VICTORIA, Seychelles — A project to rehabilitate the Praslin coastal area, starting at the entrance of the Praslin airport all the way to Ros Korbizo, is expected to be carried out this year. The project, designed by the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency (SIA), will cost over R29 million, according to the principal climate adaptation officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Anie Simeon.
Ms Simeon explained that the two main issues affecting the coastal area at Amitié on Praslin, at the site of the former Seychelles Trading Company warehouse, are coastal erosion and overtopping. When there is high tide, these tidal waves crash onto the main road. The force undermines the main road infrastructure, causing damages in some areas. These high tidal waves also wash away all the sediments beneath the rock armouring that was previously installed. In 2019, a local non-governmental organisation, Anse Kerlan Avangard, was created, bringing together all residents of the sub-district of Grand Anse Praslin who were being affected, to see how they can combat the coastal erosion.
“No research was carried out prior to work done in the past such as rock dumping and rock armouring. This time around, the work is being done based on recommendations from a research carried out by the World Bank,” Ms Simeon said, adding that the project will include rock armouring, backfilling, and the creation of small beaches where possible. The ministry said the project represents a more evidence-based and community-driven approach to addressing the chronic coastal erosion that has affected the Praslin coastline for years.
