3. OUTLOOK OF THE LIKELY STATE OF FOREST RESOURCES IN 2020

3.1.1 Socio-economic changes

Reclamation of land will eventually relieve pressure for development and construction on the narrow strip of coastal land e.g. Mangrove forest. It will reduce the demand for more land for development (housing) and construction, thus reduce the amount of encroachment into upland forest areas

Desalination could help to diminish the rising demand for fresh water

Rapid urbanization on the existing narrow band of coastal land destroying coastal forest biodiversity

Progressive encroachment into forested areas as the demand for more land is increasing as the population is on the rise

Reclamation of the east coast will lead to the destruction of the existing forest biodiversity

With the increase in the distribution and density of population in forested areas, water catchments areas will be affected leading to disruptions in the water cycle

3.1.2 Overall economic performance - Eco-tourism development

Allow visitors to enjoy the rich biological diversity of the forest resources

Add value to forest resources through upgraded of present infrastructures in your forest areas e.g. eco-tourism facilities

Zoning of the forest areas, where different activities could be carried out sustainably

Cater for specific groups to undertake scientific research/study for the benefits of the country

Greater participation of other stakeholders in the promotion of eco-tourism

Bound to have illegal activity, including illegal poaching, harvesting of the species and other detrimental activities to the forest diversity

Pressure due to increased activities in protected areas

Disturbance of natural ecosystems through maintenance activities

Conflict due to policy imposed on local populations

3.1.3 Development in the agricultural sector

Demand for forested land for agricultural production will gradually decrease as the Government continues to import some vegetables, fruits and meat

The practice of upland farming is on the decrease, as most farmers are reverting to farming on the coast. The number of people practicing intensive/extensive farming is on the decrease-ex-farmers reverting to other jobs

Negative:

Demand for practicing upland farming where specific crops such as yams and other crops thrive best in areas where forest is situated

3.1.4 Policy and institutional changes

Most particular changes with regard to ownership and management of forest resources:

A new Division, the Policy Planning and Services has been set up with the aim of meeting requirements of change

Any development around the buffer zones around Protected areas needs EIA’s

Basically all the active NGO’s in the country are for Conservation, protection and safeguarding of the environment natural resources

Several organizations and bodies exist which are there to ensure that development is done in a sustainable way and in harmony with the environment e.g. Town and Country Planning, Planning Authority --Board, Seychelles Licensing Authority, EIA’s etc

Forestry related legislation are being revised/amended and will continue to be revised when there is the need. New laws are superseding old laws

Negative:

Lack of harmony and coordination between the law and the juridical procedures

3.1.5 Industrial Development and its impact on Forestry

Even though industrial development is on the increase, the forest is still unscathed at present even though with the boom in construction:

Industrial development will not be permitted, as most forest areas are located within the protected areas and for any construction an EIA.s is requested

For example the bottling of water follows strict guidelines, in the sense that the water catchments areas need to be protected. Trees are not felled and water collected in designated areas

All industrial activities are concentrated on the old reclaimed area along the coast

As most of the timber is imported, the demand for local timber will not rise significantly even though there is a deficit in the economy

Negative:

Demand for raw materials from forestry goods will be on the increase. More local products will flood the local markets e.g. crafts work

At least for the coming few years, there will be a demand for local timber with the construction of some five star hotels as the traditional architecture and Creole spirit are to be maintained

The depletion of existing plantation due to non-replanting on commercial trees will put a pressure on indigenous stand

3.1.6 Development in the services and their impacts

Services will be on the increase. The trends of Hotel construction in forested areas e.g. islands are to develop and promote eco-tourism where nature can co-exist with tourist activity. Practice on Fregate and Bird islands

Negative:

Trends of hotel buildings are on islands and higher upland where there is a splendid view of the coast

Eco-tourism development where the forests are to be explored. As a result, new facilities such as tracks, buildings have to be built in the forestry areas to cater for the demand, thus clearing of the forestry areas

Disturbances of the forest ecosystem through the every day activities that are associated with eco-tourism e.g. maintenance, noise, and people’s presence…

3.1.7 Trends in investment in the Forestry Sector

Through the change of prioritisation from Forestry Plantations to Forestry biodiversity Conservation/protection, funding from both local and international donors have increased substantially and will continue to be

More research work are being done by scientists on the resources that are found in the forest

Investment will be more on aesthetic value, non-wood resources of the forest resources and control harvesting of species

Negative:

With time the trend of commercial forestry will be very marginal. Fewer revenues will be generated as control on the number of species and type of species being harvested will be strongly regulated by the Government

It is likely that in 10 years time the country will face a shortage of timber for local market and possibly force a trend to revert to indigenous tree species. This will effect negatively on indigenous stands

3.1.8 State of natural forest – Area under sustainable management

There is the restoration biodiversity programme with the aim of returning the forest to its native state

More trees are planted as a way to increase the forest cover on the islands such as the replacement of trees being killed by diseases and the planting on the freshly reclaimed area

With the new reclaimed area, more land will be made available to reduce the pressure from encroachment in forest areas for housing and other development

The tree felling activity on private property is becoming more and more stringent where in certain areas trees are not allowed to be felled e.g. 30 m on either side of the riverbank

In area under sustainable management, the state decides on the number of trees to be felled. Thinning is being practiced as a means to maintain a healthy stock of timber in the plantations

Negative:

Aggressive invasive plant species are colonizing, displacing and killing the native tree species

Several tree and plant disease are killing several of the endemic as well as the indigenous tree species, which have been in Seychelles for centuries

With the demand for more land for development, encroachment into forest areas is still and will still occur

Illegal activities through poaching especially of the endemic species

3.1.9 State of trees outside forest

Several landowners are aware on the needs to have some trees on the properties, as they know the benefits

In Seychelles trees are not felled for fuel consumption, or for making charcoal or for timber. The majority of tree felling request is because of the potential danger to houses or are in the way where farming or construction activities are to take place

It is the state that regulates the felling of trees, harvesting of goods on any property (private or government)

Timber control activities are being expanded to cover also the environmental and forestry extension activities in private lands. The aim is to increase local awareness and to provide services to people who want to promote indigenous plants already growing on their land or who want to plant indigenous species

Forestry is aiming at producing and developing a multitude of products including non-wood products and services for tourism and the local population

3.1.10 Conservation of biodiversity and protective functions of forest

Emphasis has been placed whereby no trees of indigenous and native species are to be felled for commercial purposes from state lands, if it is not done according to an accepted permit which ensure that the felling is not endangering the sustainability of the species in the area

The responsibilities vis-à-vis forest fire prevention, detection and fighting is high on the agenda. The Division of Environment maintains stocks of equipment. Prevention of fire outbreaks and effective forest fire fighting is amongst the highest priorities amongst forestry Sections’ tasks

The existing Forest Fire contingency plan is revised on a yearly basis

The awareness of fire hazards is being improved through media sensitisation to the public (especially during dry periods)

Elimination and control of aggressive invasive exotic plant species is a priority in forestry

Negative:

As more areas are placed under protected systems, resources to manage them will become more thinly distributed implying that fewer resources will be available to monitor and manage forest resources

As people get less option to implement their activities, the stress on resulting forest resources outside Protected areas will be significant

3.1.11 State of park management and ecotourism

Some of the protected areas are being developed to become major centre for in-situ conservation of the indigenous native vegetation e.g. Vallee de Mai

A seed and a national herbarium centres are being established at the Biodiversity Centre at Barbarons. The Barbarons Biodiversity centre and the Botanical Garden will act as a centre for promoting ex-situ conservation

Enlargement of areas to be protected through designation of National Park, AONB statues

There is the general tendency to move away from commercial forestry plantation without realizing that this imply stronger pressure on native stands as soon as the existing plantations is depleted if no restocking is done

The forest industries will continue to exist but at a marginal level. Demand for the local market will be met through importation of timber (readily sawn into the sizes that you need)

Wood workshop will exist on a small-scale (few carpenters…). They will not be processing large quantities of wood. The technology being used will be of low-tech. Right now in Seychelles there is only one sawmill. The technologies are outdated and worn out. There is no plan to upgrade or build a new one

Reduced employment on a socio-economic basis

Alien invasive species, which could be commercialised, will be left to rot on the forest floor once removed

Biomass will always be available to supply the domestic market thus resulting in a reduction of same as fuel for forest fires

There will always be a need to import industrial wood and other products, thus putting a stress on the country’s economy

Income/Revenue

Timber prices are being revised, preferably through a process of competing bids or through studying the maximum prices that will be paid. The prices of non-preferred exotic species are being reduced and the prices of e.g. Albania the most valuable indigenous species have risen

Employment

Development of human resources to face the challenges of forest management for multiple purposes is to be given the highest priority. In addition to increasing the level of formal education and practical skills of present staff, new staff members with adequate and appropriate background for higher technical and academic studies will be recruited and given the opportunity for further studies. The new EMPS makes provision for that

The level of motivation amongst the staff is continuously being improved through post upgrading, training, improvement of worker safety and introducing new incentives for extra work

Food security

Food security for the forest animal dwellers will be on the increase. Through the planting of the indigenous trees in forestry plantations, the fruits, seeds and flowers provide food for many forest dwelling animals

Carbon sequestration

Maintaining the land areas under its present forest cover will be maintained and preferably increase. Planting trees for the above will be on the increase

An increase in forest areas implies an increased carbon sink potential for carbon sequestration

Negative:

Food Security for man will be on the decrease.

The Breadfruit and other trees (Protection) Act was enacted to protect the emergency food supply

During the World Wars. This legislation was passed regarding food security whereby certain fruits trees and trees of commercial values were encouraged to be planted and were protected under the law. Though still today, those fruit trees are still under the protected law, most of the foodstuff consumed by human is imported. Therefore planting trees for food the population security is not seen as important

It might be difficult to get all sectors to agree on a negotiation

Relevant forestry publications should be purchased and equipped in a library for reference

Links with international forestry institutions should be established

Encouraging forest researchers and research organizations to undertake research in Seychelles and directing it to be able to make good use out of it

Local research has to be limited into simple trials and establishing and measuring sample plots for growth and yield data

Whilst the conservation legislation is being revised, the Breadfruit and Other Trees Act is to be replaced by regulations which make a clear difference between species that need a) protected for conservation, b) controlled for sustainable utilization and c) unprotected due to their harmful impact on the indigenous species

Negative:

Forestry Section needs be equipped adequately for the duties of forest fire fighting, forest conservation, reforestation, forest surveys and inventories in order to better-conserved biodiversity

-The upgrading of the forestry section should through institutional strengthening (computers to the outstations e.g., for database storage) is necessary

Rehabilitation of degraded forestry lands is now given high priority and will continue to be so after fires or erosion caused by waves. Native and indigenous plants are to be used for rehabilitation. Introduced species will not be used unless in the worst degraded areas where native plants will not thrive. Forestry has established a prompt response programme for the rehabilitation of state land after fire occurrence.

An assessment of the river reserves for GIS mapping will be carried out jointly with PUC and MLUH. Mitigative and preventive measures are being undertaken with regard to the protection. Awareness of proper watershed management, of the river reserve regulations and the importance of mangroves are included in the environmental extension scheme.

The last remnants of existing mangroves are being preserved. Where it is possible their areas are being enlarged.

As more areas are converted to eco-tourism sites, their protective functions will be less, as people’s presence within these areas will be more evident. As areas are opened up, species with socio-cultural values (e.g. medicinal plants) will be more exposed to poaching and in risk of danger to trampling, fires, and dynamic disturbances.

Greater involvement of the communities in forest management

Contracting out work related to tree felling and monitored by Forestry personnel

Contractors do not necessarily have the finest work skills to prevent excess damage to remaining stock

Not foreseen to be a major problem to Seychelles