Biodiversity 8-4-2014 New Protected Area policy launched The document explores funding, legislation and more. Efforts by Seychelles since the 1970s to preserve its nonpareil natural assets have long been the stuff of conservationists’ dreams. Environmental protection however is an ongoing battle, as potential threats - be they manmade or otherwise – are never far away. This is what makes government’s new Protected Area (PA) policy, which was made public yesterday, such a crucial document. Elaborated by the Programme Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Environment and the Global Environment Facility of the United Nations Development Programme, the policy aims to “create conditions to effectively conserve 50% of national terrestrial areas and effectively conserve and manage 20% of marine area within the Exclusive Economic Zone”. It goes without saying that such a mammoth undertaking requires more than just good intentions. Cash and an appropriate legal framework are the two most important ingredients in creating a sustainable Protected Area Network (PAN). Setting up the latter is arguably simpler than the securing the former. Indeed, PA management is a surprisingly capital intensive activity. And as the report notes, due to budgetary restrictions, “there are only limited resources for conservation coming exclusively from government”. This is why it aims to create “sustainable financial mechanisms” harnessing the involvement of both the public and private sectors. This is all the more vital given the fact that certain protected areas are located on private land. “Any Protected Area that is not state-owned or controlled should also be designated by legislature to give the designation legal status as a formal PA and to ensure recognition by other sectors”, states the policy. In fact, the document provides for a whole legal arsenal to make the PAN a reality. The PA law, which is in the pipeline, will be strengthened by revised Fisheries and Environment Protection Acts. For its part, the Town and Country Planning Act will give way to a Physical Planning Act. At the launch of the policy, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Rolph Payet, described the process: “The resulting network of Protected Areas will be comprehensive and a range of management tools will be used to address the various needs of the different categories of PAs in Seychelles. A systematic marine spatial planning approach has been initiated to guide the expansion of the marine protected area system so as to meet international obligations and commitments. The Protected Areas Policy paves the way for the review of all legislation pertaining to Protected Areas in the Seychelles. Work is underway to prepare a new Protected Areas Bill which will be presented to government for consideration later this year”. Source: Today in Seychelles
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 04:44:38 +0000