New association to promote Seychelles’ botanical gardens |11 November 2019

Minister Cosgrow officially launching the new association (Photo: Patrick Joubert)

A new association, ‘The Friends of Seychelles Botanical Gardens’, has been officially launched.

The aim of the association is to support and promote the core functions and activities of the National Botanical Gardens Foundation (NBGF) and to educate people about the importance of conversation and the scientific values of the gardens.

The association was launched by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Wallace Gosgrow, in a ceremony on Thursday evening at the National Botanical Gardens at Mont Fleuri.

Among guests present at the ceremony were the chief executive of NBGF, Raymond Brioche; the chairperson and founding member of the association, Marie-Pierre Lloyd; the Order of Malta and also a founding member and vice- chairperson, Ambassador Francesca Alexandra Azaïs; school children and other members and partners.

Both Minister Cosgrow and Mr Brioche congratulated the members of the association for the initiative which will complement the work that government is doing to promote the National Botanical Gardens.

In her presentation, Mrs Lloyd said that the association intends to indulge in several projects in future at the two gardens – the one at Mont Fleuri and the National Biodiversity Centre at Barbarons – such as creating space with facilities for lectures, workshops, educational tours, yoga, day spa, retreats along with providing outlets for members to showcase natural and sustainable products.

Mrs Lloyd also launched an appeal to other people with ideas and expertise to join as members and also welcomed sponsors and supporters who can contribute in kind or financially to any of the future projects.

Both the National Botanical Gardens at Mont Fleuri and the National Biodiversity Centre at Barbarons are must-see gardens in Seychelles for people with a love of nature.

The Botanical Gardens at Mont Fleuri was established in 1901 by a Mauritian agronomist, Rivalz Dupont. It covers 15-acres and is one of Seychelles’ oldest national monuments (118 years) and is a living green heritage providing a quiet, green getaway a mere 20-minute walk from the busy town centre.

The garden has developed into one of Victoria’s main tourist attractions of coco de mer trees, endemic flora and fauna, historical monuments, along with a tortoise den and international features in the shape of a Guangzhou Chinese Garden, a Thai garden with the unique El Coco feature and also a Japan-Seychelles Friendship monument and an Indian diversity garden that symbolises the cultural links between Seychelles and India.

The National Biodiversity Centre at Barbarons covers 17 hectares and its main aim is to preserve the diversity of the rare endangered species of fragile ecosystems of Seychelles and to also provide a location for ex-situ conservation of indigenous plants species. Both gardens are being managed by the NBGF.

The launch of the association was animated by Taral Bhasadia from the Independent School with her essay ‘The great Challenge’ while Anaelle Marie read hers ‘Civilisation and Sustainable Living’. There were also membership forms available and t-shirts of the association on sale.

Registration forms for membership are available on the NBGF website.

Other board members are Maureen Labrosse (secretary), Stella Gouffay (treasurer), Selma Magnan and Sharon Ernesta (members).

Patrick Joubert