Seychelles has initiated a first-of-its-kind Locally Empowered Area Protection (LEAP) project implemented by Nature Seychelles and coordinated by the IUCN. The initiative offers an innovative approach to managing protected areas through the deep involvement of local communities and user groups working with the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA). The LEAP project ensures inclusivity by empowering community members to take ownership of the conservation of their own resources through MPAs, and the strategy itself was even created through a fully participatory process, taking into account the input of local fishermen, tourism establishments, entrepreneurs and vendors, government officials, youth, and district leadership. This innovative model offers guidance for other SIDS. In an appeal to encourage community participation, Mr. Cedrick Thomas, a resident of Port Glaud and a member of the Site Level Committee noted that, in these difficult economic times, "this is a chance to diversify livelihood options by exploring innovative sustainable financing solutions for our community."
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