VICTORIA, Seychelles — Forest firefighting efforts on Praslin received a major boost yesterday with the handover of a donation from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ridge to Reef project, in partnership with the Menai Bay Conservation Area Environment and Community (MACEE). The donation, accepted by Praslin-based assistant divisional officer Peter Cherry at the fire station on Île Eve, was officially launched to coincide with a three-week forest firefighting training programme.
Present at the ceremony were Minister for Internal Affairs Errol Fonseka, principal secretary for environment Denis Matatiken, Lieutenant Commander Timothée Sevastre, deputy chief fire officer Jones Madeleine, district administrator for the Grand Anse Praslin district Chantal Laure, and senior officials from the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA). Minister Fonseka said the donation marks an important step in SFRSA’s commitment to enhancing forest protection.
Mr Matatiken said like many small island nations, Seychelles depends heavily on nature for its survival and development, and that climate change is bringing more intense rains and rising temperatures. He noted that 5 percent of native forests on Praslin and Curieuse, 15 percent on Mahé and La Digue, and 3 percent on Silhouette have been affected or degraded on account of fire. Together, the partners have trained over 400 individuals, including officers from SFRSA, district emergency committee, the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the MACEE, and the latest donation of firefighting equipment and tools will help the trained responders in their work.
