The President of the Republic and Patron of the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan had the honour to officially launch the Vallée de Mai’s 40th UNESCO Inscription Anniversary Celebration Research Symposium during a ceremony held yesterday morning at the Savoy Seychelles Resort and Spa.
The 1-day symposium has been organised by the Seychelles Islands Foundation, which has managed the Vallée de Mai since 1989. To note, in December SIF will celebrate 40 years since the Vallée de Mai’s inscription on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list.
Delivering his address to launch the conference, President Ramkalawan thanked all those who have played a pivotal role in the preservation of the Vallée de Mai over the 4 decades and in the decades to come.
“At 19.5 hectares, the Vallée de Mai is amongst the world's smallest UNESCO sites. The palm forest on the island of Praslin, one of the oldest granitic islands in the world, means that the history of this special place spans over millennia, and despite the constant development of our country, the Vallée de Mai retains its prehistoric tales and character,” the President stated.
He further highlighted the unique importance of this nature reserve, which is home to the world’s largest nut and the flagship species of the Vallee de Mai, the unique coco de mer. In addition, he stressed on the need to protect the national bird of Seychelles, the black parrot, found in the Vallée de Mai, along with the diverse and rare species that include the six endemic palms. The President further noted how the Vallée de Mai offers opportunities for scientific study and its aesthetic value that is of great interest to all visitors.
“In commemorating this 40th anniversary, we do more than celebrate this place. We celebrate our commitment as a country to the ideals of conservation and sharing our natural heritage universally. The Vallée de Mai is not just a Seychellois treasure; it is a global treasure, a gift to humanity, and a testament to the power of shared commitment in the best interest of preserving nature.
As we gather here today, we must also reflect on our immense challenges. Climate change, manifested for instance in an increased risk of forest fires for the Vallée de Mai, biodiversity loss and the poaching of our treasured coco de mer nuts and rare species. All these threaten our cherished natural wonder. We stand at a critical crossroad, where our actions and shared commitment will be put to the test. Indeed it will determine the fate of places like the Vallée de Mai. The responsibility to protect and preserve this natural heritage has never been more significant than now and this cannot be the shared responsibility for only the Seychelles Islands Foundation, but for all of us, together,” he said.
The Head of State called upon Seychellois especially the Praslinois to visit the Vallée de Mai and experience for themselves the the uniqueness of this natural palm forest and its many endemic fauna so that they can understand why it has been chosen as a World Heritage site.
To conclude, he congratulated the SIF team for their continued commitment and engagement that has permitted everyone to celebrate this milestone. He also thanked all partners, stakeholders, supporters, and sponsors that have helped in one way or another.
The official ceremony yesterday morning was also highlighted by the recital of a poem entitled “The beauty of the Vallée de Mai”, a video screening of Vallée de Mai over the past 40 years and the work of the SIF team and finally a presentation by Dr. Annabelle Constance on “The Vallée de Mai: a relic of Gondwana and living laboratory for scientific research”.
Also present at the ceremony was the Vice President of the Republic, Mr. Ahmed Afif, the Chairperson of the Board of the Foundation, Hon Bernard Georges, its Board Members, the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF), Dr Frauke Fleischer- Dogley, scientists, key partners of the SIF, staff of the SIF as well as other distinguished guests.