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Mangrove Regeneration and Viewing Walkway

BGF#4

Type: Small

SeyCCAT strategic objective: 1

Lead Project Partner: Susan Ansell

Partners: 

International School Seychelles
Wildlife clubs Seychelles
Ephelia hotels
Markus Ultsch-Unrath
Health, Safety & Environment Project Manager

Summary: This is the continuation of an Eco project which is Mangrove Regeneration in the Mont Fleuri wetlands adjacent to the school grounds. This project was instigated by the Wildlife clubs in the school and the funding for the platform was with CRS tax. As an Environment leader in ISS, I have been encouraging students to plant mangroves, and the regeneration of the wetlands has already started.

ISS students are already using the new platform in the mangroves which is situated on the old slipway from the Michaud house to look at wildlife, observe birds and learn about mangroves This is an ongoing educational project which will benefit both the mangrove habitat and the students. We have already developed a mangrove nursery here as they have at Ephelia in the Ramsar wetland, and we are using ideas from Terence Vel at the University of Seychelles and are successfully growing mangrove seeds in and out of the mangrove. Groups of students are now planting these in the wetland to protect our school and the habitats for wildlife. Using the wooden platform and walkway we are encouraging children to identify key species of mangrove and raise awareness about the importance of the mangrove habitat. This walkway would enable us to pass close to the mangroves already existing and to harvest the seeds which would help with the replanting of these mangroves that have been severely damaged during the building of the new road and bridges in the area.

ISPC helped us with the CRS tax for the existing mangrove platform which we built last year and we have a new quotation from the same builders for the walkway. The approximate time for the construction work is 6 weeks so if we could get the walkway constructed we could include many activities in our Environmental Education programme for the new school year in September. It will benefit Seychelles as well as generations of International School children and local schools. ISS joined Eco-School Seychelles this year and this project has been of interest to local schools as well as to our own students in all sections of the school. We hope by focusing on our wetland habitat at Mont Fleuri we will encourage children to think differently about this most threatened habitat. The birds, crabs, rays, mudskippers and wading birds are a constant source of wonder for our pupils both junior and senior and we would be delighted to receive funding for this project. T

SeyCCAT funds:  SCR 95,000

Co-financing: N/A

Duration: 6 weeks, starting March 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 weeks on – how did it go?

 

The Eco Project was organised by International School Seychelles’ Environment leader, Ms Susan Ansell, and is concerned with mangrove regeneration in the Mont Fleuri wetland. As soon as planning permission was granted and funding from SeyCCAT was received, materials were immediately purchased and construction of the walkway was quickly completed, taking approximately 2 months.

The mangrove boardwalk is beneficial as it provides the school with greater access to the wetland, consequently facilitating planting and viewing of the mangroves. ISS’ students are expected to assist with the mangrove regeneration project by collecting seedlings and plants, watering and safeguarding the small trees, planting the mangroves during low tide, and clearing up plastic and rubbish from the swamp. The newly opened mangrove boardwalk will also allow the speed of growth of the young trees to be recorded.

Activities undertaken

The mangrove regeneration and viewing walkway project were inspired by the University wetland project of Sir Terence Vel as well as the restoration work carried out at the Ephilia wetland. Two methods of growing mangroves are being used by the school, using recycled water bottles to grow mangrove seedlings and planting seeds into boxes that are put into the swamp. ISS aims to involve other local schools in the project by inviting them to help, for instance, the new school for the hearing impaired has shown interest and will be invited to participate in the regeneration of the wetland project.

Mangroves which have been planted on both sides of the river a year ago have shown a fantastic growth spurt, which is a success for the project since the new mangroves will provide the school with more protection from high tides and encourage wildlife to flourish. This success has led the school to the idea of a Mangrove walkway to enable students to collect seeds to grow and to observe and enjoy the wetland area. It is intended to provide students of all ages with an adventurous walk among the mangroves and help them to appreciate the wide variety of flora and fauna that can be found there. Also, now that the area has been regenerated, birds and fish have been coming back.

Results

The building of the mangrove boardwalk was completed promptly despite the Covid-19 restrictions. More seedlings have been collected and planted in the mangrove nursery, ready to be planted out once restrictions are lifted and students can interact again.

A year 8 student, Yan Luc Morel has produced a video of the mangrove regeneration project despite the challenges posed by the restrictions. The video is an International Collaboration that will be shown worldwide to raise awareness under the theme of environment projects – ‘People and Oceans’. The project is set to receive a Greenpeace grant to help provide more tools for planting (dibbers) and some boots for the students helping in the wetland work.

Another stakeholder involved in the project includes Ephelia Resort which has provided mangrove seeds of all types that have already been planted in the nursery. Terence Vel at UniSey has also been supportive by providing soil and advice, as well as dibbers and boots when needed.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Overall, the mangrove walkway project has been a great success. Although the staff and students have not been able to be involved due to the restrictions, all stakeholders have been fully supportive. To ensure that the project is maintained, planting and growing mangroves will be included as part of the Environmental Education at the school and Terence Vel at UniSey will also be involving ISS students in various mangrove projects. Additionally, More staff and students must be encouraged to participate to improve the sustainability of the project.

For any organisation or individual wishing to regenerate the wetlands, it is recommended to start a small mangrove growing project, to begin with, to test out the possibility of growing seedlings in your area.

It is also important to keep in mind that strong current in some areas may mean that the mangroves are pushed over by the tides and planting should only take place at the edges of the wetland.

The most recommended method of planting mangroves is planting directly into the wetland in fruit boxes since the seeds will not have to be watered as they would have to be on land. Consequently, these seedlings may have higher chances of survival as they are exposed to the brackish water from the beginning whereas the ones on land only receive rain or tap water.