Top photo: Corinne and Esthel testing drones for wetlands mapping
Marine biologists, researchers, educators, and advocates for change—these remarkable women are doing it all! This week, in celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re shining a spotlight on the passionate women at Nature Seychelles, who are making significant strides for the environment in Seychelles.
Corinne Julie, Rafaela Gameiro, and Esthel Didon are champions of wetlands. This all-female team is committed to improving wetland conservation through Nature Seychelles’ EU-funded “Wetlands of Hope” project, which is carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment (MACCE). They engage with a variety of stakeholders, including government entities, businesses that have embraced wetland conservation, community representatives, and schools in their respective districts.
“Wetlands and mangroves are only recently being recognised as climate superheroes, yet much about them is still unknown,” says Corinne, the team leader. “Our project showcases their biodiversity and ecosystem services through research, building partnerships, advocating for their protection, and promoting collaborative conservation efforts.”
“A key part of my role involves building and maintaining relationships—essentially talking to and listening to people, and working together to find solutions for enhancing wetland conservation,” she explains. “I hope to help shift mindsets so that everyone truly appreciates the value of these rich ecosystems.”
Rafaela and a member of the Grand Anse Mahe Environment Association
Rafaela, the marine biologist on the team, is often seen knee-deep in water as she conducts surveys. Her aim is to close the knowledge and information gap surrounding wetlands. “On field days, I gather data on the vegetation and wildlife, and I also use drones for mapping,” she explains. A memorable moment from her field surveys was discovering a previously unreported mangrove species in one of the wetlands, as well as spotting a feather-tail ray far upstream in one of the rivers.
At just 22 years old, Esthel serves as the science and education officer for the project. Her love for nature started in the wildlife club at her school, and now she is committed to helping the public grasp the significance of wetlands and how they can participate in their conservation. “It’s about ‘getting to know’ each wetland, from the trees down to the water. I create accessible scientific content to share knowledge with schools and the community,” she adds.
Viktoria has been conducting research on corals' heat tolerance
On Praslin Island, Lize Fourie and Viktoria Sturm are making a splash in coral reef restoration.
Since last year, Viktoria has been conducting vital research aimed at identifying corals that can endure rising ocean temperatures. This research is intended to support restoration efforts on Cousin Island Special Reserve. “I investigated whether the heat tolerance of corals at various stages of the restoration process is maintained using a system called CBASS (Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System). This research can help pre-screen and identify coral colonies with high thermal tolerance for farming,” she explains. A key moment in her research was sharing her findings with other restoration experts at scientific conferences, including the European Coral Reef Symposium in Naples. Viktoria also loves spending time underwater and engaging in educational activities.
Lize is overseeing the construction of the land-based coral nursery
Lize, the coral aquaculture specialist, is actively overseeing the construction of Nature Seychelles’ land-based coral nursery, known as the Assisted Recovery of Corals (ARC) facility. ARC aims to enhance Nature Seychelles’ restoration efforts by producing thousands of corals to support ocean-based nurseries. She worked with the contractors building the ARC and supervised the installation of tanks, water circulation systems, and filtration units. Additionally, she’s overseeing the setup of all the systems to be used to promote coral growth.