Our Projects
Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles – Our Projects and Impact
The Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles (WCS) has long been at the heart of youth-driven conservation, uniting students, teachers, and local communities in the shared goal of protecting the islands’ extraordinary biodiversity. From the sandy shores of La Digue to the lush forests of Mahé and the coral-fringed coastlines of Praslin, our clubs inspire action, education, and connection with nature.
This page offers an in-depth look at some of our most impactful initiatives—both past and ongoing. These Seychelles conservation projects not only help protect endangered species and restore fragile ecosystems, but also serve as powerful platforms for youth environmental programs, where school nature clubs in Seychelles play a vital role in real-world conservation work.
Sea Turtle Protection and Nesting Monitoring
The Seychelles islands are vital nesting grounds for endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles. Since 2003, Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles has worked alongside local conservation groups and schools to monitor and protect turtle nesting sites, particularly on the beaches of Mahé and Praslin.
Our turtle conservation project runs annually between October and March—during the critical nesting season. Youth club members participate in early-morning patrols, beach surveys, and data collection on nesting activities. With the help of trained volunteers and school teachers, students record sightings, mark nests, and install signage to protect active sites from disruption.
One of the project’s most rewarding aspects is the opportunity for schoolchildren to witness hatchlings making their way to the sea—a rare and unforgettable moment that deepens their commitment to protecting biodiversity in Seychelles. To date, over 800 students have directly participated in this program, contributing to the protection of hundreds of nests.
Rewilding Forests: Native Tree Planting and Invasive Species Removal
Deforestation and invasive plant species have placed stress on many of the native habitats in Seychelles. In response, Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles initiated a series of forest restoration projects on Mahé and La Digue, focused on planting endemic tree species and removing invasive plants such as cinnamon and cocoplum.
Starting in 2016, these projects have engaged students from more than 25 schools, each adopting specific forest plots for long-term care. The restoration days—often held on weekends or during school breaks—include activities like planting native seedlings, building small water-retention swales, and documenting the return of insects and birds.
One success story comes from Sans Souci on Mahé, where students from Bel Eau School helped replant over 2,000 native trees between 2018 and 2024. The reforested area has seen an increase in fruit bat sightings and the return of native reptiles. These efforts play a key role in protecting biodiversity in Seychelles and teaching students the importance of ecological balance.
Coastal Guardians: Beach Clean-Up Campaigns
Marine debris, especially plastics, poses a serious threat to Seychelles’ marine life. To address this, Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles launched an ongoing beach clean-up initiative in 2014. Coordinated with school nature clubs in Seychelles, the campaign has become one of the most hands-on youth environmental programs in the country.
Every year, over 3,000 kg of waste is collected from beaches around the islands—most notably on Beau Vallon (Mahé), Anse Lazio (Praslin), and Anse Source d’Argent (La Digue). These events are more than just clean-ups; they include educational talks, waste audits, and interactive workshops on ocean pollution and recycling.
In 2023, a youth-led awareness campaign called “Trash Travels” was launched. Students created posters, videos, and social media content tracking the journey of plastic waste from the land to the ocean. This campaign reached over 5,000 views and was featured in a local environmental film festival.
Youth-Led Biodiversity Monitoring
Another pillar of our conservation work involves empowering young people to become data collectors and guardians of biodiversity. The Youth Biodiversity Monitoring Project, launched in 2019, provides school groups with the tools and training needed to survey local wildlife.
Each participating school receives a “BioBox” — a field kit with binoculars, ID guides, data sheets, and tablets preloaded with citizen science apps. Over the years, students have logged more than 10,000 species observations across Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue, ranging from endemic birds to threatened amphibians and flowering plants.
This data contributes to national biodiversity records and is regularly used in school science fairs, environmental reports, and even government consultations. The program also builds analytical and leadership skills among students, laying the groundwork for a new generation of conservationists.
📚 Nature Trails & Eco-Education Hikes
Connecting young people with the wild landscapes of Seychelles is at the heart of our Nature Trails & Eco-Education Hikes program. Launched in 2017, this initiative introduces students to the diverse ecosystems found in national parks such as Morne Seychellois, Vallee de Mai, and Fond Ferdinand.
Each year, more than 1,000 students from schools across Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue join guided hikes, led by trained environmental educators and park rangers. These hikes explore key ecological features—such as palm forest biodiversity, granite formations, and endemic bird habitats.
Participants complete trail journals, sketch native plants, and engage in environmental quizzes and team-building games. The hikes are especially popular among primary school groups and have helped spark the creation of "Eco-Monitors", a new student-led role in several schools focused on sharing ecological knowledge with peers.
🐟 Mangrove Guardians – Wetland Conservation Project
Mangroves are vital coastal ecosystems that support biodiversity and act as natural flood defenses. Our Mangrove Guardians project focuses on educating young people about the value of these habitats while involving them in active conservation.
Started in 2018, the program is centered around key wetland zones such as Baie Lazare, Anse Royale, and the Roche Caïman Marsh. Students from school nature clubs in Seychelles take part in monthly monitoring walks, species identification sessions, and community clean-ups targeting plastic waste and invasive weeds like giant reed.
In 2023 alone, over 750 kg of debris was removed by youth volunteers from wetland buffer zones. The project also involves data logging on mangrove tree health, water salinity, and crab activity, feeding into reports shared with the Seychelles Ministry of Environment.
🦜 Citizen Science Bird Counts
Birdwatching isn’t just a hobby — it’s science in action. The Citizen Science Bird Counts initiative encourages students to monitor local and migratory bird populations, using Seychelles as a real-world classroom for ornithology.
Launched in 2020 with the help of local NGOs, this project engages youth clubs in seasonal bird surveys—especially during the Seychelles Bird Calendar Weeks in March and October. Armed with binoculars, field guides, and mobile apps, participants identify species such as the Seychelles bulbul, fairy tern, and Madagascar fody.
The initiative has trained over 500 student observers and generated more than 2,300 verified bird records to date. Schools like La Digue Primary and Mont Fleuri Secondary have even turned parts of their schoolyards into "mini bird sanctuaries" with feeders, signage, and quiet zones for nesting.
♻️ Eco-Innovation Challenge for Schools
The Eco-Innovation Challenge is a friendly nationwide competition launched in 2022 to encourage environmental problem-solving through creativity and collaboration. Schools form teams of 3–5 students to design solutions addressing real ecological issues in their communities.
Challenges range from water-saving systems and plastic upcycling, to designing wildlife corridors between urban green spaces. Finalists present their ideas during the National Youth Environment Forum held each September on Mahé.
Last year, the team from English River Secondary won top prize for developing an eco-cooling system using recycled coconut husks, reducing classroom temperatures by up to 3.5°C. The runner-up team from Baie Ste Anne Praslin designed a school composting program now implemented in four districts.
The competition not only fosters innovation but builds leadership and sustainability thinking—equipping youth to be agents of change in protecting biodiversity in Seychelles.
Underwater Classrooms: Coral Reef Education
To connect students with the marine world, WCS runs a coral reef education program featuring snorkeling trips and reef health surveys. This initiative is primarily targeted at upper primary and secondary students and is carried out in partnership with marine biologists and diving schools.
Before each excursion, students attend classroom sessions about coral biology, climate change, and the threats facing reef ecosystems. Then, during the snorkeling sessions, they learn how to identify coral species, spot bleaching events, and observe reef fish behavior.
Over 1,200 students have taken part in these underwater lessons since 2015. The project is especially impactful for students from inland schools or families with limited access to the ocean, providing a rare chance to experience marine biodiversity up close and contribute to Seychelles conservation projects.
Training Tomorrow’s Eco-Leaders
Each year, the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles hosts residential training camps for young environmental leaders. These three- to five-day camps, held during school holidays, bring together active club members from across the islands for workshops, nature hikes, and leadership activities.
The camps cover topics like sustainable living, public speaking, environmental ethics, and action planning. Participants develop small-scale community projects—such as school gardens or zero-waste campaigns—and receive mentorship from local conservationists and educators.
One standout initiative came from a group of students from Grand Anse Praslin Secondary School who launched a school-wide composting system after attending a 2022 camp. Today, their system processes over 80 kg of organic waste per month and has inspired similar efforts in four other schools.
A Collective Commitment to Nature
Through these projects and many more, the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles continues to cultivate a culture of care, awareness, and action. Whether it’s tracking sea turtles at sunrise, planting trees in misty forests, or diving into coral gardens, our youth are gaining not just knowledge—but lifelong memories and a sense of stewardship for the world around them.
With each project, we’re growing not just greener landscapes but stronger communities and more informed citizens. These are more than activities—they’re stepping stones toward a more sustainable future for the islands we all call home.
We welcome educators, families, and volunteers to join us. If you're inspired by the work of our school nature clubs in Seychelles or want to support protecting biodiversity in Seychelles, get in touch—we’d love to hear from you.
The gef small grants programme |
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Wildlife Clubs Mangrove Management and Restoration
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Our River, Our Heritage(2003 - 2008)The main objective of this project was to increase the involvement of wildlife club members and their communities in the conservation of rivers and watersheds in Seychelles, and to promote awareness of the importance of rivers to local culture, livelihoods, and ecological health. Teaching and learning materials were created to support school efforts to learn about rivers, river studies and other outreach activities were conducted by WCS groups on field trips to UniSey, and awareness projects such as creating signs for display with the names of rivers on them were also implemented.
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Mangroves For The FutureWetland Conservation Education Project
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SeacologyThe Wildlife Club of Seychelles received funding from Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme to implement a project with the aims to rehabilitate and restore a mangrove site by using a simple scientific-based approach and create more awareness to the community and the general public of the importance of Mangroves. The project titled as “Mangrove Management and Restoration” will involve the participation of wildlife club members to partake in different activities such as bird watching, ecological surveys, monitoring the growth of mangroves etc... Data collected upon the monitoring activities will be evaluated and analyzed. The outcome of the project will be showcased through a small exhibition. Conservation Education Project (2009 - 2011)WCS implemented a grant from Seacology and used it to produce teaching and learning materials and establish environmental resource rooms in their schools. This project also involved supporting clubs efforts to create murals, and promoting the practice of traditional medicine by planting and maintaining heritage gardens featuring medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables that are part of Seychelles’ cultural heritage, as well as endemics.
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Raise Your Voice! |
Endangered Species & Spaces |
Science Meets Art |
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(2011 - 2013)
The aim of this project, funded by the Seychelles Governance Capacity Building Programme 10th European Fund, was to empower youth to participate more actively in environmental decision-making in Seychelles. A series of workshops focused on climate change were organised for youth with the aim of engaging students in an exploration of climate change and enabling them to creatively express their ideas about how to raise their voice and take action against climate change. WCS participated in and organized several national events and festivals as well, with a focus on engaging youth, and several surveys were also conducted to find out more about youth environmental concerns. This project was a success, and resulted in an increase in active youth participation in environmental public meetings nationally, and in the establishment of a recognized youth environmental forum.
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(2010 - 2012)
This project sought to reverse the trend of species and habitat loss by helping local schools and their communities learn to live sustainably to ensure that habitats and biodiversity are there for future generations to enjoy and ecologically benefit from them. The main objectives of the project were to increase awareness of children, youth, leaders and community members of endangered species and spaces in Seychelles, to reduce activities and behaviors which further threaten endangered species or their habitats (i.e. Habitat loss on la Digue and other main islands, poaching of sea turtles, etc.), and to produce useful materials for use in the training, teaching and learning about Seychelles biodiversity and their successful conservation. Training, workshops, public outreach talks and habitat improvement projects were implemented, and reached over 2000 individuals, particularly students and teachers. The resources created continue to be used at the WCS headquarters at UCEE.
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(Ongoing)
This project seeks to explore how art can be used to promote conservation and the importance of nature. As part of the initiative funded by the Swiss Embassy, students at the Seychelles School of the Visual Arts are creating a variety of art projects, from illustrated storybooks to costumes and puppets along the theme of Seychelles wildlife to be used for outreach by WCS.
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