECC) organised an exhibition in collaboration with environment groups, to showcase the conservation and rehabilitation of marine life.

The theme for this year is ‘Celebrating 25 years of Action for Biodiversity’ and as this year is also the International Year of the Reef, yesterday’s biodiversity exhibition, held at Orion Mall, concentrated more on the reef conservation.

Different environment organisations were present for the activity where they educated the public, which also included children from crèche, primary and secondary schools environment clubs, on the work they are doing in terms of coral reef restoration and conservation which different fishes and other marine species depend on for survival.

People going round the different stalls interacted with the organisers who enhanced them with knowledge on the marine biodiversity through different means such as exhibits, posters, leaflets and different models of coral nurseries which some groups are using to grow corals for replanting.

The exhibition was opened by the principal secretary for environment, Alain de Comarmond, in the presence of his minister Wallace Cosgrow, the principal secretary for energy and climate change Wills Agricole, stakeholders, school children and other invitees.

PS de Comarmond praised the NGOs for their various efforts being done in coral reef conservation, research and adaptation.

“We need to value the reefs when they are still in a healthy state and do our utmost to protect and conserve as much as possible for future generations,” he said.

The participating conservation organisations were Island Conservation Society (ICS) who was showcasing the beauty of the biodiversity of outer islands, the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) who was educating the public on the need to avoid throwing rubbish in the sea by showing them the different kinds of marine debris washed ashore on the beaches of Aldabra. Other organisations taking part were Global Vision International who were teaching the public on the eco system of the coral reefs, the Marine Society of Seychelles which displayed a model coral nursery, Wise Oceans who gave information on reef restoration works at Petite Anse Bay and the Green Island Foundation (GIF) who explained their work in marine monitoring and restoration on different islands.

Also present in the exhibition were the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) who was focusing on the restoration of coral reefs and MEECC who were educating the public on the marine laws and policies in terms of shell and sea turtle protection as examples, among others.

Different from the other stalls were Mangroves for the Future, who were educating the public on the different types of mangroves in Seychelles and their importance in the eco system while the Environment Education Section in the MEECC concentrated on the different old traditional plants and flowers with strong aromas which participants had to identify by smell or visually so as to win a token as a prize.

Cheyenne Noddyn Bristol, a P5 student from Anse Royale primary school, said the exhibition had broadened her knowledge more on marine conservation of corals and as for Joshua Lespoir, an S2 student from Beau Vallon secondary school, the exhibition was very informative as it inspired him to try coral planting. The exhibition ended in the afternoon.

The accompanying photos show visitors and guests touring the various stalls in the exhibition.

 

 

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