The Blue Economy and Climate Change
Risk Assessment and Adaptive Strategies for Improved Seaport Resilience to Climate Change in Seychelles
For nearly three decades, Nature Seychelles has been helping Seychelles adapt to climate change by protecting and restoring natural assets such as forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and endangered species. Through projects ranging from coral reef restoration to wetland conservation, our work has focused on strengthening the resilience of the ecosystems that underpin the nation’s economy and well-being.
Today, however, climate change is threatening not only natural assets but also the built infrastructure on which island economies depend. Ports, airports, roads, and coastal facilities face increasing risks from sea-level rise, storm surges, coastal flooding, and extreme weather events. For a small island nation such as Seychelles, where almost all trade depends on maritime transport, the resilience of port infrastructure is a matter of national economic security. Ports worldwide are increasingly recognised as being highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards.
For this reason, Nature Seychelles has partnered with the Seychelles Ports Authority to implement a new project funded by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Working closely with our knowledge partner, the National Maritime Foundation, the project will assess climate risks to Seychelles’ port infrastructure and identify practical adaptation measures to improve resilience. It marks an important expansion of our climate adaptation work from safeguarding natural capital to helping protect the critical infrastructure that supports the Blue Economy and national development.
Project snapshot:
Implementing Entity: Nature Seychelles
Nodal Government Partner: Seychelles Ports Authority
Knowledge Partner: National Maritime Foundation
Funding Source: Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (IRAF) under the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund
Geographic Focus: Port Victoria (Mahé), Praslin & La Digue ports
Overall Budget: USD $413,946.52
Duration: 24 Months (2026– 2028)
Overarching goal
To enhance the resilience of Seychelles’ seaports against escalating climate hazards, ensuring the long-term sustainability and uninterrupted operation of these critical infrastructures and safeguarding Seychelles’ economy, which heavily relies on maritime trade, tourism, and fishing
Key objectives
- To assess current and projected climate change risk nationally and at ports
- To identify vulnerable ports infrastructure and conduct a comprehensive comparative risk analysis
- To develop a climate adaptation strategy and establish a monitoring and evaluation framework
- To enhance capacity and strengthen policy making
Activities and Outcomes
Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Planning
- Climate risk profiles and adaptation strategies for Victoria, Praslin and La Digue ports
- Evidence-based planning and risk-informed investment decisions
Enhanced Port Resilience
- Improved resilience of critical port infrastructure to sea-level rise, storm surges and extreme weather
- Helps maintain reliable maritime trade, tourism and fisheries operations
Informed Infrastructure Investment
- Evidence for future climate-resilient port infrastructure investments
- Supports upgrades to flood protection, drainage systems and vulnerable infrastructure
- Aligns with major planned port development projects across Seychelles
Stronger Policies & Capacity
- Integrates climate resilience into port planning and management
- Builds technical skills of SPA staff and key stakeholders through training and knowledge exchange.
