The Forestry Section within the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority include the Sans Soucis Unit covering the northern and eastern parts of Mahe, Fond B’Offay unit covering the whole of Praslin and La Digue, and the secretariat based in Victoria which coordinates all the activities of the sub-stations.
The Responsibilities of the Forestry Section are:
- To assist with the development and implementation of forest policies and related legislations.
- To manage state forest sustainably.
- To undertake routine maintenance, integrated management, development and extension of forest plantation and reserve.
- To undertake and manage the harvesting and use of timber and non-timber forest products.
- To assist in diagnosis of tree diseases and adopt measures to control and combat these threats.
- To prevent, detect and suppress forest fires and the spread of invasive species.
- To assist in the prevention, detection and prosecution of illegal activities including poaching
The Functioning of the Section is Guided by the Following Principles:
- The Sustainability Principle: the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, agriculture and forest resources to meet the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing the needs of future generation.
- The Efficiency Principle: the conservation and utilization of biological resources in an efficient and sustainable manner to produce the desired objective.
- Prevention and Mitigation of Alien Invasive Species on Threatened Ecosystems and their Functions: the adoption of appropriate measures to prevent introduction and further spread and minimize the impact of invasive alien species as an integral component of conservation and economic development.
- Ecosystem Restoration and Rehabilitation: the restoration of ecosystem to their original state where practicable, and the implementation of measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of threatened species.
The Forestry Section has several long term environmental objectives. These include the provision of habitat for endemic fauna and flora; the prevention of any further extinction of unique flora and fauna; the improvement of forest cover in catchment areas; supporting the rehabilitation of indigenous species and the conservation of the landscape of Seychelles.
Daily Activities Undertaken by the Forestry Section Include:
- Plant production on nurseries
- Planting on timber plantation and on degraded lands
- Removal/eradication of invasive species
- Selling of non timber forest products such as Latanier leaves, vacoas leaves, raffia etc
- Selling of timber from commercial trees species such as mahogany and santol
- Monitoring of forest/Enforcement of environmental legislation
- Treatment of diseased trees e.g. takamaka trees
Research Opportunities:
There are opportunities for students, both local and foreign to come and do research with the Forestry Section. For further information, proposals should be sent to Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority or alternatively contact us.
Contact details:
Forestry Section
Botanical Garden
Mont Fleuri
Mahe
Tel:(+248) 4225114
