Making TRASS greener   |02 February 2023

TRASS volunteers with MCB director Bernard Jackson at the unveiling ceremony

The Terrestrial Restoration Action Society of Seychelles (TRASS) continues to make its operations greener, to lessen its impact on the environment and climate change, by installing a photovoltaic system (PV) on its headquarter’s roof at Baie Ste Anne.

This is line with its motto to make Praslin a greener tropical island. 

The PV system was made possible with the support of the Mauritius Commercial Bank of Seychelles, (MCB), under its Green Loan initiative towards climate mitigation, and adaptation which funded the donation and installation of the PV.

The PV system was unveiled and launched on Thursday last week in a short ceremony at the non-governmental organisation’s headquarters in the presence of MCB’s director, Bernard Jackson, representatives from the district administration office, environment department, TRASS, as well as members of the newly formed NGO for school children, Little Explorers Club, and community members.

When addressing the guests, TRASS’ programme manager, Dr Elvina Henriette, highlighted the importance of having a PV system to obtain electricity instead of relying on the burning of oil, (fossil fuel) to produce electricity, as it releases gases that warms the Earth and contribute to climate change.

“Hence, we are all having an impact onto our planet. One way to limit our impact and lower our electricity bills is to use solar energy provided freely by Mother Nature and convert it into electricity through the use of the PV system,” she explained.

For his part, TRASS chairman, Dr Victorin Laboudallon, thanked and complimented MCB as a true and serious partner and for its commitment to the protection of the environment and support to local communities.

Mr Jackson was very pleased with this event and mentioned that he hopes that other banks will be inspired by such actions as MCB sets an example for others to follow.

This initiative is being done as part of TRASS GCCA+ project ‘Community-led rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems using an Ecosystem-based and Ridge to Reef approach, Praslin, Seychelles’ funded by the European Union through the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Contributed by TRASS