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SEYCHELLES NATIONAL STRATEGY for PLANT CONSERVATION

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SEYCHELLES NATIONAL STRATEGY for PLANT CONSERVATION SEYCHELLES NATIONAL STRATEGY for PLANT CONSERVATION 2005 - 2010 Produced by Plant Conservation Action Group Designed by: A. A. Labrosse and Botanical Garden Section (MENR) Seychelles, 2005 Contents Foreword 3 Objective 2: Objective 5: The Plant Conservation Action group (PCA) Conserving Plant Diversity Capacity Building for the Message of support 5 Conservation of Plant Diversity The PCA is a Non-Governmental Organisation formed in November 2002 with the ultimate mission to further plant Target 4 18 conservation in Seychelles by developing a network of conservationists and environmentalists. It also endeavours to Acknowledgements 7 Conserving threatened plants Target 12 34 act as a reliable source of advice and scientific information to interested parties, with the main goals of promoting Improving local capacity awareness about the fundamental importance of plants as the basis of all ecosystems and of mankind's dependence Introduction 8 Target 5 20 upon their services and products, and to gain support for their conservation. Conserving crop diversity Target 13 36 Increasing funds for plant Its main objectives are: Target 6 22 conservation • To increase the local capacity to provide timely, innovative and practical solutions to conservation problems. Objective 1: Linking legislation with plant • To offer opportunities for individuals interested in plant conservation to work with similar minded professionals to Understanding and conservation Target 14 38 contribute towards conservation and to be part of a well respected and effective body of experts. Documenting Plant Diversity National network strengthened • To provide local plant scientists and other interested parties with the opportunity to do research and to publicise Target 7 24 their findings. Target 1 12 Managing alien invasive species • To offer its members access to channels of information in various forms, to current news on topics related to the Furthering our knowledge of Annex 1 41 Seychelles plant diversity Species Survival Commission and on plant conservation in general. Background to the Development of • To influence decisions and policies affecting biodiversity recommendations and guidelines based on sound Objective 3: the Strategy interdisciplinary scientific information. Target 2 14 Using Plant Diversity • To raise funds and establish a sound resource and administrative base to support the activities of the group. Evaluating the status of native plant Sustainably • To set up a local network of conservationists to link up with other regional and international networks. species Annex 2 44 • To develop protocols of plant conservation and sustainable use based on research and practical experience. These Target 8 26 Targets and Contributing can include management plans for the major alien invasive species that threaten native plants, plant communities Target 3 16 and associated habitats and ecosystems. Enhancing plant research in Sustainable production of valuable Organisations / Groups • To promote education and awareness about Seychelles plant diversity at all levels in the society. Seychelles plants Any interested individual can become a member of the NGO provided he or she accepts the conditions stated Annex 3 45 under its constitution and enrols as a member. Objective 4: List of Workshop Participants Promoting Education and and Organisations Awareness about Plant Diversity Annex 4 46 The National Botanic Gardens Target 9 28 Key References and Resource Increasing public awareness Documents The Botanic Garden Section is now part of the recently created Division of Nature and Conservation within the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. Its aim is to contribute significantly towards the sustainable development of Target 10 30 Seychelles through input into conservation, promotion, and research on the endemic, indigenous and other useful Making information more widely Annex 5 47 flora. available The Main Invasive Plant Species in Seychelles The main objectives of the Section are: Target 11 32 • To promote community awareness and knowledge about plants and their importance for conservation. Increasing awareness in the The Plant Conservation 48 • To develop and promote the role of the Botanic Garden as the centre for botanical and horticultural activities. education system Action group (PCA) • To provide tourists with a natural attraction and with comprehensive information about our natural heritage. The Botanic Garden • To conserve, research, maintain and develop a diverse, comprehensive and well-documented collection of native plants. The National Botanic Gardens are a member of the Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI). NATIONAL STRATEGY for NATIONAL STRATEGY for 48 PLANT CONSERVATION PLANT CONSERVATION 1 Annex 5 The Main Invasive Plant Species in Seychelles Woody species Creepers Herbaceous species Latin name Common name Latin name Common name Latin name Common name Paraserianthes Albizia Merremia peltata Lalyann torti, Agave sisalana Sisal, Lalwa falcataria Liane d'argent Cinnamomum Cinnamon, Thunbergia Thunbergia Dieffenbachia Dumb cane, verum Kannel grandiflora sequine Bwa tang Psidium Chinese guava, Epipremnum spp. Filodendron Stachytarpheta Zepi ble cattleianum Gouyav de sin jamaicensis and S. Urticifolia Clidemia hirta Fo watouk Philodendron spp. Filodendron Furcraea foetida Agave, sisal Syzygium jambos Jambosa, Zanbroza Passiflora spp. Passion fruit, Elettaria Cardamom, Pok pok, Lepeka cardamomum Cardamon Alstonia Bwa zonn Quisqualis indica Rangoon creeper, Clerodendrum spp. Modesti macrophylla Santoninn Chrysobalanus Cocoplum, Syngonium Carica papaya Papaya, Papay, icaco Prin de frans podophyllum Pawpaw Pentadesma Butternut, Ipomaea spp. Railway creeper, Pistia stratiotes Water lettuce butyracea Bwa ber Titoupi etc. Dillenia Bwa rouz blan Antigonon leptopus Antigonn, Lalyann Ananus comosus Wild pineapple, suffruticosa koray, Coral vine zannannan maron Tabebuia pallida Kalisdipap, White cedar Ardisia crenata Christmas tree, Arbre de Noël Ardisia elliptica NATIONAL STRATEGY for PLANT CONSERVATION 47 Annex 4 Foreword Key References and Resource Documents Stemming plant diversity loss is one of the major challenges facing conservationists worldwide General Hill, M. J. ed. 2002 Biodiversity Surveys Fleischer-Dogley, F. & T. Kendle today. In Seychelles, plant conservation has, Republic of Seychelles 1997 and Conservation Potential of Inner 2002 The conservation status of the Coco Seychelles Biodiversity Strategy and Action Seychelles Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin de Mer Lodoicea maldivica (Gmelin despite many initiatives, somehow always taken a Plan The Republic of Seychelles / UNEP No.495 Persoon): a flagship species. Pages 369 lower priority in relation to the more charismatic / IUCN 382 in M. Maunder et al., eds. Plant Republic of Seychelles 2000 Ex situ plant conservation Conservation in the Tropics: local animal species. Most of our efforts were Environment Management Plan of Eden Project 2003 Final Report for Perspectives and Practice. Royal done in an ad hoc manner, and there was a real Seychelles 2000-2010 The Republic of Darwin Initiative Project: “Propagation, Botanical Gardens, Kew Seychelles / UNESCO Nursery and Establishment Protocols for Moustache, M. et al. 2004 A guide to need for a more consistent and integrated Seychelles Endemic Plants” Eden Project, home gardening in Seychelles. Ministry of approach to meet existing and emerging General ecology UK and Botanical Gardens, Seychelles Environment and Natural Resources Stoddart, D.R. ed. 1984 Biogeography (MENR) and National Consumers challenges. and Ecology of the Seychelles Islands. Dr Invasive plant species Forum (NATCOF). W Junk Publishers, The Hague Fleischmann, K. 1997 Invasion of Sauer, J. D. 1967 Plants and Man on alien woody plants on the islands of Mahé The National Strategy for Plant Conservation is the Seychelles Coast: A study in historical Taxonomy and Silhouette, Seychelles. Journal of biogeography. University of Wisconsin thus an important milestone in providing Baker, J.G. 1877 Flora of Mauritius and Vegetation Science 8:5-12. Press, Madison, London the Seychelles: A description of the Kueffer, C. & P. Vos 2004 Case Studies botanists with the right tool to address plant Skidmore, G.L. 1974 Annotated flowering plants and ferns of those islands. on the Status of invasive Woody Plant Bibliography of Scientific and Technical conservation issues. It is another step forward L. Reeve & Co. London. (reprint: J Species in the Western Indian Ocean: 5. Information Compiled from the Work and Cramer, Lehre, 1970 Wheldon & Seychelles. Forest Health & Biosecurity for Seychelles towards the implementation of its Records of the Department of Agriculture, Wesley Ltd. Codicote, Herts: S-H Working Papers FBS/4-5E. Forestry Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles to August 1972 national obligations under the Convention for Service Agency Inc. New York) Department, Food and Agriculture Eyre & Spottiswoode, London Fosberg, F.R. & S.A. Renvoize 1980 Organization of the United Nations, Biological Diversity (CBD). The Flora of Aldabra and Neighbouring Rome, Italy. Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series Kueffer, C. et al. 2004 Case Studies on Education and awareness VII. Her Majesty's Stationary Office, the Status of Invasive Woody Plant Species Beaver, K. 1995 Common Wild Plants I am especially proud to note this is a first for London in the Western Indian Ocean: 1. Synthesis. of the Seychelles Coastal Lowlands. Friedmann, F. 1994 Flore des Forest Health and Biosecurity Working Ministry
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