MFF Seychelles organizes an event to discuss coastal development issues in and around their communities

The meeting gave the community members an opportunity to learn more about Environmental Impact Assessment procedures before any development activities are started in their communities. Often, the public perception of EIA documents for public review and comments is that of "fait accompli" and as a result public participation is low.

The meeting emphasized that the communities had active roles to play in influencing developmental policies and how their decisions and actions can make a difference in their own lives.  A local resident  from Beau Vallon district remarked, " We are glad that there will now be a simple grading system to help us measure the impacts of development on our community resources. Now,  we too can be more involved in future developments in our community to really make a positive difference."  The communities expressed their support for the project and the new tools being developed to ease and enhance their participation in decision making processes.  The EIA document are now in the process of being made simpler for easier access.

The event jointly organized with MFF grantees Marine Conservation Society Seychelles and Green Island Foundation enabled the local participants to be more informed and aware about the biological resources and assets in their own communities and even some new species discovered in the region.

The MFF suported project titled 'Coastal Development and Ecosystem Modeling as a tool to enable improved local and national decision-making process" was started in August 2010 and will end on 30th July 2012.