Page 7 - Seychelles Report

The situation

Mangrove ecosystem
The mangrove ecosystem is an essential coastal vegetation to the Seychelles’ coastal line. Mangrove
ecosystem offers coastal defence by reducing coastal erosion through dissipation of wave energy.
A 100 metre-wide mangrove belt can reduce a wave height by 13 per cent. The mangrove forests Country Profile
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occupy about 32.3 km . The ecosystem consists of a total of eight species, all of which are found at
Port Launay in Mahe, a designated RAMSAR site. These include: Rhizophora mucronate, Sonneratia The Republic of Seychelles
alba, Xylocarpus granatum, Xylocarpus mulocuensis, Avecenia marina, Ceriops tagal, Bruiguiera
gymnorhiza and Lumnitezera racemose.

Coral reefs
Coral reef surround the majority of the Seychelles’ islands. The total coral coverage is estimate at
1,690 square kilometers. The cover has been on the decline over the years. The 1998 and the 2016
bleaching reduce Seychelles’ coral cover by over 90%. The physical destruction of coral reefs through
anthropogenic activities such as channels dredging and beach enrichment has had a toll on coral
reef. Coral reefs play both an economic and geological role in the Seychelles. As regards the former
coral reefs are a vital tourist attraction sites. Their tourism value is about $ 0.3-0.9 million per square
kilometres. As regards the latter, coral reefs protect Seychelles’ coastline from exposure to storms and
erosion. Coral reefs prevent erosion by acting as breakwaters that dissipate more than 90% of the
ocean energy.

The constraints

Climate change
Thermal stress triggered by climate change causes rising sea level, which has heavily affected on the
life of coral reefs. The consequent effect has been the loss of coastline stability and livelihoods of
artisanal fishers.

Bleaching cause by change in global warming, population and flooding, is perhaps the greatest
threat to the coral ecosystem. Almost 90% of the coral cover was bleached following the 2016 and
the 1998 bleaching incidents.

Excessive f?shing

Increase in population along the coastal plateau has exacerbated overfishing, which is the
main source of livelihood for Seychellois. The use of destructive methods of fishing such as
trawling and purse seining drag along the breadth of the sea erode the coral reef stagnating their
development.

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