<B> What is the role of Nature Seychelles in the protection of the environment? </B>

This organization, which was founded in 1998, is today the largest non-governmental organization (NGO) in the Seychelles. We concentrate our action on various sectors like education and awareness, conservation, restoration of islands and policy legislation. We seriously think that there is a big job to be done among the young. This explains why our latest project has been to introduce all aspects of environmental issues into the school curriculum. These include biology, ecology and preservation of the environment. The objective is indeed to educate the youth about their country?s fragile ecosystem so as to make them feel more concerned with its protection. Nature Seychelles also works with private island donors to restore the degraded environment.

<B> What difficulties is the Seychelles facing and what are the challenges awaiting it? </B>

The basic problem is the issue of access to markets as well as our dependence on only two economic sectors: tourism and fishing. The fishing sector is over-exploited by the international fishing fleets operating in our zone. Another difficulty is linked to the small population of the Seychelles. This lack of human resources makes it difficult to enable significant economic development. Added to this, almost 70% of the Seychelles? land area could easily be destroyed if there were even a slight increase in the sea level.

Nature Seychelles also manages Cousin Island, one of the world?s first whole island reserves. The Seychelles Government also declared the entire island, including the reef around it to a distance of 400 meters, a Special Reserve. It will be a center for eco-tourism.

<B> Several environmental and economic issues have been raised in debates. What do you expect from this forum? </B>

Nature Seychelles, as well as organizations around the region want governments to recognize that we are real partners in the development process. The situation in the Seychelles is rather different. The NGO do not have support of any kind from the government. The different stakeholders should rather work hand in hand so as to ensure effective action is taken in dealing with environmental issues. This forum in Mauritius is a real opportunity for the organizations present here to share their experience and define common actions.