Our long term collaborative project supports local partners focused upon marine conservation on the small island state of the Seychelles, which relies upon tourism and fisheries as its 2 principal industries. The project supports the management of Curieuse Island National Park and conducts research on several threatened species including sharks, turtles, and endemic species such as the Aldabra Giant Tortoise and the Coco de Mer, whilst working to strengthen local capacity and regulation.
The 2 biggest industries in Seychelles are fishing and tourism, both of which utilize the marine natural resources but can negatively impact them if not used sustainably. The island nation has amazing natural resources but the pressures of industry and development on the small island state, combined with pressures from climatic change and poaching, increasingly place those resources under threat.
The project works closely with the Seychelles National Parks Authority, the Ministry of Environment, and local NGOs, to help them conduct research regarding important mega-fauna species and globally important endemic species, to aid effective management, protection, and utilization of the National Park. The project also conducts environmental education across community members, and research training and capacity building with local partner staff and local graduates.
Curieuse is home to a significant collection of Seychelles endemic species and unique flora and fauna of global importance. Our long term, collaborative project allows immediate impact through direct research, environmental education, and capacity building, whilst also strengthening local networks to change attitudes and policies. In the long term, the project will phase over to the community and the collaborative partners, once they feel prepared to continue independently.
