On Tuesday, 23rd September 2025, the National Assembly of Seychelles, through the staff-led Environmental Policy Implementation Committee (EPIC), signed an agreement with the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SEYCCAT) for the Blue Grants Fund for a project named “A Climate Resilient Parliament Raising Awareness and Advocating for the Protection of Mangrove Ecosystems”. Living true to the ‘Parliament for the Planet’ campaign as a Member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the agreement was signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly,Mrs Tania Isaac, and the Chief Executive Officer of SEYCCAT,Ms Marie-May Jeremie.
The Blue Grants Fund (BGF) provides funding to innovative Seychellois-led projects that advance marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, and other key areas within the blue economy sector, and the National Assembly of Seychelles is proud to have been awarded the grant. The EPIC’s main aim is to embed sustainability and environmental protection in the heart of parliamentary democracy and operations.
The National Assembly adopted the mangroves surrounding its precinct at Ile Du Port in February 2022, committing to managing and protecting the area, which is primarily home to the red mangrove species in addition to two puzzle-nut mangroves that were planted in 2023, and a range of fauna, including birds and fish. A vibrant project which encompasses four main strategic aims, it will span two years and involve partnerships from different organisations and stakeholders such as Parley Seychelles, Sustainability for Seychelles, Sir Terence Vel from the UniSey Centre for Environment Education and the Climate Change Department, bringing together a community-led and multidisciplinary approach. The first strategic aim is to carry out a feasibility study of the possibility of the rehabilitation and propagation of the Mangrove area surrounding the parliamentary precinct.
The second aim is to increase knowledge and awareness of parliamentary staff, MNAs, and visitors on the importance of mangrove ecosystems, including climate mitigation and adaptation. The aim is to capacitate EPIC Members to become experts on mangroves and climate change to prepare for the next phase of managing the area optimally. The third aim relates to the parliament leading in legislative advocacy through the involvement of parliamentarians in reviewing the Climate Change policy and providing recommendations for the proposal of a Climate Change Bill. The final and fourth aim involves a carbon footprint assessment of the Parliament carried out by Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S), which will result in a general action plan, carbon footprint action plan, and toolkit for the NAS to begin offsetting its carbon footprint by 2027.
A parliamentary delegation accompanied the Clerk for this historical agreement signing, embarking the National Assembly further forward on its journey as a ‘green parliament’. The delegation was comprised of the Deputy Clerk and Chairperson of the EPIC,Ms Alexandria Faure, Vice-Chairperson Ms Emma Didon, and other Members of the Committee,Mrs Gillian Samson, Ms Cosette Songoire, Mr Jim David, and Ms Lucy Michel. The EPIC team are enthusiastic to get started on the project and continue propelling the legislative branch forward in its endeavour as a ‘green parliament’ with environmental protection at the forefront.
SOURCE: National Assembly
