In the Seychelles the protection of the environment goes beyond the safeguarding of
human rights. For such a small country, where the economy is basically dependent
on tourism, the environment is more a question of national survival or existence, as
it is stated in the Preamble of the Constitution: …”the People of Seychelles ever mindful of
the uniqueness and fragility of Seychelles”.
The environmental legislation is among the more extended in the Republic and it is
constantly improved and updated.
Among more than 260 Chapters contained in the "Laws of Seychelles", 12 of them
are specifically legislated for the protection of the ambient
Birds' Eggs Act, Chapter 16.
Bread Fruit and Other Trees (Protection) Act, Chapter 18.
Coco de Mer (Management) Decree, Chapter 37.
Environment Protection Act, Chapter 70.
Fire (Protection) Act, Chapter 80
Forest Reserves Act, Chapter 83
Lighting of fires (Restriction) Act, chapter 114
Pesticides Control Act, Chapter 145 A
Petroleum Mining (Pollution and Control) Act, Chapter 170
Plant Protection Act, Chapter 171A
Removal of Sand and Gravel Act, Chapter 203
Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act, Chapter 247.
Environment Protection Act, 28/09/1994, Laws of Seychelles 1996
An Act to provide for the protection, preservation and improvement of the environment; for the
control of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property; for ensuring proper
co-ordination, implementation and enforcement of national policies on environmental management,
for integration of environmental considerations into the development process; and to provide for
matters connected with or incidental thereto.
Section 4. The Authority for environment protection and its functions
4.5: Functions of the Authority are toi) implement policies and programmes in pursuance of the national objectives on environment
protection;
ii) co-ordinate the activities of other agencies concerned with the protection of the environment […];
iii) evolve standards for the quality of the environment […];
iv) Commission research and sponsor studies on problems relating to environmental pollution;
v) Examine such manufacturing processes, materials and substances as are likely to cause
environmental pollution;
vi) Identify areas in which any activity shall not be carried out […]