Seychelles addresses coral reef decline and climate resilience

The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) has released the Status and Trend of Seychelles’ Coral Reefs 2026 Report. Based on 32 years of data, the report reveals that national coral cover has fallen to 14%. The archipelago has faced three major climate-driven thermal stress events in 1998, 2016, and 2024. In the inner islands, the 1998 event caused an estimated 90% loss of live coral. These reefs are vital to the economy, supporting tourism revenue of over US$51.5 million annually and providing approximately 4,000 metric tonnes of reef fish for local consumption and food security.

In a separate effort to address climate-related risks, the Seychelles Planning Authority (SPA) and the Department of Risk and Disaster Management (DRMD) have entered a collaboration to strengthen national disaster resilience. This partnership includes the co-development of the ‘La Digue Special Guideline’ and the development of new policies regarding landslides, flooding, tsunami threats, and watershed management. The initiative also aims to align national frameworks with international best practices through the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.