American entrepreneur, philanthropist Lyda Hill calls on President Wavel Ramkalawan |28 April 2022

President Ramkalawan during his meeting with American entrepreneur and philanthropist Lyda Hill at State House (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

Lyda Hill, an American entrepreneur and philanthropist from Dallas, yesterday called on President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House to thank him for what Seychelles is doing to help the oceans.

Speaking to the press following her talks with the President, Ms Hill said she was very satisfied with the investment she made through our blue bond to support the Seychelles marine spatial plan (SMSP) initiative.

Her foundation, the Lyda Hill Foundation, invested into the SMSP, the award winning government-led debt-for-climate-adaptation swap initiative in which the government committed itself to expanding marine biodiversity protection to 30% of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and territorial sea (400,000 square kilometres) and planning for sustainable uses by 2020.

The plan developed in 2014 is a useful tool to ensure the sustainable development of the oceans and the protection of biodiversity for current and future generations.

“It’s just wonderful and so exciting to see that someone is really doing things and that Seychelles is making things happen. I was really excited to be able to thank the President for what he is doing for the islands and for his country. It’s an example for the rest of the world,” said Ms Hill who visited 11 islands in our archipelago during her 10-day visit here.

Ms Hill, who leaves Seychelles today, was in the country to see how her investment in our blue bond was going. She added that the blue bond is doing great as the country is using those funds wonderfully. She commended our people for doing a wonderful job to help protect the environment.

She had visited the country before investing in the blue bond, when she toured four of our islands. The Lyda Hill Foundation is committed to funding game-changing advances in science and nature, to empowering non-profit organisations and to improving the local communities of greatest importance to her.

Seychelles started to develop its first marine spatial plan in 2014 with the primary objectives to increase marine protections to 30%, address climate change adaptation, and support the Seychelles’ blue economy.

Patrick Joubert