The President of the Republic, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan joined by other COP26 delegates from Seychelles in a tree-planting carbon-offsetting activity at the Salazie Trail in the Morne Seychellois National Park, yesterday afternoon. This took place ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to be held in Glasgow.

This activity forms part of the Salazie Reforestation Project initiated by the British High Commission in partnership with Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA) - as part of the ‘Green Footprint Seychelles’ campaign. The pilot project is a trial to test a scientifically based tree-planting scheme to address the environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions of long-haul travel and tourism. Furthermore, build the opportunity for visitors to play an active part in biodiversity restoration and the reforestation of Seychelles.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to participate in this tree-planting event ahead of COP26, which is a defining conference in combating Climate Change as part of our efforts to off-set the carbon flight emissions as well as a symbolic gesture from us as a Small Island Developing State” said President Ramkalawan.

In his welcoming remarks, the British High Commissioner for Seychelles, Mr Patrick Lynch said that even though tourists are returning to the country which is helping to boost its economy, his may temporarily mask a longer-term decline in long-haul travel, with trends such as “flight-shaming” gaining prominence in Seychelles’ primary European markets.

“The great news is that Seychelles - more than any other country in the world - provides fertile ground for a Green Recovery of Tourism, which could turn consumer demand into an economic opportunity. Under our ‘Green Footprint Seychelles’ project, visitors can have the carbon generated by their flight calculated to a corresponding number of trees, in order to offset that impact. The scheme is scientifically verified, and has been developed into a very appealing activity product for visiting tourists,” said the High Commissioner.

As the President and his delegation do this symbolic gesture today, Mr Lynch note that the UK Government looks forward to welcoming the Seychelles delegation to COP, whereby the rest of the world can also benefit from Seychelles’ expertise in its innovative and world-leading efforts to adapt to - and mitigate against - climate change.  

President Ramkalawan and other participants toured the tree-planting site at the Salazie Trail, which is maintained by SPGA. This was followed by the planting of a total of trees, to offset the carbon emissions of delegates’ return flights to Glasgow.

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