ACTIVE INITIATIVES
Private Sector Partnership Projects
Conservation is most effective when it extends beyond protected areas and into the places where people live, work, and travel. MCSS works closely with hotels and tourism operators across Seychelles to integrate science-based conservation directly into their sites and operations. These partnerships allow us to expand our monitoring and restoration work, engage guests and staff in meaningful conservation activities, and demonstrate that responsible tourism and healthy ecosystems go hand in hand.
Story Seychelles Conservation Project
Story Seychelles is situated at Beau Vallon and the site includes not only the beach front resort but also a large wetland area so has plenty of scope for conservation activities.
We have started several activities with the Hotel including a full assessment of the wetland and a long-term terrapin population assessment. On Mondays a weeky beach clean-up is conducted along Beau Vallon beach, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to get involved.
On the marine side, a reef restoration project was started in 2016 with the development of a snorkel trail in the hotel’s ‘Unlock the Sea’ programme. he trail includes underwater Giant Tortoise artwork, an underwater letter box where resort guests can post waterproof postcards to their family and friends, and some of the MCSS ocean-based coral nurseries, a very popular addition to the programme.
The programme now has several in-water coral nurseries, where we grow corals for outplanting on the adjacent reef.
As with our other coral restoration projects, we are happy to take volunteers on this programme, so if coral restoration and guest engagement activities are of interest, please read through the volunteer information file, complete a volunteer application form and send it through to us.
Hilton Conservation Project
The Hilton Northolme Reef Rehabilitation project is being conducted in collaboration with the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa to help to restore the reefs surrounding the resort which used to be a popular snorkelling site but which were impacted by the 2016 coral bleaching event.
To initiate the active coral restoration measures, the MCSS team have built and installed several coral nurseries to grow corals prior to outplanting.
To support our activities the resort has constructed a small kiosk from where we are able to provide information to visitors about the project. From this Kiosk, which serves as a base for the project staff, we are able loan snorkeling equipment and interact with guests who are interested in our guided snorkeling tour, which enables to enhance guest experience while give advice on safe practices and update them on our coral restorations efforts at Hilton Northolme. This helps raise awareness of the importance of coral reefs, their need for preservation/rehabilitation, the severely impacted reefs and present biodiversity in the Seychelles, while giving guidelines for marine-life safe and conscious snorkelling.
To support our conservation efforts, you can also adopt a coral with us! Whether it’s a gift to yourself or someone else, you can now sponsor a coral online!
Volunteers play an important role in this project. If you are interested in getting involved please visit the Volunteer website.
Cheval Blanc Conservation Project
The MCSS project at Cheval Blanc Seychelles is situated in a remarkable location at Intendence in Takamaka district. Home to Critically Endangered hawksbill turtles nesting on the beach, two species of freshwater terrapin in the wetland at the centre of the property and a variety of endemic and vagrant bird species.
MCSS conducts weekly ecological surveys around the wetland, including bird and insect surveys, long-term terrapin population assessment and water level and water quality monitoring. Other activities include sea turtle monitoring and wetland tours for resort guests.
We accept volunteers on this programme, however participants will be required to travel to the south of the island by bus, which requires an early morning start.
