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VALLEE DE MAI NATURE RESERVE
SEYCHELLES
The scenically superlative palm forest of the Vallée de Mai is a living museum of a flora that developed
before the evolution of more advanced plant families. It also supports one of the three main areas of
coco-de-mer forest still remaining, a tree which has the largest of all plant seeds. The valley is also the
only place where all six palm species endemic to the Seychelles are found together. The valley’s flora
and fauna is rich with many endemic and several threatened species.
COUNTRY
Seychelles
NAME
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITE
1983: Inscribed on the World Heritage List under Natural Criteria vii, viii, ix and x.
STATEMENT OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee issued the following Statement of Outstanding Universal
Value at the time of inscription
Brief Synthesis
Located on the granitic island of Praslin, the Vallée de Mai is a 19.5 ha area of palm forest which remains largely
unchanged since prehistoric times. Dominating the landscape is the world's largest population of endemic coco-de-
mer, a flagship species of global significance as the bearer of the largest seed in the plant kingdom. The forest is
also home to five other endemic palms and many endemic fauna species. The property is a scenically attractive
area with a distinctive natural beauty.
Criterion (vii): The property contains a scenic mature palm forest. The natural formations of the palm forests are of
aesthetic appeal with dappled sunlight and a spectrum of green, red and brown palm fronds. The natural beauty
and near-natural state of the Vallée de Mai are of great interest, even to those visitors who are not fully aware of
the ecological significance of the forest.
Criterion (viii): Shaped by geological and biological processes that took place millions of years ago, the property is
an outstanding example of an earlier and major stage in the evolutionary history of the world's flora. Its ecology is
dominated by endemic palms, and especially by the coco-de-mer, famous for its distinctively large double nut
containing the largest seed in the plant kingdom. The Vallée de Mai constitutes a living laboratory, illustrating of
what other tropical areas would have been before the advent of more advanced plant families.
Criterion (ix): The property represents an outstanding example of biological evolution dominated by endemic
palms. The property's low and intermediate-altitude palm forest is characteristic of the Seychelles and is preserved
as something resembling its primeval state. The forest is dominated by the coco-de-mer
Lodoicea maldivica
but
there are also five other endemic species of palms. Located in the granitic island of Praslin, the Vallée de Mai is the
only area in the Seychelles where all six species occur together and no other island in the Indian Ocean possesses
the combination of features displayed in the property. The ancient palms form a dense forest, along with
Pandanus
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screw palms and broadleaf trees, which together constitute an ecosystem where unique ecological processes and
interactions of nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, and pollination occur.
Criterion (x): The Vallée de Mai is the world's stronghold for the endemic coco-de-mer
Lodoicea maldivica
and the
endemic palm species millionaire's salad
Deckenia nobilis
, thief palm
Phoenicophorium borsigianum ,
Seychelles
stilt palm
Verschaffeltia splendida
, latanier millepattes
Nephrosperma vanhoutteanum
and latanier palm
Roscheria
melanochaetes
, are also found within the property. The palm forest is relatively pristine and it provides a refuge for
viable populations of many endemic species, including the black parrot
Coracopsis nigra barklyi
, restricted to
Praslin Island and totally dependent on the Vallée de Mai and surrounding palm forest. Other species supported by
the palm habitat include three endemic species of bronze gecko, endemic blue pigeons, bulbuls, sunbirds,
swiftlets, Seychelles skinks, burrowing skinks, tiger chameleons, day geckos, caecilians, tree frogs, freshwater fish
and many invertebrates.
Integrity
The ecological integrity of the Vallée de Mai is high, but the 19.5ha that constitutes the property's size is relatively
small and its present status is due to some replanting of coco-de-mer undertaken in the past. The property is
embedded within the Praslin National Park (300ha) which provides a sufficiently large area to ensure the natural
functioning of the forest ecosystem. To enhance the property's integrity, the World Heritage Committee has
recommended extending the property to include the rest of the Praslin National Park, thus providing an appropriate
buffer zone.
Protection and Management Requirements
The property is legally protected under national legislation and is managed by a public trust, the Seychelles Islands
Foundation. The management of the property has been enhanced with the adoption of a management plan in
2002. Fire is considered the most significant threat to the property, and fire response and contingency plans are
essential. Tourism, as managed by the public trust, makes a significant financial contribution to the protection and
management of the property. The overexploitation of coco-de-mer can exhaust natural recruitment, and illegal
removal of the seeds is a serious problem that affects future regeneration; thus, a key management priority is to
maintain the palm forest by direct human manipulation with the collection and planting of the seeds before they are
stolen and sold. Effective measures to mitigate threats to endemic fauna and flora from invasive species, pests and
diseases are also essential.
IUCN MANAGEMENT CATEGORY
IV Habitat/Species Management Area
BIOGEOGRAPHICAL PROVINCE
Seychelles & Amirantes Islands (4.16.13)
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The valley is in the centre of Praslin National Park on Praslin Island, 50km north-east of Mahé in the
Seychelles Islands of the western Indian Ocean at 4°19'S, 55°44'E.
DATES AND HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT
I948: The valley was acquired by the government as a part of the catchment area of Praslin Island;
1966: Declared a Nature Reserve under the Wild Birds Protection (Nature Reserves) Regulation
S.I.27;
1978: The Coco-de-mer Management Decree passed;
1979: Praslin National Park designated under the National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act
(Cap.159) S.I.57.
LAND TENURE
Government. Managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF).
AREA
19.5ha, within Praslin National Park (342ha).
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ALTITUDE
Between ~110m and ~210m.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
The Seychelles is a widely spaced archipelago in the western Indian ocean. The north-easternmost
group consists of 41 islands of rugged preCambrian granite. Praslin Island, in the north of this group, is
the second largest island, 3,756ha in area. The Vallée is in the central hills in the northeast of Praslin
National Park. It is in the lower part of a valley from which two streams flow, the Nouvelle De-Couverte
and Fond B'Offay rivers, flowing west and east respectively, though it does not include all of their
headwater catchments. The site was untouched palm forest until the 1930s when development of a
plantation of exotic trees and the exploitation of coco-de-mer palm seeds began. Drier hills on the edge
of the valley have suffered soil erosion as a result of forest fires and deforestation, so that the soil is
degraded and the forest is secondary growth. However, most of the valley is still in a near natural
condition.
CLIMATE
The climate is humid tropical with annual temperatures varying between 24° and 32°C. Annual rainfall
on Praslin is about 2200mm. There is a drier season during the south-east monsoon from April to
September and a wetter slightly warmer season during the northwest monsoon between October and
March. The island lies north of the cyclone belt and has been relatively free from strong winds (Walsh,
1984) SIF, pers.comm., 1995) though the incidence of major storms is increasing (Lundin & Linden,
1995). For instance a mini-cyclone affected Praslin and nearby islands in September 2002, causing
significant damage (UNEP, 2003).
VEGETATION
The rainforest of the Vallée de Mai is an outstanding example of a stage in the development of the
world's flora before the evolution of more advanced plant families (IUCN, 1983). Three main vegetation
types occur in the site: valley palm forest, intermediate palm forest and secondary forest on eroded
land. The site is too small to be self-sustaining, and several endemic species are maintained only
through human agency. But it does contain all the ecological components needed for the continued
existence of the extremely rich endemic flora: 28 endemic plants, including four screwpines and 14
broadleaf trees.
The palm forest is characterised by the endemic coco-de-mer palm
Lodoicea maldivica
which has the
largest seed in the plant kingdom, weighing up to 18kg, and has been much sought after for that
reason. Its canopy reaches 30m high. All six palm species endemic to the Seychelles occur in the
valley, all belonging to monospecific genera. As well as coco-de-mer there are millionaire’s salad
Deckenia nobilis
(VU), thief palm
Phoenicophorium borsigianum
, Seychelles stilt palm
Verschaffeltia
splendida
, latanier palm
Roscheria melanochaetes
and latanier millepattes
Nephrosperma
vanhoutteana
.
The intermediate palm forest is intermixed with endemic broadleaved trees such as
Northea hornei
(VU) and
Dillenia ferruginea
(VU) and with endemic screwpines such as
Pandanus hornei
(VU) and
P.
sechellarum
(VU). The endemic sedge
Mapanea floribundum
grows in more open and rocky places,
and a dense growth of the sedge
Scleria sumatrensis
occurs on open, marshy patches on the forest
floor. Areas on the edge of the valley where the soil has been degraded by burning have been
recolonised by endemics such as
Paragenipa wrightii
,
Pandanus multispicatus
(VU),
Phoenicophorium
borsigianum
,
Memecyclon eleagni
(VU),
Syzygium wrightii
(VU),
Deckenia nobilis
, and
the vine
Secamone schimperiana,
or by planted indigenous species such as
Calophyllum inophyllum
and
Intsia
bijuga
(VU), and exotic species such as
Tabebuia pallida
, red sandalwood
Adenanthera pavonina
and
coco plum
Chrysobalanus icaco
(SIF, pers. comm., 2006).
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FAUNA
The site is a BirdLife International designated Important Bird Area. Its most notable bird is an endemic
subspecies of black parrot
Coracopsis nigra barklyi
, restricted to Praslin Island and dependent on the
Vallée de Mai and the surrounding palm forest.
Leptailurus serval
The population in 2001 was 200-400
birds. Other notable birds include the endemic Seychelles bulbul
Hypsipetes crassirostris
, Seychelles
blue pigeon
Alectroenas pulcherrima
and sunbird
Nectarinia dussumieri
, the re-introduced Seychelles
kestrel
Falco araea
(VU)
and the endemic cave-nesting Seychelles swiftlet
Collocalia elaphra
(VU).
Exotic birds include Indian mynah
Acridotheres tristis
and barn owl
Tyto alba affinis
. The only two
indigenous mammal species are the endemic Seychelles flying fox
Pteropus seychellensis
, which
roosts in the Reserve, and Seychelles sheathtailed bat
Coleura seychellensis
(CR). Also occurring is
the introduced tenrec
Tenrec ecaudatus
from Madagascar.
Reptiles include the endemic tiger chameleon
Calumma tigris
(EN), Seychelles house snake
Lamprophis geometricus
(EN), Seychelles wolf snake
Lycognathophis seychellensis
(EN), the
introduced blind snake
Ramphotyphlops braminus
, endemic Seychelles giant and small day geckos
Phelsuma sundbergi
and
P. astriata
, Seychelles bronze-eyed gecko and skinks
Mabuya sechellensis
,
Scelotes gardineri
, and
S. braueri
. One endemic the Seychelles tree-frog
Tachycnemis seychellensis
,
and the introduced Mascarene grass frog
Ptychadena mascareniensis
are known from the area. Six
species of endemic worm-like caecilians are known to occur in the deep beds of moist humus, but are
rarely seen. The stream contains the endemic freshwater crab
Seychellum alluaudi
, giant crayfish
Macrobrachium lar
and shrimps
Caridina
spp. (Bosc, 2004). Two endemic snails which occur are brown
snail
Stylodonta studeriana
(EN) and blackfish snail
Pachnodus praslinus
(VU)
.
There is also a range of
orthopterid insects (SIF, pers. comm., 2006) and a recently discovered fruit fly
Drosophila sechellensis,
associated with coco de mer fruits that have been dehusked (SIF, pers. comm., 2006)
CONSERVATION VALUE
The scenically superlative forest palm forest of the Vallée de Mai is a living museum of a stage in the
evolution of the world's flora before the development of more advanced plant families. It is also the site
of one of the three main populations of coco-de-mer remaining in Seychelles. The coco de mer palm is
notable for its seeds, the largest of all plants’, and for the very large leaves of the juvenile palms. Vallée
de Mai is the only place where all six palm species endemic to the Seychelles are found together. The
valley’s flora and fauna is rich with many endemic and several threatened species. The Park lies within
a Conservation International-designated Conservation Hotspot, a WWF Global 200 Eco-region, a
WWF/IUCN Centre of Plant Diversity and is one of the world’s Important Bird Areas.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
The first record of the islands was on a 9
th
century Arab chart. The first recorded landfall was in 1609,
after which the islands became a popular port of call for pirate ships. The French claimed the islands in
1754, when bringing slaves from Africa, and named them after their finance minister, and Praslin Island
after the minister for the navy. The British succeeded them in 1815 and many freed slaves were settled
in the country but the culture remained largely French-influenced (Creole). Immigrants from Asian
countries also arrived, many intermarrying with local people and the population reflects this very mixed
background. Much use was made of the coco de mer palm between the 18
th
and early 20
th
centuries,
with trunk and leaves being utilised in house building, young nuts used as food and mature nuts
fashioned into containers and household implements.
LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION
There are no inhabitants in Vallée de Mai, although there is a forestry settlement in the National Park
where forest and park rangers live, but the surrounding population of Praslin Island is increasing.
VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES
The Park is popular and well visited. 41 to 48% of all visitors to the country visit Vallée de Mai. Visitors
to Seychelles in 2005 numbered 129,333, with 82% being from Europe (SIF, pers. comm., 2006).
Access is from the main road. There is an information centre and a small shop by the entrance. Access
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within the Reserve is restricted to a carefully designed system of marked paths, and guided tours are
available (SIF, pers. comm., 1995).
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES
The palm forests are of great botanical interest. Some work has been done by individual researchers on
the black parrots and on palm geckos. Savage & Ashton studied in 1976 the population structure of all
palm species and calculated a growth rate for
Lodoicea maldivica
. An age table related to the height of
the trees was generated. In 1985 the Expedition from Oxford University established six permanent
sample plots and again analysed the population structure of
Lodoicea
but also looked at the forest
composition. In 1998 the Geobotanical Institute Zürich resurveyed the permanent sample plots and
found that the palm forest was well managed and that invasion by alien species is moderate. Research
in the population structure has continued and it was found that the human impact on the Vallée de Mai
population was underestimated (Fleischer-Dogley & Kendle, 2002). A U.K.University Expedition in 1976
studied forest regeneration, the Seychelles fruit bat, tenrecs and black parrot (Ascroft
et al
., 1976
&1977). Savage & Ashton have studied the population structure of the coco-de-mer palm (1983) and
the impact of tourism (1991). A Science Workshop was held in 2006 to prioritise research needs and
efforts will be made to encourage further research in Vallée de Mai. There are currently no research
facilities on site.
MANAGEMENT
Since January 1989 the management of Vallée de Mai has been entrusted to the Seychelles Islands
Foundation (SIF): this NGO also manages Seychelles’ other World Heritage Site, Aldabra Atoll.
Management policies were originally set by the Seychelles National Environment Commission. A
management plan for Vallée de Mai was prepared in 2002, to serve until 2008. The firebreak around
the Reserve is regularly maintained and alien species are controlled. The Reserve itself is a strictly
protected zone within the surrounding Praslin National Park. The trade in coco-de-mer nuts is
controlled by law. A registration system for selling the nuts seems to facilitate control, together with
enforcement of the Coco de Mer Management Decree of 1994. At present the palm forest must be
maintained by collecting and planting the seeds before they are stolen for sale.
Before 1930 a private owner logged the timber in the valley and introduced many exotics such as
coffee, patchouli
Pogostemon cablin
, cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum
,
Psidium cattleianum
,
Paraserianthes falcataria
and
Epipremnum
spp. which the present management for many years has
been replacing with native palms. Expansion of the World Heritage site across the road from the Vallée,
to include an area of high quality forest which has a large population of coco-de-mer, was
recommended by the original IUCN evaluators who also recommended extending World Heritage
status over the whole of the National Park, as a buffer to ensure the continuing integrity of the forest
and to encourage the implementation of the existing management plan (IUCN, 1983). In 2006 the
Seychelles Government approved an extension of the area under SIF management (known as Fond
Peper), although the area still has to be officially surveyed and the lease finalised. SIF is to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Environment to formalise the management of
this extended area.
MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS
There are difficulties in effectively patrolling the area, and poaching of coco-de-mer nuts is a serious
problem that affects future regeneration. There is considerable risk of fire, although all smoking or use
of fire is prohibited in the Reserve. As the island is small but increasingly dependent on the growth of
tourism, constant monitoring will continue to be necessary to prevent abuse. Another potential problem
is that the site does not include the whole water catchment area of its streams and the island’s
population and water needs are growing rapidly. Activities of any type on the slopes above the valley
within the National Park could adversely affect the site itself. Threats to endemic birds from rats and
feral cats are being met by specially prepared rat-proof nesting boxes for the black parrots (SIF, pers.
comm., 1995). Well trained and motivated staff are sometimes difficult to retain.
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STAFF
A warden, assistant warden, 3-4 rangers and maintenance staff are employed by the Seychelles
Islands Foundation.
BUDGET
The admission charges pay for its upkeep (and for Aldabra Atoll) but are not used for the National Park.
LOCAL ADDRESSES
Chairman, Seychelles Islands Foundation, PO Box 853, Victoria, Seychelles
REFERENCES
The principal source for the above information was the original nomination for World Heritage status.
Ascroft, D.
et al
. (1976).
Aberdeen University Expedition to Praslin Island, Seychelles, Summer 1976
.
Preliminary Report.
IUCN (1983).
World Heritage Nomination. The Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
. Technical Review.
Bailey, O. (1971).
List of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Seychelles with their Vernacular Names
.
Mahé, Seychelles.
Beaver, K. (2006)
Proceedings of the Vallée de Mai Science Workshop
, Seychelles Island Foundation,
Mahe, Seychelles
Beaver, K. & Chong Seng, L. (1992)
Vallée de Mai.
SPACE, Seychelles
Bosc, P., Keith, P., Valade, P. & Grondin, H. (2004)
Inventaire des espèces de poissons et de
macrocrustacés d’eau douce des principales rivières pérennes des îles de Mahé et de Praslin,
République des Seychelles,
Centre des Eaux Douces
ARDA, La Réunion.
Carlström, A. (1996)
Endemic and Threatened Plant Species on the Granitic Seychelles.
Seychelles
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Edwards, P., Kollmann, J. & Fleischmann, K. (2003). Life history evolution in
Lodoicea maldivica
(Arecaceae).
Nordic Journal of Botany
22:227-237.
Evans, P. & Evans,J.(1980) The ecology of lizards on Praslin Island, Seychelles.
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191:171-192
Fleischer-Dogley, F. & Kendle.T. (2002). The conservation status of the coco de mer
Lodoicea
maldivica
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& Groves, M. (eds).
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Zürich, Switzerland
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---------- (1994)
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Gardner, A. (1986). The biogeography of the lizards of the Seychelles Islands.
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Kendle, T.
et al.
(2002)
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Savage, A. & Ashton, P. (1983). The population structure of the double coconut and some other
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, Biotropica 19: 282-283
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Harold E. Moore, Jr,
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.
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DATE
June 1983. Updated 5-1990, 1-1992, 1-2005, 11-2006, May 2011.
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