SPGA Represented at 2-Week UNDP Workshop

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) recently hosted a two-week workshop towards the end of June, as part of the Adaptation Fund Coral Reef Restoration Project. The workshop which took place in Mauritius, provided an opportunity to strengthen collaborations and knowledge-sharing between project activity partners across Seychelles, Mauritius and Rodrigues. Additionally, participants discussed how bioinformatics data can be used to inform coral reef conservation and management measures and further train activity partners in physical oceanography survey methods and the use of mapping software.

Representatives from several environmental conservation entities attended, including the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA), Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles (MCSS), Seychelles Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment (MACCE), University of Seychelles, Shoals of Rodrigues, Mauritian Ocean Institute (MOI), University of Mauritius, Eco-Sud Mauritius and Reef Conservation Mauritius.

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In 2022, a consultancy team hired under the project collected a total of over 800 coral samples from Seychelles, Mauritius and Rodrigues. The samples underwent DNA extraction and sequencing, the results of which were presented during the workshop. The primary objective was to enhance the partners’ comprehension of genetic mutations that may contribute to thermal resilience in coral reef ecosystems, and to identify potential genetic relationships among coral populations across the region.

Historical environmental data, including sea surface temperature, current patterns and chlorophyll concentration were also examined and used to predict the reefs’ adaptive potential (i.e. the extent to which a reef can adapt to adverse environmental conditions). During the workshop, the attendees examined how larval dispersal range differs between coral species and how this can impact genetic connectivity between populations. The insights shared during the workshop hold significant implications for coral reef management across the Indian Ocean. For instance, in the context of designating future marine protected areas, ideally , reefs composed of coral species that exhibit both a high adaptive potential and the ability to disperse larvae over extended distances would be prioritised. This approach would optimise the benefits within the protected zone as well as beyond its boundaries.

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During the second week of the workshop, a team of scientists from the Mauritian Ocean Institute conducted a practical training in physical oceanography survey methodology. Participants gained hands-on experience deploying and retrieving a CTD (current, turbidity, depth) meter during a point-sampling survey in the Blue Bay Marine Park. Following this, attendees were trained in the extraction, geo-referencing and mapping of the data they had collected using QGIS software.

“Participating in the workshop greatly enhanced my understanding of coral genomics and its importance, particularly in the context of a changing climate. Additionally, the experience highlighted how interconnected coral reef populations in Seychelles, Mauritius, and Rodrigues are, emphasising the ongoing need for collaborative regional conservation initiatives” says Sophie, a Research Scientist from SPGA.

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