Block A PDF
PART I - ELIGIBILITY
1. PROJECT NAME:
Improving Sustainability of Private and NGO Managed
Nature Reserves in Seychelles
3. COUNTRY OR COUNTRIES IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS
BEING IMPLEMENTED:
Seychelles
2. GEF IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:
World Bank
4. COUNTRY ELIGIBILITY:
CBD ratified in 1992
5. GEF FOCAL AREA(S) AND/OR CROSS CUTTING ISSUES:
Biodiversity
6. Operational programme/Short term
measure:
OP 2, Coastal, Marine and Freshwater
Ecosystems
7. PROJECT LINKAGE TO NATIONAL PRIORITIES, ACTION PLANS, AND PROGRAMMES:
The project is a key component of “Goal 1: General measures for Conservation and Sustainable Use' in
the NBSAP –National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan for Seychelles (1997)
8. GEF NATIONAL OPERATIONAL FOCAL POINT AND DATE OF COUNTRY ENDORSEMENT:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs9. PROJECT RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES:
The three small islands on the western seaboard of Praslin, Cousin, Cousine and Aride, support globally
important marine and terrestrial biodiversity (see below). The islands’ close juxtaposition, their similar
and sensitive ecosystems and associated conservation philosophies and activities, as well as individual
capacity constraints are the rationale to seek to remove barriers to effective and optimal management of
globally important biodiversity. The objectives of the project are to (i) update the management plans of
the three islands; and (ii) to implement the revised management plans. The reformulation of the
management plans will be done through a consultative process involving all stakeholders. It has been
suggested that one of the means by which more sustainable management might be achieved is through the
establishment of a Biodiversity Resource and Research Centre on Praslin. The Centre would serve to
reduce the chances of accidental introductions of aliens, reduce the human impacts of staff, researchers
and visitors, to focus twined and collaborative management and at the same time deliver enhanced
education, awareness and research capabilities that will improve the conservation and sustainable
financing of biodiversity. A key objective of the preparation process for which funding is requested would
be to evaluate the various options, including - but not limited to - the one for such a Center.
GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANCE OF COUSIN, COUSINE AND ARIDE ISLANDS
Conservation action for globally threatened biodiversity on the three islands has included:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
Unique programs leading to the recovery and expansion of the most globally threatened landbirds
associated with coastal forests in Seychelles (Seychelles warbler, magpie-robin and fody)
Maintenance of globally important breeding seabird populations to become the most important
nucleus of seabird rookeries (outside Aldabra) in the Western Indian Ocean.
Expansion of the globally threatened hawksbill turtle breeding population to become the world’s
most intensively studied population as well as the largest rookery in the Western Indian Ocean.
Maintenance of globally important reef fish species such that it is the most diverse in the granitic
islands of the Seychelles.
For the first time in the region, the complete restoration of native forests from loss-making
coconut plantations
Maintenance of a diverse range of endemic reptiles, amphibians and invertebrate taxa.
The only islands in the Seychelles free of mammalian predators (rats, cats and dogs)
Other associated achievements include:
i.
Education and awareness activities on Cousin and Aride.
ii.
The funding of conservation activities on Cousin and Aride through a fee for tourist visits
iii.
Local management of Cousin since 1988, and in January 1998, integration of Cousin activities
iv.
with other conservation programs by BirdLife Seychelles a local NGO.
Biodiversity research which has generated over 150 papers and articles, some groundbreaking in
science including 3 papers in ‘Nature’
ISLAND BACKGROUND DESCRIPTIONS
COUSIN ISLAND SPECIAL RESERVE (27ha)
BirdLife International purchased Cousin Island in 1968 to save the Seychelles warbler, which was then
restricted to Cousin and on the brink of extinction. It became the first ‘sea and island reserve” in the
Indian Ocean and the world’s first internationally owned protected area when it was declared a Special
Reserve in 1969. Cousin is 27ha and the reserve boundary extends to the fringing reef. It currently
supports 7 staff and up to 6 researchers. Research accommodation is of basic design to cater for simple
fieldwork and no laboratory needs. This building is currently in need of renovation. Cousin is one of only
three islands that are rat-free (the other two are Cousine and Aride) and the lack of rats is key to the
presence of globally threatened endemic landbirds and large seabird colonies. Poaching is virtually nonexistent. It is too ecologically sensitive to establish more accommodation with increasing needs for space,
energy, water, provisions and waste disposal on an island where no vessels are permitted to land except
the small island boat. The island has adequate local staff but the research and monitoring capacity is low.
Approximately eight to ten thousand tourists visit Cousin each year and this activity generates income to
manage the island in toto.
COUSINE ISLAND (26ha)
Cousine is privately owned and not a legally protected area. However, it is managed primarily as both a
nature reserve and as a high-class ecotourism resort. The owner has recently constructed 4 small tourist
villas. Great emphasis is placed on the maintenance of rare endemic taxa and the restoration of the
vegetation through removal of aliens and replanting of native and endemic coastal species. . It has no
species of alien mammal after cats were eradicated in 1986 with BirdLife International assistance. The
island funds its own full time qualified conservation officer who monitors turtles, coral reefs landbirds and
other biodiversity and actively manages the small but important Seychelles magpie-robin population. Of
the three islands it has the most infrastructure. Conservation officers have been expatriates and local
conservation staff has been difficult to keep in place. Poaching of turtles and seabirds occurs.
ARIDE ISLAND SPECIAL RESERVE (73ha)
The late Sir Christopher Cadbury purchased Aride in 1973 on behalf of the UK wildlife charity, the Royal
Society for Nature Conservation (now the Wildlife Trusts). It was declared a Special Reserve in 1975.
Like the other two islands it too is rat-free. Long-term monitoring programmes are conducted by island
staff particularly for seabirds, landbirds, vegetation and other important biodiversity. Habitat management
has resulted in the restoration of both the hill woodland and coastal plateau including the removal of all
coconuts from the island. Poaching of seabirds by local people however remains significant. The
management plan is aimed at re-establishing a range of threatened endemic species historically present on
the island including the globally threatened Seychelles black paradise flycatcher and the Seychelles black
parrot. The island supports a small staff of around 5 all of whom live on the small plateau. Access is by
small boat only and approximately 2000 tourists visit the island each year. The capacity to conduct
monitoring is high on Aride owing to the presence of expatriate Wardens. The island has problems with
maintenance of adequate levels of local staff and has funding constraints.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the project is thus to improve management of the three islands and subsequently
better conserve their biological diversity. The objective shall be achieved by updating their management
plans and implementing the corresponding measures, including if such option is confirmed by establishing
a NGO Biodiversity Resource and Research Centre on Praslin island, the second largest island in
Seychelles, only 2km away from Cousin, 3 km from Cousine and 6km from Aride and by funding
scientific & education officers and local counterparts. An important objective of the improved
management plans will be to reduce human pressure in order to remove threats of pollution, intensive
human use and loss of naturalness. This would be achieved by limiting the numbers of permanent staff,
researchers and their equipment to a minimum on each island and by improving the management of the
flow of visitors. Another objective will be to promote more research, education and awareness activities as
well as maximise the use of scarce human resources to benefit all three islands through the exchange of
staff and collaboration on joint programs. The establishment of new facilities such as the Praslin Centre
would thus improves delivery to a broader array of stakeholders, whilst improving the sustainable use of
the islands. Praslin is well situated for the housing the Biodiversity Resource and Research Centre.
Praslin is a tourist resort island and it is served by air and surface links and has excellent communications
and utilities.
10. EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
Global impact on threatened biological diversity status and management
- Reduce the environmental impact of permanent residents and associated infrastructure (buildings,
water, energy, communications) on the three islands
- Reduce the environmental impact of visitors by establishment a boat and visitor booking system based
at the Resource Centre.
-
Reduce the possible introduction of alien predators by constructing faculties on Praslin as well as using that to
quarantine goods.
.
Sustainable use of biological diversity
- Improve conservation and visitor management on the three islands, and increase research, education
and marketing activities, through:
i. Joint management of activities out of the Praslin Resource Centre
ii. Improved research base plus laboratory and document centre
iii. Increased availability of accommodation for staff and students
iv. Education and training programs for local people, students and Wildlife Clubs
v. Improved access to islands using own boat, mooring base and ancillary diving equipment
vi. Increased interest due to Visitor centre, marketing base plus shop
vii. Improve visitor management by Island booking office
Sustainable financing
The sharing of the Center’s facilities will lead to sustainable financing. This will include:
i.
Increasing the ability to pool resources and therefore reducing costs
ii.
Generating new revenues from sale of products, improved visitations, research bench fees, etc.
iii.
Financing the operation of the Center from its direct revenues as well as from indirect increased
revenue on the three islands
11. PLANNED ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE OUTCOMES:
 Planning. Stakeholder meetings and scientific consultations to produce updated management plans for
the three islands ($50,000)
 Design and construction of the Center: Environmental Impact Assessment, stakeholders consultation,
architectural planning, Govt. permissions, land acquisition (purchase or provision by Government),
construction and establishment of the Centre ($650,000)
 Initial operation of the Center. Two personnel will be recruited to run the centre: a consultant
scientific/education officer (for 2 years) and a local counterpart. ($100,000) Thereafter the Center will
become self-financed.
 Access/dive boat. A multi-purpose island boat for transporting island staff and researchers to and
from and providing a base for marine monitoring will be purchased ($100,000)
 Streamlining of existing facilities on the three islands, including in particular the production of and
establishment of environmentally safe systems for power generation, water resources and waste
management ($150,000)
 New research and education activities ($200,000)
TOTAL: $1,250,000
GEF: $750,000
SD Baseline: $500,000
Realistic Baseline:
Stakeholder Contribution $200,000
Outside co-financing:
$300,000
12. STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN PROJECT:
BirdLife Seychelles
Cousine Island Company
Royal Society for Nature Conservation
Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles
Government of Seychelles
PART II - INFORMATION ON BLOCK A PDF ACTIVITIES
13. ACTIVITIES TO BE FINANCED BY THE PDF-A:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Hiring of specialised consultants
Workshop to determine scope and needs of project and range of potential stakeholders
Second stakeholder workshop to agree outline plans and project brief
Report and project brief preparation
14. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND COMPLETION DATES:
i.
ii.
iii.
Report on stakeholder participation and scoping
Subsequent report on agreed plans including nature and degree of stakeholders’ influence on the
Cousin, Cousine and Aride conservation efforts, impacts (i.e. positive or negative) of the project
on the stakeholders, problems and potentials in working with different stakeholders, relationships
between different stakeholders
A GEF medium-size proposal by BirdLife Seychelles and other stakeholders
15. OTHER POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTORS/ DONORS AND AMOUNTS:
Solar power for Cousin provided by 2nd Dutch Trust Fund to Seychelles ($30,000)
16. Total budget and information on how costs will be met (including the Block A grant):
Project staff and consultants: US$14,000 (GEF Financing)
Stakeholder workshops : US$ 4,000 (GEF Financing)
Marketing Plan $10,000 (BirdLife Seychelles/RSPB)
EIA ($10,000RSPB)
Project development workshop US$3,000 (GEF Financing)
Project staff time, workshop venue equipment and facilities: US$4,000 (GEF Financing)
PART III- INFORMATION ON THE APPLICANT INSTITUTION
17. NAME:
18. GEF IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:
BirdLife Seychelles
World Bank
19. MANDATE/ TERMS OF REFERENCE
20. RECENT ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES IN
PARTICULAR RELEVANT TO THE GEF:
BirdLife Seychelles undertakes the following core
activities:
1. Management of Cousin Special Reserve
2. GEF project via World Bank on avian
ecosystem restoration
BirdLife Seychelles was established as a local
biodiversity conservation organisation and
prospective BirdLife International national partner in
January 1998. It would act as lead partner in this
project and owner of the Biodiversity Resource and
Research Centre.
3. Education & awareness through formal links
with the WildLife Clubs of Seychelles
4. Seychelles magpie robin recovery plan
ongoing since 1990
PART IV - INFORMATION TO BE COMPLETED BY IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
22. PROJECT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
23. IMPLEMENTING AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Task manager: Michel Siméon, x35513
Regional GEF coordinator: Christophe Crépin, x39727
24. PROJECT LINKAGE TO IMPLEMENTING AGENCY PROGRAMME(S): The project is one of several
activities sponsored / funded by the WB in Seychelles. Others are (i) a GEF-MSP for the management of
avian ecosystems (on-going – deals with different islands and different bird species, but there would be
complementarity and synergy regarding awareness activities); (ii) a GEF-MSP proposal for the
management of marine eco-systems (broader in scope than the marine activities around the three small
islands – complementarily would be sought); (iii) a WB-IDF grant to support the formulation of the
NEAP for the next 10 years; (iv) a GEF-funded regional project for oil-spill contingency planning; and (v)
a GEF-MSP proposal to support the regional node of the Global Coral reef Monitoring Network.