Seychelles National Report Phase 1: Integrated Problem Analysis
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Global Environment Facility GEF MSP Sub-Saharan Africa Project (GF/6010-0016): “Development and Protection of the Coastal and Marine Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa” SEYCHELLES NATIONAL REPORT PHASE 1: INTEGRATED PROBLEM ANALYSIS Terry Jones (National Coordinator), Rolph Payet, Katy Beaver and Michel Nalletamby March 2002 Disclaimer: The content of this document represents the position of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views or official policies of the Government of Seychelles, ACOPS, IOC/UNESCO or UNEP. The components of the GEF MSP Sub-Saharan Africa Project (GF/6010-0016) "Development and Protection of the Coastal and Marine Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa" have been supported, in cash and kind, by GEF, UNEP, IOC-UNESCO, the GPA Coordination Office and ACOPS. Support has also been received from the Governments of Canada, The Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom and the USA, as well as the Governments of Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania. Table of Contents Page Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. i Seychelles Country Profile................................................................................................................... ixv Chapter 1 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Population and Economy .......................................................................................................1 1.2 Geography and Climate .........................................................................................................5 1.3 Coastal Habitats .....................................................................................................................5 1.3.1 Coral Reefs ............................................................................................................................5 1.3.2 Lagoons..................................................................................................................................6 1.3.3 Coastal Marshes (Freshwater Wetlands) ...............................................................................6 1.3.4 Sandy Foreshores...................................................................................................................6 1.3.5 Mangroves .............................................................................................................................7 1.3.6 Seagrass Meadows.................................................................................................................7 Chapter 2 2. Scoping and Description of Methodology .............................................................................8 2.1 Identification of Hot Spots, Sensitive Areas and Overriding Issues......................................8 2.1.1 Selected 6 Hot Spots .............................................................................................................8 2.1.2 Selected 6 Sensitive Areas ....................................................................................................9 2.2 Overriding Issues .................................................................................................................10 2.2.1 Relevance of the GIWA List of Issues ................................................................................10 2.3 Scaling: Prioritisation of Hot Spots and Sensitive Areas.....................................................11 2.3.1 Hot Spots .............................................................................................................................11 2.3.2 Sensitive Areas ....................................................................................................................11 2.4 Scoping: Prioritisation of Issues ..........................................................................................11 Chapter 3 3. Assessment of Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts..............................................15 3.1 Modification and/or Loss of Ecosystems or Ecotones........................................................15 3.1.1 Environmental Impacts........................................................................................................16 3.1.1.1 Modification of Biodiversity ...............................................................................................16 3.1.1.2 Modification in Storm Barriers............................................................................................23 3.1.2 Socioeconomic Impacts ......................................................................................................24 3.2 Global Change .....................................................................................................................28 3.2.1 Environmental Impacts........................................................................................................28 3.2.1.1 Saltwater Intrusion...............................................................................................................29 3.2.1.2 Modification of Habitats (Coral Bleaching) ........................................................................30 3.2.1.3 Loss of Habitat Due to Coastal Erosion ..............................................................................32 3.2.2 Socio-Economic Impacts .....................................................................................................33 3.2.2.1 Sea-Level Rise .....................................................................................................................33 3.2.2.2 Coral Bleaching ...................................................................................................................35 3.3 Summary of Gaps/Problems ................................................................................................35 Chapter 4 4. The Causal Chain Analysis..................................................................................................37 4.1 Modification and Loss of Ecosystems and/or Ecotones ......................................................38 4.1.1 Immediate Causes................................................................................................................38 4.1.1.1 Modification of Ecosytems and/or Ecotones .......................................................................38 4.1.1.2 Loss of Ecosytems and/or Ecotones ....................................................................................41 4.1.2 Sectoral Pressures (for Modification and/or Loss of Ecosystems and/or Ecotones)............43 4.1.3 Responses ............................................................................................................................46 4.1.3.1 Environmental Management Policies and Tools Designed to Address Environmental Problems ..............................................................................................................................46 4.1.4 Sectoral Policies (that Directly Increase the Pressure) ........................................................49 4.1.4.1 Urbanisation.........................................................................................................................49 4.1.4.2 Tourism................................................................................................................................49 4.1.4.3 Fisheries...............................................................................................................................50 4.1.5 Community Response (Initiatives from Community or Social groups, which may Alleviate Pressure on the Issue ............................................................................................52 4.1.5.1 Market Responses................................................................................................................52 4.1.6 Root Causes .........................................................................................................................54 4.1.6.1 Social Change ......................................................................................................................54 4.1.6.2 Institutional Drivers .............................................................................................................56 4.1.6.3 Economic Structure..............................................................................................................57 4.2 Global Change (Coral Bleaching and Coastal erosion) .......................................................58 4.2.1 Immediate Causes................................................................................................................58 4.2.1.1 Coral Bleaching ...................................................................................................................58 4.2.1.2 Coastal Erosion....................................................................................................................59 4.2.2 Sectoral Pressures (Coral Bleaching and Coastal Erosion) .................................................60 4.2.2.1 Sectoral Pressures (Coral Bleaching)...................................................................................60 4.2.2.2 Sectoral Pressures (Coastal Erosion) ...................................................................................61 4.2.3 Responses ............................................................................................................................63