Anse à la Mouche development: A project with great emphasis on environmental protection |17 October 2022

Monitoring visit

The Anse à la Mouche project currently under way at the Les Canelles - Anse à la Mouche junction is set to become one of the latest additions to the Seychelles hospitality and tourism industry.

The mixed-use development – consisting of a 120-room 4-star resort, 84 residential apartments and a retail village – is expected to create job and business opportunities in the surrounding area and for the local communities. In parallel, much emphasis is being placed on protecting the natural environment.

From the inception, designing and implementation stage of the project, substantial efforts are being invested in ensuring that the development is sustainable to mitigate any impact, especially on the environment.

A collaborative approach has been adopted whereby the developers are working with the relevant authorities, namely the Planning Authority, Public Health Authority and the Ministry of Environment. This is to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to maintain a safe working environment and that due consideration is given to the ecological aspects. The concerned authorities is also conducting weekly meetings and regular monitoring visits to ensure quality control and provide the green light for each phase of the project.

The Ministry of Environment commented as follows: “Overall, we are satisfied with the level of cooperation and compliance observed through the weekly monitoring and interaction with the project team and on-site workers.”

As part of the efforts to protect the biodiversity area surrounding the Anse à la Mouche development, significant consideration is being given to the wetland as well as the mangroves and various other species found in this habitat. Protection hoardings have been installed around the wetland area as per the recommended distance agreed by the authorities to restrict direct access and protect the ecosystem during construction. It is to be noted that wetlands are of considerable importance, including being valuable for water retention and flood mitigation.

A water testing and monitoring exercise has been conducted to establish baseline conditions in the wetland. In addition, silt traps have been placed at several locations to minimise heavy siltation and accumulation of soil and sand.

Work is also currently under way to restore a designated part of the wetland. The rehabilitation work is aimed at desilting and unblocking many areas that have been filled with sand and soil over the years resulting in the limited flow of water. Progress is already visible; water retention capacity is improving and several species are establishing themselves. Weirs will also be built at the outlets of the wetland to enhance water retention and the survival of aquatic species.

While the wetland is being rehabilitated, the plants – mangroves and seedlings – are also being salvaged. Two nurseries have been set up – one for the seedlings and juvenile plants found in the forest before construction work began and the other for seedlings and mangroves salvaged from the wetland.

The developers have reiterated that “we remain committed to working and collaborating with the Anse à la Mouche community and the authorities to ensure that this development is implemented in a safe and sustainable manner, with a strong focus on environmental protection”.

The Anse à la Mouche development project, which started in January 2021, is expected to be completed in 2024.

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