(Posted 03rd November 2023)
The first UNESCO World Heritage site in the Seychelles, the Valle de Mai on the second largest island of Praslin, is celebrating its 40th anniversary since its inscription into the global roll of protected sites.
With over 110.000 visitors last year is the site also the most visited in the Seychelles.
The site is home to the Coco de Mer, an endemic palm tree species only found in the Seychelles and strongly protected to preserve the species. A second Coco de Mer site is located at the Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve, also located on Praslin.
A second UNESCO World Heritage site in the Seychelles is the Aldabra Atoll, the southernmost island of the country.
Both sites are managed by the Seychelles Island Foundation.
Dr. Frauke Fleischer-Dogley, the CEO of the Seychelles Island Foundation, spoke at the opening of the Symposium and said: ‘We all know Vallee de Mai as a place where many people visit, but few know of the much scientific work being done there every day, and today we want to share our research and findings with other people, so that they may understand that this is a place where science is also at its centre. We are very proud that we can celebrate this anniversary, as it shows the effort that Seychelles has put into maintaining the site as it was over 1,000 years ago, despite changes around it.’
SIF had held a symposium to celebrate the event and to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the Valle de Mai, which was opened by the Seychelles’ President Wavel Ramkalawan. During his address to the symposium participants did the President say: ‘I want to urge all Seychellois who have never visited Vallee de Mai to find a way to do so, as that is the only way to truly understand the treasure that we have on Praslin‘.
