Ecosystem Based Adaptation project |18 November 2019
200 trees planted around North East Point wetland
The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change and the UNDP jointly implemented the Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EBA) project and on Friday the second phase of the wetland reprofiling at North East Point was completed with the planting of some 200 trees.
The project, which is being funded by the Adaptation Fund, was to clear the wetlands at North East Point and to start using native plants to revegetate the area.
It also seeks to reduce the vulnerability of Seychelles to climate change, focusing on two key issues: water scarcity and flooding.
The project will reduce these vulnerabilities by spearheading ecosystem-based adaptation as climate change risk management, restoring ecosystem functionality, and enhancing ecosystem resilience and sustaining watershed and coastal areas.
“The first phase was done at North East Point Sea View this year and the last part will be done next year during the dry season behind the hospital all the way to the rehabilitation centre. We have also noticed that once the first area was cleared people do respect the work we did and do not dump garbage on the site. We are happy to get this kind of reaction. For the last part we will surely engage the community including the schools to participate in this project. EBA project believes that increasing the awareness, skills and responsibilities of community organisations, local residents and other stakeholders in ecosystem-based adaptation methods to protect watersheds will provide a lasting basis for further education, training and application in watershed ecosystem rehabilitation. Once completed the restored wetland will have biodiversity and recreational values for the residents of North East Point,” noted Betty Victor.
Besides Ms Victor, the other members of the team working on this project are Rajelle Barbe, James Millett, Johan Mendez and Eldrick Adelaide.
The accompanying photos taken by our photographer Louis Toussaint show some highlights of the tree planting activity at the North East Point wetland.
Vidya Gappy
