National parks and protected areas
Located in the Indian Ocean, the archipelago comprises 155 tropical coral and granite islands. Biodiversity is both exceptional and fragile, in terms of both species and environments: coral reefs, mangroves and forests. The country has created a number of protected areas, including marine reserves, national parks and special reserves. Since 2020, 30% of the archipelago's marine area has been protected. This latest measure is linked to the "debt-for-nature" agreement put in place after the 2008 financial crisis. In other words, repayment of the country's debt is partly replaced by actions to protect the ocean and mitigate climate change.
Seychelles boasts several national parks, both on land and at sea:
Morne Seychellois National Park, on the island of Mahé: here you can discover a whole range of the island's biodiversity, with mangrove, rainforest and mountain ecosystems. The park covers 20% of the island's surface area. The Morne Seychellois is the highest point in the Seychelles, at 906 m, and makes for a wonderful excursion.
Praslin National Park: the second largest national park in the Seychelles, it is home to the Unesco-listed Vallée de Mai (see below). It offers visitors a wonderful introduction to the biodiversity of Praslin, with its endemic flora and fauna. Walkers can take the magnificent "Glacis Noir" trail for panoramic views.
Silhouette National Park: protects 93% of the island of Silhouette, a hotel island and the largest granite island in the Seychelles. It is home to tropical forests and bird conservation areas. It also has a marine national park.
Curieuse National Marine Park: located on Curieuse Island, this park protects the island's biodiversity and its seabed. Endemic species include the coco de mer and the giant tortoises that come here to lay their eggs. The island is ideal for both hiking and diving.
Sainte-Anne National Marine Park: located off the coast of Mahé, this is the first marine park in the Indian Ocean, created in 1973. Its landscapes and biodiversity are exceptional. Visitors can discover these treasures by boat excursion or diving.
Baie Ternay National Marine Park: only accessible by boat, this park protects the fragile ecosystems of the coral reef massifs and a whole range of marine flora and fauna. Whale and turtle sightings are also possible.
Port Launay National Marine Park : located on the island of Mahé, this park is renowned for its whale shark sightings. It can be explored on foot, to discover beaches and mangroves, but also by diving for the richness of its seabed and coral reefs.
Coco Island National Marine Park: located off the coast of La Digue, Coco Island protects an entire coral ecosystem. Easily accessible by boat and tourist companies, it is a popular spot for snorkeling.
Ile Cousin Special Reserve: managed by Nature Seychelles, access is regulated. The reserve aims to protect birds and their habitats, notably the Seychelles warbler, the white gygis and the noddi marianne.
The country also boasts two Unesco World Heritage sites: Aldabra, the world's largest raised atoll and home to Seychelles' giant tortoises, and the Vallée de Mai. Located on the island of Praslin, it is home to a forest of endemic palm trees, including the famous cocofesse, which produces the world's largest vegetable seed.
Anthropic activities that weaken the environment
The country's economy is essentially based on tourism and fishing. These activities depend on the environmental health of the islands. Although the country has chosen to limit hotel construction (moratorium in 2015), the Seychelles are nevertheless welcoming a growing number of visitors (over 350,000 by 2023), which is not without impact on the environment and natural resources. Tourism generates excessive consumption of resources (water, energy), the need to import products (90% of goods are imported) and produces waste. The country has launched awareness-raising campaigns aimed at tourists, and some islands have taken steps towards self-sufficiency in food and energy, and the development of renewable energy (solar power). In many cases, these are "island-hotels", where virtuous initiatives should not overshadow the carbon footprint of luxury construction and the archipelago's tourism industry. Indeed, the carbon footprint of tourism in the Seychelles rapidly increases if we take into account the transport of people (mainly by air from Europe, and by motorized transport from island to island), the transport of imported products, the sending of recycled waste, sometimes as far away as Europe, and electricity consumption. Human activities on the island, including agriculture, also have an impact on the natural environment, contributing to soil erosion and water pollution.
Global warming: the great threat
The Seychelles archipelago is already suffering the effects of climate change: persistent drought, flooding, increased erosion and coral bleaching. Whatever the temperature rise scenarios (+2°C or more), they threaten the coral islands with submersion and the granite islands with the disappearance of their coasts. At local level, actions to adapt to and mitigate climate change are underway: coral nurseries, development of renewable energies, awareness-raising among schoolchildren, etc. Local solutions to climate change must also be considered on a global scale, with strong, concerted action. Visitors to the Seychelles will be able to question the ecological impact of their trip and, more broadly, of their daily lives.
