Africa-Press – Seychelles. Leveraging existing resources, adopting financially sustainable conservation approaches and strengthening its financial autonomy through maximising revenue, coupled with minimising cost strategies we will enable the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority to be a highly effective and independent authority.
Following the newly-assented Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA) Act by President Wavel Ramkalawan on March 23, 2021 after being approved by the National Assembly on March 16, allowing a merger between the former Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) and the National Botanical Gardens Foundation (NBGF), the new Act will enable the authority better ensure that conservation is done in a financially responsible and sustainable manner to ensure that it achieves its ultimate objectives.
Under the leadership of chief executive Allen Cedras, the SPGA has underpinned its conservation goals on four strategies ̶ targeted and strategic conservation, resourcefulness, financial autonomy, and financial soundness.
According to Mr Cedras, the authority is attempting state-of-the-art sea and land conservation approaches which are data-driven and financially sustainable, while being mindful of the numerous challenges and threats that such diversity poses.
He explained that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented some new, but interesting challenges which taught the SPGA to do things differently and rethink its dependency on the tourism sector, while the revamped business model will lead to more positive impacts on the success of the business and its future, with new strategies, expecting to produce unique and desired outcomes.
The SPGA is a body corporate under the National Parks Authority order, mandated to promote the participation of government, the public and businesses in conservation work, to protect and manage effectively the ecosystems and biodiversity in designated protected areas which fall under its jurisdiction, implement national conservation policies and obligations under multilateral agreements, implement forestry practices and management, protect habitats and ecosystems from anthropogenic threats such as forest fire, pollution and coral destruction, undertake specialist services such as plant identification and offer specialist consultancy services, among other responsibilities.
SPGA’s vision is that parks and gardens in Seychelles are secure and thriving, sustained by adequate finances and a network of relevant stakeholders.
In other words, its vision is not framed within a narrow conservation ………silo but rather built within a more inclusive and positive narrative within nature, society and economy combined to design, develop, and deliver complementary and sustainable conservation.
The SPGA is also aiming at focusing on diversification of existing sources through market deepening and introduction of new sources.
For More News And Analysis About Seychelles Follow Africa-Press
