About Us – TRASS

Who Are We?

Terrestrial Restoration Action Society of Seychelles (TRASS) is a not-for-profit organization based on Praslin Island, Seychelles committed to restoring the archipelago’s degraded ecosystems. The NGO aims at restoring, enhancing, maintaining, and safeguarding areas, especially those affected by namely forest fires. TRASS works mainly on Praslin Island through partnerships with private landowners, the government, the private sector and other NGOs, to ensure that degraded lands on the island can be fully restored to their primitive state or at least become more active ecosystems by providing habitats, food, natural resources and shelter to wildlife and humans. To this date, TRASS is the only NGO in Seychelles with expertise in rehabilitating areas affected by forest fires.

Our Mission Statement

TRASS is committed to the restoration of degraded terrestrial, coastal and marine sites of Praslin Islands, as well as other islands of Seychelles. Through the work of volunteers, the organisation aims to restore, enhance, maintain and safeguard the environment of Seychelles, especially those areas that have been severely affected by forest fires, human activities, as well as the introduction of invasive species.

Our Objectives

To work in partnership with private landowners, government, private sector and other NGOs to restore degraded areas;
To develop public awareness regarding the dangers of forest fires,land degradation and other threats to biodiversity through the media, website, newsletters, publications, presentations, articles and other means;
To influence decisions and policies based on sound scientific research and information;
To raise funds to support the work programme of the Association;
To set up and manage information databases to assist those engaged in research concerning forest fires and other threats to biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, conservation and management as well as land degradation in the Seychelles;
To partake our knowledge in rehabilitation and propagation of plants to the community so that they can in turn be guardians of the environment of Seychelles.

History of TRASS

TRASS was founded in 2009 by Dr Victorin Laboudallon, a pioneer in nature conservation in Seychelles. His vision was to rehabilitate the island of Praslin, the second most populated island of Seychelles following many years of erosion exacerbated by continuous occurrence of forest fires. Following such forest fires, the mountains remain bare, only to be colonized by invasive species. With a small group of inspired conservationists and nature enthusiasts, mainly from Praslin, Dr Laboudallon started the first rehabilitation work targeting places such as La Pointe Chevalier, Anse Possession and the mountainside overlooking the Coco de Mer hotel. Since then, the organization has grown from a small team to over one thousand volunteers from various organisations and communities who have all helped to plant trees on various sites on the island. The organisation has currently a group of 60 members, as well as a 6-strong staff and 15 part-timers.