TRASS donates plants to Baie Ste Anne primary school, inspiring eco-school club |21 July 2025

TRASS donates plants to Baie Ste Anne primary school, inspiring eco-school club

In a bid to continue to propagate native and endemic species on Praslin Island, Terrestrial Restoration Action Society of Seychelles has donated various plants to the Baie Ste Anne primary school.

The donation took place at the school with a group of eco-school members as well as a representative of the environmental non-governmental organisation.

“This activity is another testament of our continued efforts to create more awareness about the different species of plants available to public establishments and that are more valuable than exotic or introduced species,” said Shirley Joubert, the vice-chairperson of Terrestrial Restoration Action Society of Seychelles (TRASS.)

After the presentation, students and teachers joined TRASS representatives to prepare holes and plant the trees. This practical experience helped the students to learn more about the different planting techniques, their medicinal values and benefits, as well as how to care for them. The donation included a variety of fruit trees, such as Soursop and Starfruit, as well as medicinal plants, such as ‘Bwa sousouri’ (Ochrosia Oppositifolia), all of which will contribute towards the environmental conservation of the island and promote sustainable practices within the school.

The Baie Ste Anne eco-school team leader, Karen Port-Louis, welcomed this initiative to promote environmental education and greener school grounds.

“We had already started our medicinal corner, and we had some fruit trees, but this donation will go a long way towards achieving our goals of having a greener school and promoting local crops and agriculture through agroforestry for healthier living.”

Since its creation in 2009, TRASS has been actively restoring the mountains of Praslin Island with the support of dedicated volunteers. To sustain this work, the organisation operates nursery facilities that produce native and endemic plants for its rehabilitation projects, including fruit trees for agroforestry initiatives.

Any surplus plants and seedlings are made available for sale to hotels and private landowners, encouraging the wider community to take part in restoring biodiversity. This initiative not only enhances the island’s natural environment but also plays a vital role in safeguarding rare and endemic species for future generations.

Contributed