Last updated: October 2021
Climate change has become the day-to-day struggle for this nation - an island nation that faces serious sea-level rise implications should the problem remain uncurbed. The impacts seen are related to rising temperature, sea-level rise (coastal erosion), and changes in rainfall (flooding). To reduce the vulnerability of the population of two regions next to its capital (Victoria), the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Seychelles initiated in 2012 a project aiming at improving the quality of life for the people of Seychelles and restore coastal zones as well as the ecological habitat related to them through nature-based solutions. The project will reduce these vulnerabilities by spearheading ecosystem-based adaptation as climate change risk management—restoring ecosystem functionality, and enhancing ecosystem resilience and sustainable watershed and coastal processes, in order to secure critical water provisioning and flood attenuation. (1)
Aerial view of the Mahe island
https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/ecosystem-based-adaptation-to-climate-change-in-seychelles/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
- Wetlands/peatlands/marshes
- Mangroves
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection
- Marine and biodiversity protection
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems, Protection of natural ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Improved governance of green or blue areas
Project objectives
Seychelles islands are an archipelago made up of about 115 islands with a total landmass area of 455 square kilometres. The estuarine and coastal ecosystems which include marshes, wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs, sandy beaches and seagrasses are some of the most threatened natural ecosystems in Seychelles due to rising sea levels, temperatures and changes in the rainfall pattern.
The intervention focuses on 2 of the most populated islands, Mahe (with the capital Victoria) and Praslin. The intervention addresses these issues by aiming at:
1. To reduce the vulnerability of the people of Mahe (the island where Victoria, the capital, is located, at a 2 km distance) and Praslin to water scarcity, and of the built environment to recurring flooding.
2. To restore the ecosystem functionality of degraded catchment areas and eroded coasts (reforestation and removal of invasive alien species and re-colonize with native plants).
3. To create wetlands, clear water bodies and rehabilitate coastal wetlands, enabling improved water flow and retention capacity, and aiding the recovery of coral reef habitat.
4. To create awareness regarding the climate change impacts and train local communities and volunteers in managing climate risk situations. (promoting local stewardship of watersheds) (2,3,4)
5. Protecting endemic tree species such as: Coco de Mer, Lodoicea maldivica, (Millionaire’s salad (Deckenia nobilis), Thief palm (Phoenicophoricum borsigianum); Seychelles stilt palm (Vershaffeltia splendid) Latanier millepatter (Nephrosperma vanhoutteanum) and Latanier palm (Rosheria melanochaetes)). - 70 endemic species were considered for ecosystem rehabilitation (2).
6. Stabilising and reforesting fifty hectares of bare ground and bush vegetation in the watersheds, concentrating on the most degraded areas (bare soils – 10 ha)
Implementation activities
The intervention was launched in 2014. Over a period of 5 years, the implementation activities consisted of building gabion rock barrages over 7 locations to create freshwater reserves using an approach that emphasises a natural approach to advanced engineering (2018). (6) In the same year, 2018 a tree-planting campaign aimed at rehabilitating watersheds and catchment areas by planting 4,000 trees native to Seychelles. (5) In 2019 a new climate change curriculum guide for teachers of primary five to secondary five classes which takes into account the situation for Seychelles was introduced in schools. (7)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement solutions to capture/store water to increase its availability and prevent shortages from droughts
- Protect coastal and freshwater ecosystems to prevent coastal erosion and pollution
- Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Control and clean invasive alien species
- Means for conservation governance
- Biodiversity offsets
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Energy of the Republic of Seychelles with funds from UN Development Programme.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The intervention was mainly based on 2 specific environmental documents:
1. The Seychelles Sustainable Development Strategy 2012-2020 which recognizes the various challenges including a need to integrate environmental considerations in cross-sectoral policies and to streamline national and international commitments such as those related to climate change adaptation.
2. The Water Development Plan 2008-2030 that include a recommended initiative for integrated river basin management, utilizing the current but dormant Rivers Committee as a focus for policy discussions. (2))
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Multilateral funds/international funding
Type of funding
- Direct funding or subsidy
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate, energy and emissions
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Adaptation Fund (no date), Ecosystem Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Seychelles, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
2. Adaptation Fund (no date), Programme Proposal, Ecosystem Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Seychelles, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
3. Sumetee Gajjar (2020), African perspectives Global insights -Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change in Coastal Cities, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
4. Government of Seychelles (2020). Seychelles’ National Climate Change Policy, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
5. Seychelles News Agency (2018), Tree-planting project in Seychelles seeks to preserve watersheds, catchment areas, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
6. Seychelles News Agency (2018), Seychelles getting more reservoirs that use natural engineering to store water, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
7. Seychelles News Agency (2019), Teachers in Seychelles to get new climate change curriculum guide focusing on island nation's situation, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021).
2. Adaptation Fund (no date), Programme Proposal, Ecosystem Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Seychelles, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
3. Sumetee Gajjar (2020), African perspectives Global insights -Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change in Coastal Cities, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
4. Government of Seychelles (2020). Seychelles’ National Climate Change Policy, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
5. Seychelles News Agency (2018), Tree-planting project in Seychelles seeks to preserve watersheds, catchment areas, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
6. Seychelles News Agency (2018), Seychelles getting more reservoirs that use natural engineering to store water, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021)
7. Seychelles News Agency (2019), Teachers in Seychelles to get new climate change curriculum guide focusing on island nation's situation, available at Source link (accessed 6-10-2021).
Victoria on the Mahe island
https://www.123rf.com/photo_97683022_aerial-view-of-mahe-island-seychelles-.html
Photo during planting intervention
http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/8970/Tree-planting+project+in+Seychelles+seeks+to+preserve+watersheds%2C+catchment+areas
Species of trees planted
http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/8970/Tree-planting+project+in+Seychelles+seeks+to+preserve+watersheds%2C+catchment+areas
Preparing to plant trees
http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/8970/Tree-planting+project+in+Seychelles+seeks+to+preserve+watersheds%2C+catchment+areas
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the UNA global extension project funded by the British Academy.