Nature Seychelles and WWF Madagascar train marine biologists in coral reef
Seychelles Leads Coral Reef Restoration Training to Save Marine Ecosystems
Coral Reef Restoration Training in Seychelles
Nature Seychelles, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Madagascar, has launched a 15-day training program to teach coral reef restoration techniques. This effort focuses on helping islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean protect their marine ecosystems. The training combines classroom learning with hands-on practice, addressing the urgent need to restore coral reefs that are disappearing rapidly.
What the Training Covers
The program began in October with three days of online sessions. These sessions introduced the basics of restoration ecology, best practices, and the logistics of coral reef restoration. Afterward, participants moved to Praslin Island in Seychelles for hands-on training, which started on November 5. The training is hosted at Nature Seychelles’ Centre for Ocean Restoration and Learning (CORAL) complex.
On Praslin, participants are learning by doing. At Cousin Island Special Reserve, they are actively involved in coral restoration projects. Under the guidance of experts like Dr. Luca Saponari and the Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers team, they learn how to:
- Collect healthy corals.
- Build underwater nurseries.
- Plant corals in damaged reef areas.
- Monitor and evaluate restoration success.
The training uses the Coral Reef Restoration Toolkit, created by Nature Seychelles in 2018, as its main guide. New methods, supported by funding from the Adaptation Fund through the UNDP and the Seychelles government, are also part of the curriculum.
Why Active Restoration Is Necessary
Coral reefs in Madagascar have been heavily damaged over the last 50 years. According to Dr. Mahery Randrianarivo from WWF, climate change, human activities, and natural events have all contributed to this decline. While setting up marine protected areas has helped, it is not enough. Coral reefs now need active restoration to recover from severe damage.
WWF Madagascar is using data collected over the past ten years to choose coral sites for restoration. They plan to test different coral nursery techniques at a pilot site in Madagascar’s southwest seascape. Once they find what works best, they will expand these techniques to other areas. This collaboration with Nature Seychelles has helped them understand the obstacles to restoring coral reefs.
Celebrating a Decade of Marine Conservation: The Natural Park of the Coral Sea
Building a Community of Coral Reef Protectors
This training program is about more than just saving corals; it’s about creating a global network of experts in coral restoration. Funding from the Blue Action Fund supports these efforts, with a vision to make Seychelles a world leader in this field.
Nature Seychelles hopes the program will inspire practitioners across the region to continue restoring coral ecosystems. This shared commitment could lead to healthier oceans and a brighter future for marine life.
