The Environmental Policy Implementation Committee’s (EPIC) activities resumed on Thursday 20th July 2023, at the stunning Constance Ephelia Mangrove site. The visit formed part of EPIC’s aims to gain more knowledge and perspective regarding the management of mangrove areas.
The Port Launay Wetlands, which amount to around 120 hectares, is a designated wetland of international importance under the RAMSAR convention. The Committee was guided through the very special site by the wonderful Ms. Hilary Albert of the Ephelia Green Team. EPIC learned about the different elements of Ephelia’s mangrove project, which includes awareness raising through community engagement and school participation as well as the restoration and protection of mangroves.
Activities of mangrove identification culminated in a short quiz based on the seven mangrove types observed during the walking tour. One of the highlights of the tour was learning of Ms. Albert’s “mangrove honey project”. As the only project of its kind in Seychelles, Ms. Albert’s project easily piqued the interest of eager EPIC members as she explained the differences of the mangrove honey compared to other types of honey, as well as its potential medicinal properties.
The tour ended with a mangrove planting activity in the mangrove nursery where the committee members were joined by Ephelia’s sustainability manager, Mr. Markus Ultsch-Unrath. The nursery is itself a mangrove success story as the now-thriving area was once considered a ‘dead-zone’.
EPIC benefitted greatly from the visit and the knowledge gained will be used in the management of the National Assembly’s own mangrove area and future projects to be undertaken.
