SEYCHELLES, Mahe Island - January 2009
Refurbishment of the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles visitors center at Roche Caiman in support of a 7.5-acre reclaimed wetland
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The Seychelle Archipelago is composed of 50 coralline and 40 granitic islands in the Indian Ocean, and has a population of 80,000. The Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles (WCS), a NGO for young people, was formed in 1994 to promote conservation action through environmental education. 8,445 children in 40 clubs in most schools around the Seychelles are members of WCS. WCS works to implement educational programs and experience-based learning to create a sustainable future, with an emphasis on "hilltop to ocean" ecosystem management. The Centre for Environment and Education attracts a steady stream of visitors per year with approximately 50 school groups as well as other community groups. Adjacent to the garden, Nature Seychelles and WCS have collaboratively designed a 7.5-acre wetland area, the Sanctuary at Roche Caiman. Species protected at the wetland include fresh water turtles, the endemic killifish, mud and water crabs, skinks and lizards, 11 of the Seychelles' 18 dragonfly species, and many migratory bird species. To better accommodate the growing number of visitors to the Centre, Seacology will fund improvements to the Centre including a redesign of the exhibition hall, displays regarding different ecosystems, a library corner, art section, audio-visual equipment and more in support of the 7.5-acre reclaimed wetland. *
UPDATE June 2009 - As of February 2009 the on-site coordinator for the project left the field. Seacology received confirmation from the newly hired project coordinator that they will be working in conjunction with Nature Seychelles to complete the project. The project is scheduled to begin May 2009. A Seacology delegation will visit the Seychelles in June 2009.
UPDATE February 2010 - As of February 2010 WCS reports that the interior decor project at Nature Seychelles was successfully completed in 2009, however due to additional funding the portion of Seacology funds needed was much less than anticipated. The Heritage Garden at Nature Seychelles was successfully launched in October 2009 and the heritage garden manual is nearing completion. A wildlife clubs festival was held on Saturday November 28th, 2009 and 17 clubs participated with a total of about 150 children. The event was covered extensively on the evening news on Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation television station. With the remaining Seacology funds WCS plans to work with a group of at least ten wildlife clubs to help them create educational murals and resource rooms for their schools, as well as plans to help all of our clubs enhance their work at school level to plant, maintain and use their own heritage gardens.
*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by: 
