Lanmous, seagrass (scientific name to be identified), is only found in a small area of La Retraite
between mainland Mahe and reclaimed island Ile Aurore. Currently it is only used by fishermen
as bait in fish traps to entice reef fishes, some travelling from as far as Praslin island to collect the
species for their trap fishery practices. Recently there has been major reclamation works done in
the area with limited engagement with the local community even as the project expanded from a
simple road widening project to include dredging for a marina and reclamation of land for
commercial purposes. The increasing inlet of seawater is very likely to upset the growing
environment of the lanmous which is further inland. On a positive note, the dredging has proved
there was a healthy population of local clams species. Very little is known about it. The project
aims to conserve the remaining patches of lanmous, set up the small area as a community
conservation area, empower the fishermen to engage with authorities in managing this resource
to ensure its conservation and possibly expand its growing areas. The challenges that this project
intends to address as a response to environmental and development issues at national and global
levels are: the scientific and technical challenges or expertise facing such a community-based
seagrass conservation project in for e.g., assessing and monitoring the particular seagrass area
and identifying other potential areas for replication based on results from testing methodologies,
uncertainties in the political climate, low public awareness of seagrass and its importance
meaning little public pressure on the relevant authorities to enforce conservation measures on the
species and finally, the social challenges arising from management of this common resource for
low income fishermen activities will require careful consideration and meaningful engagement
with many stakeholder groups, including the relevant authorities and coastal developers. Despite
these challenges, this seagrass conservation project is well-aligned with the SGP Biodiversity
conservation (landscape-seascape conservation) focal area as well as other national and global
movements towards stronger community community-based management of threatened species
which will provide sustainable livelihoods and an opportunity for effective, efficient and socially
just conservation of the named seagrass (?lanmous?). Recommendations will be made on how
community-based seagrass conservation is best facilitated through policy dialogue and tools for
best practices in this mix of traditional and scientific knowledge for conservation