In the National Assembly MNAs vote to replace National Parks, Nature Conservancy Act, set up new body to manage parks, gardens |12 March 2022
With the aim of making maximum use of our limited land area, to better preserve the sea and all its resources as well as our fragile but rich ecosystem and natural environment, it has been considered necessary to relook into the existing provisions of the law so as to better cope with the present day demands as well as to enable private participation in the preservation and management of nature reserves.
It is for these reasons that the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Flavien Joubert tabled a Bill before the National Assembly on Wednesday this week seeking members’ consideration and approval to repeal the existing National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act 1969 and replace it with a new law – Nature Reserves and Conservancy Act.
Minister Joubert also tabled another Bill – the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority Bill, 2021 which aims toestablish a public authority known as the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority that will manage and administer designated parks and gardens.The newAuthority will replace two existing agencies namely the Seychelles National Parks Authority and the National Botanical Gardens Foundation.
Presenting the Nature Reserves and Conservancy Bill, 2021 Minister Joubert explained that it has been in the making for the past six years and has been developed by the ministry in collaboration with the Attorney General’s office following a series of consultations with concerned stakeholders and members of the public.
Among its different new provisions the new piece of legislation will establish a national advisory committee and all its related functions, it will introduce six new protection categories in line with the protected area policy. It will also provide for some interim measures that could be taken to protect the different protected areas before a legal provision is adopted.
Provisions have also been introduced to have management agreements between owners and different concerned entities to better manage the protected areas which prior to that was not necessarily in the law but was being done through contract-like arrangements.
“The new law also provides for a lot of clarifications having to do with access and restrictions to the different protected areas, designation of authorised officers and their powers among other related matters,” Minister Joubert noted.
The minister went on to add that the new law will rely on the same enforcement structures, entities and the cooperation of all concerned partners for its effective application.
Meanwhile in relation to the establishment of the new authority that will manage and administer parks and gardens, Minister Joubert noted that “the reason to bring the two agencies together is for more efficiency as they are both doing similar activities in terms of conservation, tourism related activities, education and awareness and are conducting scientific works with international bodies”.
Furthermore Minister Joubert highlighted the fact that the people working in the two agencies have almost similar capacities and today it is clear that there are some level of competition between different agencies and organisations for the same functions.
“Therefore it makes better sense to bring all these agencies together to work as one for better results and efficiency,” Minister Joubert explained.
He further added that the decision is also expected to bring better results and outcomes when it comes to revenue collection and financial management of the two bodies.
The new body being proposed will also repeal the law that establishes national parks authority – the Environment Protection Seychelles National Parks Authority Order 2009 -- SI30 of 2009 as well as the National Botanical Gardens Foundation Act 2009.
After lengthy debates, MNAs from both parties in the House approved the two new pieces of legislation.
Marie-Anne Lepathy