Mancham promotes Aldabra at major environment forum
28.10.2013
Founding President Sir James R. Mancham, who is attending a major environment forum in the US, has said he will avail of the opportunity to seek support for the ‘Aldabra on Mahé’ project he is spearheading.
Mr Mancham is at the moment in Savannah, Georgia, USA, taking part in the Ocean Exchange summit in his capacity as member of the Board of Governors.
This US-based organisation was founded three years ago to seek solutions for problems affecting the oceans and coastal areas of the world.
The 30-strong Board of Governors includes a former vice-admiral, a retired US army general, the former president of Gulfstream, the former vice-president of Coca Cola, bankers, university professors, scientists and some leading environmental conservationists.
Mr Mancham said that his priority at this conference is to “educate” members of the Exchange about Aldabra and seek their support for the ‘Aldabra on Mahé’ project which, with the blessing of President James Michel, he has agreed to spearhead together with the involvement of the Seychelles Islands Foundation which is chaired by Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne.
Mr Mancham’s argument vis-à-vis the member of his Board of Governors and the delegates attending the conference is that Aldabra constitutes a significant area of Seychelles archipelago and that Seychelles’ decision to discern Aldabra as a Unesco World Heritage Site in the interest of humanity and posterity deserves to be recognised.
The ‘Aldabra on Mahé’ project is therefore deserving of international support and funding.
Mr Mancham said that his own concept of the project is relatively ambitious and would require substantial funding to be properly raised.
He said that the concept of the project could only be finalised against the potential of the funding that would be available.
“It is therefore important that we identify funding partners and international institutions which are ready to get involved in the project before determining on a final plan. Personally, I would rather see a situation where we start small to grow big – rather than big to fall flat on the face if the required funding is not forthcoming.”
According to Mr Mancham the ‘Aldabra on Mahé’ project could become the base upon which to gradually build an institute of international dimension where matters of maritime interest can be researched and studied in the global interest of humanity. The Aldabra project could become an SOS flagship for similar projects around the world.
Mr Mancham said that since he has initiated the idea of the ‘Aldabra on Mahé’ project he has become aware from serious sources that the condition of all coral reefs is rapidly deteriorating which poses a serious threat to human mankind as the coral reef environment is one of the most important sources for the production of oxygen.