Republic of Seychelles
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Seychelles Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity Republic of Seychelles Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity Citation: Government of Seychelles (2011) Fourth National Report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Environment Department, P.O. Box 445, Botanical Gardens, Mont Fleuri, Victoria, Republic of Seychelles. Report prepared by John Nevill, Consultant. E-mail: [email protected] & [email protected] All Photos courtesy of John Nevill unless otherwise stated. 1 Seychelles Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations Executive Summary .................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1: Overview of Biodiversity Status, Trends and Threats. 1.1 Forest Biodiversity .......................................................................................................... 6 1.1.1 Granitic Islands ........................................................................................................... 7 1.1.2 Coralline Islands ........................................................................................................... 8 1.1.3 Trends in and Threats to Forest Biodiversity ............................................................... 12 1.2 Inland Waters Biodiversity ............................................................................................. 17 1.2.1 Highland Wetlands ............................................................................................ 17 1.2.2 Lowland Wetlands ............................................................................................ 17 1.2.3 Rivers and Streams ............................................................................................ 18 1.3 Marine and Coastal Biodiversity ................................................................................ 20 1.3.1 Artisanal Fishery ............................................................................................ 20 1.3.2 Semi-Industrial Fishery ............................................................................................ 21 1.3.3 Industrial Fishery ............................................................................................ 22 1.3.4 Beach Crest and Beach ............................................................................................ 23 1.3.5 Rocky Shore ............................................................................................ 25 1.3.6 Mudflats and Mangroves ............................................................................................ 25 1.3.7 Sea Grass Beds ............................................................................................ 26 1.3.8 Reef Flats ............................................................................................ 27 1.3.9 Coral Reefs ............................................................................................ 27 1.3.10 Marine Plateau ............................................................................................ 28 1.3.11 Pelagic ............................................................................................ 30 1.4 Trends in Biodiversity ............................................................................................ 38 Chapter 2: Status of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 42 2.2 CBD Targets and Indicators ............................................................................................ 49 2.3 Contribution to National Implementation of the CBD ........................................ 50 2.4 Project Implementation ............................................................................................ 50 2.5 Strategic Implementation ............................................................................................ 50 2.6 Funding ............................................................................................ 66 2.7 Successes, Obstacles and Lessons Learned .................................................................. 67 2.7.1 Successes ............................................................................................ 67 2.7.2 Obstacles ............................................................................................ 67 2.7.3 Lessons Learned ............................................................................................ 67 2.7.4 Next Steps ............................................................................................ 68 2.8 Information Requested in COP VIII Decisions ..................................................... 68 2.8.1 Decision VIII/5: Article 8(j) and related provisions – para 2. ................................... 68 2.8.2 Decision VIII/21: Marine and Coastal Biodiversity – para 3. ................................... 69 2.8.3 Decision VIII/22: Marine and Coastal Biodiversity – para 5. ................................... 69 2.8.4 Decision VIII/24: Protected Areas – para 4. ………………………………… 69 2.8.5 Decision VIII/28: Impact Assessment – para 5. ………………………………… 69 2 Seychelles Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity Chapter 3: Sectoral and Cross-Sectoral Integration or Mainstreaming of Biodiversity Considerations 3.1 Cross-sectoral Integration of Biodiversity ..................................................... 71 3.1.1 The Environmental Management for Seychelles 2000 – 2010. ................................... 71 3.1.2 Management of the Development Cycle ................................... 71 3.1.3 Sectoral Strategies ................................... 72 3.1.4 Monitoring and Review ................................... 72 3.2 The Ecosystem Approach and Mainstreaming Biodiversity ......................................... 72 Chapter 4: Conclusions – Progress towards the 2010 Target and Implementation of the Strategic Plan 4.1 Progress towards the 2010 Target ..................................................... 77 4.2 Progress towards the Goals and Objectives of the Strategic Plan ........................... 85 4.2.1 Achievement of Goals and Objectives at the Convention Level .................................... 85 4.2.2 National Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol .................................... 85 4.3 Conclusions ..................................................... 88 4.3.1 Implementation of the Convention and its Objectives in Seychelles ..................... 88 4.3.2 Lessons learned .................................................. 90 4.3.3 Future priorities for further implementation of the Convention ………………….. 91 4.3.4 Suggestions for actions to improve national implementation of the CBD at Convention, Regional and International level. ……………………………………………… 93 Appendices ……………………………………………….. 94 Appendix I Information concerning reporting Party and preparation of national report. Appendix II Further sources of Information (Bibliography) Appendix III Progress towards Targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and the Programme of Work on Protected Areas Case Studies 1. Coco-de-Mer Management and Research ............................................................................ 13 2. The Recovery of the Seychelles White-eye ............................................................................ 15 3. Managing Nesting Marine Turtle Populations ............................................................. 33 4. Management of Sooty Tern Populations ........................................................................... 35 5. Whale Sharks In Seychelles ........................................................................... 37 6. Ecosystem Rehabilitation ........................................................................... 73 Tables and Figures 3 Seychelles Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity Table 1: Description and Status of Forest Biodiversity ............................................... 9 Table 2: Description and Status of Inland Waters Biodiversity ............................................... 19 Table 3: IOTC Species Stock Status Summary ............................................... 24 Table 4: Description and Status of Marine and Coastal Biodiversity ....................................... 31 Table 5: Trends in Biodiversity ........................................................................... 38 5a: Forest Biodiversity ........................................................... 38 5b: Inland Waters Biodiversity ............................................ 39 5c: Marine and Coastal Biodiversity ................................... 40 Table 6: Threats to Biodiversity ............................................................................ 41 Table 7: NBSAP Project Elaboration and Prioritisation ............................................... 44 Table 8: NBSAP Project Implementation ............................................................................ 51 Table 9: NBSAP Strategic Implementation ............................................................................ 56 Table 10: Assessment of Progress towards 2010 Biodiversity Target ................................ 78 Table 11: Assessment of Progress towards the Goals and Objectives