Republic of Seychelles Ministry of Environment Government of Seychelles Citation This document may be cited as: Government of Seychelles (2002, Seychelles National Report to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Ministry of Environment, Republic of Seychelles. ISBN: 99931-814-4-7 Year 1770 to Year 2002- Leaving only footsteps, Beach in Seychelles Further information and copies: This Report is also available for distribution to all interested parties. Hard Paper copies may incur a charge for printing and postage. Address: Director General, Policy, Planning and Services Division, Ministry of Environment, P.O. Box 1145, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles. Tel: (248) 225672/224644; Fax (248) 322945/224500; email: [email protected]. The report will also be available in PDF format on the Internet for viewing and downloading (please visit http://www.pps.gov.sc/). Copyright: Government of Seychelles, 2002 Seychelles WSSD Report 2002 ii Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements...............................................................................................iv Preface ...................................................................................................................v INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1 Country Background ..............................................................................................1 NATIONAL PROCESSES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ..................4 Policy-making Processes ........................................................................................4 Planning Processes .................................................................................................5 Institutional Aspects...............................................................................................5 Impacts of the National Process..............................................................................7 Recommendations ..................................................................................................8 INTEGRATION AND PARTICIPATION .............................................................9 The Participation and Impact of Government Agencies ..........................................9 Achievements in implementing Agenda 21.........................................................9 Constraints in implementing Agenda 21 ...........................................................11 The Participation and Impact of Non-Governmental Organisations.......................11 Achievements in Implementing Agenda 21.......................................................12 Constraints in Implementing Agenda 21 ...........................................................13 Recommendations ............................................................................................14 The Participation and Impact of the Private Sector ...............................................14 Achievements in Implementing Agenda 21.......................................................15 Constraints in implementing Agenda 21 ...........................................................15 Recommendations ............................................................................................16 National Policy and Institutional Barriers .............................................................16 NATIONAL CRITICAL ISSUES .........................................................................18 Threats to Biodiversity and Conservation Capacity...............................................18 Impact of Climate Change ....................................................................................20 Coastal Development ...........................................................................................20 Recommendations ................................................................................................21 EDUCATION TRAINING AND AWARENESS..................................................23 Integration with National Planning .......................................................................23 Achievements in the implementation of Agenda 21 ..............................................24 Constraints in the Implementation of Agenda 21 ..................................................25 Recommendations ................................................................................................26 THE WAY FORWARD.........................................................................................27 Seychelles WSSD Report 2002 iii Acknowledgements The Government of Seychelles would like to acknowledge the following: · The National WSSD Committee, a small team with representatives from both the public and private sector, including NGOs, for providing technical guidance and review during the process for the preparation of this National Report; · The staff of the Ministry of Environment for their consistent technical support; · The National Study Teams consisting of experts from government, NGO’s and the Private Sector; · United Nations Development Programme (Mauritius Office) and Capacity 21 Staff; The preparation of this National Report was supported by a grant from UNDP/Capacity 21. Seychelles WSSD Report 2002 iv Preface Ten years after the last United Nations Conference on Environment & Development (the Earth Summit), the international community will now meet on the continent of Africa to review the progress in implementing the commitments made in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. While an assessment of the past ten years reveals both successes and failures, it can nevertheless be agreed that genuine progress has been made at national, regional and global levels. The question is, however, whether we have done enough to address the most critical threats to the global environment, and to promote sustainable development? This short Report provides a brief overview of what has been achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21 in Seychelles. At the same time the Report illustrates that despite the real achievements of the past ten years, in common with other small island developing states (SIDS) Seychelles faces many constraints to attaining sustainable development. The achievements of our first Environmental Management Plan for Seychelles (EMPS) 1900- 2000, and various other sectoral plans, illustrate that Seychelles has pursued a consistent approach to the promotion of sustainable development. The levels of national investment in capacity building, information sharing, environment management, protected area management and infrastructure to handle pollution and wastes have progressively increased, and have made a positive impact on the social and economic welfare of the country. This investment has resulted in a number of success stories in the areas of conservation, waste management and protected areas. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have also made a significant contribution, especially in the areas of environmental conservation, and in addressing social issues such as women’s and children’s rights, family issues, the fight against alcohol and drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS. The private sector has also contributed by providing financial support to a number of social, developmental and conservation activities and projects. On the other hand, Seychelles shares many of the constraints and vulnerabilities of small island developing states, primarily due to its very small economy, remoteness from major markets and limited resource (both human and financial) base. This vulnerability is further exacerbated by the threats of long-term climate change, and also the recent impacts of El Nino events. Major critical issues and pressures include impacts on biodiversity, the negative impacts of climate change, and growing problems of urbanization along the coastal areas. The second Seychelles Environment Management Plan (EMPS-II) covering the years 2000- 2010 seeks to address such issues and covers many of the recommendations found in this Report. However, due to the nature and extent of issues and threats to be addressed, including those that are related to unsustainable practices elsewhere on the planet, as well as the limited resources at our disposal, international partnerships will be required to successfully implement the plan. In conclusion, although there have been many outstanding initiatives taken at national levels, many elements of Agenda 21 remain unevenly implemented across regions and on a global scale. Moreover, many commitments regarding means of implementation have yet to be met and many countries have ignored the precautionary principle aspect of Agenda 21 in favour of “business as usual”. Finally, it is lamentable that the constraints faced by developing countries, including Small Island Developing States, have not been adequately acknowledged by the international community as a whole, and that the necessary financial resources have not been made available to such countries on the required scale. We therefore hope that this document does not become yet another addition to the growing library of declarations for an ailing earth, but rather that this Conference will represent a defining moment in the quest for sustainable development on a global scale. Minister of Environment August 2002 Seychelles WSSD Report 2002 v INTRODUCTION Country Background Seychelles is a small island state located between latitudes 3' and 7' south and longitudes 45' and 56’ east in the South-Western