In a bid to reforest Seychelles’ Praslin Island, retrenched employees from the tourism industry are joining in a project to plant half a million trees. All the workers involved have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.

According to All Africa the initial phase of the project is expected to see some 100 000 trees planted on the Seychelles second most populated island, from August to the end of December. Native trees are to be planted on some of the most deforested areas of the island.

The chief executive of the Seychelles Employee Transition Scheme (SETS), Guy Morel, said “This is an ambitious project but if we need transformation, we need to take bold steps.” He added, “We will cater for the people made redundant on Praslin.”

All Africa reports that the Seychelles Employee Transition Scheme, a non-profit public sector enterprise, has been authorized to re-skill and return to economic activity, those who have been retrenched as a result of the pandemic.

The travel industry has taken one of the hardest knocks of the pandemic, world over. Airlines have closed, and hotel groups have left some countries.

Meanwhile Biodiversity consultant Elvina Henriette said that this would be the largest tree planting campaign ever undertaken in Seychelles. She said the seedlings would be planted on degraded land in selected mountain, coastal and wetland areas on Praslin Island.

The project is to be implemented on August 24.

Umm Muhammed Asvat