Danish author Steen G. Hansen adds Morne Seychellois National Park to his Seychelles book collection

Morne Seychellois National Park is located in Mahé and covers an area of ​​approximately 3,045 hectares. (Steen G. Hansen)

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(Seychelles News Agency) – A colorful new book focusing on Morne Seychellois National Park was published by Steen G. Hansena Danish biologist and ecologist who lives in the Seychelles, adding another publication to his collection of books on the Seychelles.

The 144-page illustrated book on Morne Seychellois, co-authored by Damien Doudee, senior horticulturist for the new Seychelles Gardens and Parks Authority, was launched in February.

the Morne Seychellois National Park is located in Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles, and covers an area of ​​approximately 3,045 hectares. The park stretches for 10 km and is equipped with an extensive network of trails covering over 15 km. It is one of the islands richest Key Biodiversity Areas – where most of the local endemic flora and fauna are found. The national park crosses three districts – Bel Ombre, Bel Air and Port Glaud.

“Since the book is meant to be a gift book, we decided to let the public trails tell the story. Why? Because the trails are for the public and that means it doesn’t make sense to start describing anything. scientific thing that is far out in the bush where few people will come,” Hansen told SNA.

The result is a spellbinding journey – well-balanced with striking natural, cultural and historical elements, where the latter, among others, includes the Three Brothers mountain shrine; slavery at Mission Lodge; the Ethiopian Gallas people in Dans Gallas; and the so-called Doctor’s House at Mare aux Cochons.





Egbert Marday’s Freed Slaves Monument at Mission Lodge. (Steen G. Hansen) Photo license: All rights reserved

Culturally, readers can learn about the cinnamon era from the early 1900s to the late 1960s and an attempt to make up for lost cinnamon revenue by planting a number of trees. different potential woodlots in the central parts of the park.

Cloud forests, endemic plants and animals – exciting discovery trails

The book shows stunning cloud forests with dense moss cover and the many unique plants and animals many of which are endemic, rare and even globally endangered.

A Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation producer and respected naturalist, Pat Matyot, had the opportunity to preview the book.

“It’s a kind of book that fills many different niches. It will be used to plan your hike, to put a name to the plants and animals you come across, as a perfect souvenir of your immersion in the Seychelles nature, and as the perfect gift for friends, whether they have visited the Seychelles before or are still coming to our shores and discovering the true treasures of our intriguing flora and fauna.

The book is lavishly illustrated with a gallery of photos chosen from a collection of 35,000 photos of the Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.





Approach the second viewpoint on the Anse Major trail. (Steen G. Hansen) Photo license: All rights reserved

“The book is presented with a presentation of the chosen route on a broken page, however, in small icons so that it is more attractive to readers and with a corresponding photo gallery on the following pages for those who prefer images rather than too much text,” Hansen said.

In her preview of the book, the Minister of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry said: “Very well written and innovatively laid out, this book has all the qualities that will make it possible to live a wonderful journey through the sumptuous rainforest of Morne Seychellois National Park.”

With this latest project, Hansen has added a new book on the Seychelles to his already impressive collection, which includes “The Flora of the Seychelles” and “The Striking Plants of Aride Island” – both from 2016. In 2017, he wrote “Vallée de Mai – a virgin palm forest, a nature reserve and a UNESCO heritage site. The following year came “The Striking Nature of Curieuse Island”; “The Tea Factory – its nature trail and Morne Blanc”; ‘The Seychelles National Botanical Garden’ and ‘Le Jardin du Roi Spice Garden’. “The Seychelles National Biodiversity Centre” was published in 2019 and finally in August 2021 Hansen added “Le Ravin de Fond Ferdinand – a special reserve on Praslin” to his collection.

Lola R. McClure