Marine and Coastal Conservation in the East African Region: National Reports - UNEP Regional Seas Reports and Studies No. 50

As stated by Wilson, 1980, "The National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act is the basis of the network of national parks and reserves in the Seychelles. It provides for the creation of a National Parks and Nature Conservancy Commission (this has now been strengthened and renamed, The Seychelles National Environment Commission), to be the managing authority for areas designated as Strict Nature Reserves, Special Reserves, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and confers the necessary powers to the Commission to undertake this task.'' The act also defines a national park as: "An area set aside for the propagation, protection and preservation of wildlife as the preservation of places of objects of aesthetic, geological, prehistoric, historical, archaeological or other scientific interest for the benefit, advantage and enjoyment of the general public and includes in the case of a marine national park, an area of shore, sea or seabed together with coral reef and other marine features so set aside".