Minister Jumeau fills in soil around a young palm while PS Payet and children look on

Senior environment officials hosted primary school children to a guided tour of the Bio-Diversity Centre at Barbarons on Thursday April 22, in celebration of Earth Day.

The local Earth Day theme of “Conserving our Native Flora” gave children from three primary schools – Bel Eau, Anse Boileau and Grand Anse – a chance to learn more about the endemic plants found in Seychelles.

The Bio-Diversity Centre plays host to more than 75 percent of Seychelles’ endemic plant species, some of which have been introduced from other islands like Silhouette, both for research and as a cautionary measure to protect lone, isolated populations off site, or ex situ.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Ronny Jumeau and environment principal secretary Rolph Payet, as well as other top environment officials, joined the students on the tour, capped by a short tree-planting session.

Minister Jumeau and Mr Payet each planted a young palm in one of the centre’s developing nurseries, while children helped fill in the soil around the young trees.

With World Water Day celebrated only recently, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources decided to localise this year’s international Earth Day theme of “Water for Life,” instead focusing on the conservation of native flora, centre director Denis Matatiken said.

Founded by United States Senator Gaylond Nelson, Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. Today it is celebrated by more than 5,000 groups in 184 countries, with a focus on environmental protection and awareness.

Mr Matatiken said the tree planting activity would show children that they can always find ways to make a difference, in the same spirit of Senator Nelson’s attempt to mobilise people to take notice of environmental issues.

Other activities planned for the Earth Day festivities included an informational for the students on how to collect and sow seeds in the ex situ conservation of plants.

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