The staff-led Environmental Policy Implementation Committee (EPIC) of the National Assembly of Seychelles carried out a mangrove mapping exercise on Saturday 13th June 2026, in collaboration with Mr. Terence Vel and a group of students who have completed their Environmental Science studies from the University of Seychelles (UniSey). The mangrove mapping was part of a wider Feasibility study being undertaken by Mr. Vel, which is one of the key outcomes of the project “A Climate Resilient Parliament Raising Awareness and Advocating for the Protection of Mangrove Ecosystems” being spearheaded by the EPIC and fully funded under the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust’s (SEYCCAT) Blue Grants Fund 8.
The activity involved the participation of Hon. Gerry Sopha, EPIC Members, students with a recent completion of a BSc in Environmental Science with UniSey, and volunteers from Parley Seychelles and SALS Green Footprints. The session began with an overview of the SEYCCAT funded project by the Chairperson of EPIC, Deputy Clerk Ms. Alexandria Faure, and an educational presentation by Mr. Vel on the importance of mangrove ecosystems as well as an overview of the methods for data collection, which was a crucial part of the Mangrove Mapping exercise. Hon. Sopha found the experience to be very interesting, noting it provided a detailed overview of the importance of mangrove ecosystems. He expressed that “all parliamentarians should have the opportunity to be sensitized on mangrove ecosystems and climate mitigation/adaptation as legislators to ensure that we continue preserving the environment for the betterment of Seychelles”.
The participants were split into different groups and tackled varied components of the data collection. Everyone actively engaged in the mapping by carrying out a walk around the mangrove sanctuary, measuring and tagging the mangrove trees and other fauna, physically and via GPS, whilst other groups assessed the biodiversity of the area. Species such as whelks, mangrove crabs, and birds including the turtle dove, Seychelles kestrel and Minah birds were spotted in the area.
Hon. Sopha and the Members of EPIC were deeply engaged and found the activity to be beneficial, especially in identifying challenges such as plastic pollution and invasive plant species which will need to be tackled going forward. The Treasurer of the EPIC, Mrs. Gillian Samson, remarked that throughout the previously organised clean-up activities the rich diversity of the species around have been easily overlooked, highlighting that the mapping activity was both enriching and rewarding.
Another EPIC Member, Ms. Savrina Pirame, commented that “The mangrove mapping was a fascinating experience, as we learned so much about the importance of protecting mangroves. We measured tree heights and distances, identified the types of mangroves in the area, mostly red mangroves, and carried out GPS tracking. I am proud to be part of a team dedicated to safeguarding the environment, and I look forward to engaging in more of the committee’s upcoming initiatives, such as mangrove planting. I also hope to see greater awareness and understanding of mangrove conservation among our staff and the people of Seychelles.”
Further activities for the successful execution of the Feasibility Study will be organized with the completion timeline endeavored to be before the end of 2026. The overall aim of the SEYCCAT funded project is to transform the National Assembly into a climate resilient parliament with a thriving mangrove ecosystem through mangrove monitoring and management, capacity building for parliamentarians and staff, policy advocacy, reducing the Parliament’s carbon footprint and conducting a feasibility study to assess mangrove rehabilitation efforts in the Parliamentary Mangrove Sanctuary.
