GIF Staff and work progress

It has been a while since you last read our blog-a lot has happened in terms of project initiation and ongoing activities. I thought it is high time to spare a few hours just to put thoughts on paper so as to share our experiences of the past few months. Several; exciting activities and projects have kick-started and hence, I have not had the time to put everything in writing. I apologise for the delay and I do hope that you will enjoy reading this update.

Following the submission of the first blog by a new person for the year 2010, I find it necessary to introduce myself as well as the other new staff of Green Islands Foundation (GIF). My name is Michelle Etienne and I am the new General Manager of Green Islands Foundation. I graduated from James Cook University in Townsville, Australia with a BSc in Marine Biology and aquaculture. My childhood dream of working within the marine realm came true indeed, and coupled with my work experience from the marine research section of the Marine Parks Authority, I felt equipped with the necessary tools to take up this post. One thing which drew me to GIF is the fact that I am tackling conservation biology and management from a different perspective that is on islands which have made great initial progress in conservation on both national and international fronts. Moreover, these islands have so much to offer in terms of potential research and conservation initiatives. My background is mostly concentrated on marine conservation biology and also broad coastal zone management research. With this job, I am hoping to share my knowledge at the same time enhancing it, to gain maximum in all aspects pertaining to the natural environment of Seychelles.

GIF has also welcomed its Project Manager Mrs. Helena Francourt in March, to assist in the implementation of various projects, notably the newly initiated ReCoMaP project, which started in the 2nd week of March on the Island of Praslin, one of the pilot project sites.
This is what Helena has to say about herself:
“From a very early age I felt drawn to the music of the oceans that surround the Seychelles islands. This is not hard to imagine as I am sure many who have visited the Seychelles Islands will understand. For those who haven’t, our islands are characterised by turquoise waters, golden strands, striking reefs which are bursting with life of all shapes and sizes and all colours of the rainbow. It is particularly the reefs that drew me to explore the marine world. The Seychelles’ reefs are where the coral gardens absorb the intense light from our tropical sun, and the most striking of colours and combinations burst out and are revealed. It is always a gobsmacking experience to dive in the Seychelles.
By the age of 12, I was adamant that I would pursue a career in marine conservation. I started diving as soon as I was old enough to do so and by 18 years of age I was a qualified PADI dive master, working in dive centres during the school holidays. As a student I was also a very active environmental campaigner, participating in many environmental activities such as nature trail clearing, essay writing and public speaking competitions and so on. In the year 2000 my environment club won the prize of all environment club’s dreams; a trip to Aldabra! I am also therefore, one of the very few Seychellois and people of the world in fact who have had the opportunity to visit and dive on this atoll. It is in fact the most beautiful place I have ever visited and the experience is etched within me.
Not long after this life changing experience, I was off to Australia to study Marine Biology! No surprises there! I aced my way through my university exams and was accepted into the Marine Biology Advanced Programme which is designed to mould students for independent research and honors year. Upon my return to the beautiful Seychelles, I worked as a research officer at the Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology (SCMRT) in the Marine Parks Authority. The experience I gained there was very fulfilling. To further diversify and gain different experiences, something which is very important to do here in the Seychelles, I moved to the Green Islands Foundation (GIF) this year (2010). I believe that this will provide endless opportunities to grow and learn about other aspects of conservation other than marine. These include endemic bird introductions and habitat restoration to name a few. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and I am ready to tackle them head on!”

GIF also has an environmental officer, namely Mr. Phil Greenwell working on Denis island, our key project site where we conduct numerous projects, such as the coastal zone management. Phil joined us in April to oversee the magpie robin programme and at the same time getting geared up for Professor Chris Feare’s visit for the sooty tern season and the mynah eradication projects. The two projects started in mid-May. (More details on these projects will be provided in the next post). Phill is based on Denis Island working on a variety of conservation projects. His main responsibilities are myna bird control; feeding & monitoring of the endangered Seychelles Magpie Robin and turtle monitoring.

Since graduating from Reading University in 2009 with his MSc in Wildlife Management & Conservation Phill has lectured BSc students in Animal Management before undertaking his current role with G.I.F. With extensive experience in captive animal management Phill has also gained conservation experience with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in South Wales and the Department of Conservation & Land Management in Western Australia. Avian behavior and management are his main areas of interest, with academic work looking at invasive species (Rainbow lorikeet in Western Australia); preening behavior (inhibitory role of uropygial oil on feather bacteria) and impacts of wild bird trade on conservation. Born and raised in Wales, Phill has travelled widely for work, volunteer, pleasure and education purposes.

The months of March and April were mostly to initiate the ICZM project sponsored by the EU through the ReCoMaP, on both Denis Island and the Grand Anse- Amitie coast of Praslin, two key representative areas of ICZM scenarios in the country (see newspaper article in next post). A list of equipment was purchased to facilitate project implementation, notably in identifying and monitoring of key indicators on each site. Stakeholder analysis and consultations were carried out to assist in the key indicator identification that is, finding the key issues that seem problematic to the local community. A stakeholder workshop was organised at each pilot site with the aim of disseminating information about integrated coastal zone management and also provide training to the residents on the ways to monitor their key indicators, notably turtle monitoring and beach profiling (See photos in side bar).

In May, Denis Island welcomed Professor Chris Feare, who arrived for this year’s sooty tern re-colonisation project as well as to initiate the mynah eradication programme.The first Sooty Tern to be recorded over the ‘sooty tern area’ in 2010 was seen on 1st June, and on 3rd June the first landing was observed. In the mornings and afternoons Sooty terns are now seen frequently over the area and several birds have landed for short or longer periods (one for 40 minutes) (Feare, 2010). There is photographic evidence that mynah birds are major nest predators and competitors to a lot of birds on the island, notably the introduced endemics such as the Seychelles magpie robin and the paradise flycatcher. As a means of control of this invasive alien species on the island, it was necessary to initiate such a programme (See next post).

The last three months have been busy with project initiation and ongoing projects, which have been positive in their outcomes. So far I can say that the GIF team have learnt a lot and seen a whole lot of things from a different perspective.