November 2025
In late November 2025, community volunteers and students took part in a two-day training programme combining seagrass ecology, restoration methods, and hands-on field monitoring in Roches Noires. Through interactive learning and practical exercises, participants gained skills in species identification, monitoring techniques, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling – strengthening local capacity for long-term ecosystem stewardship.
Two-Day Training: Building Local Capacity for Seagrass Monitoring and Restoration
At the end of November 2025, a two-day seagrass training programme brought together 36 participants, including students from the Université des Mascareignes and local volunteers, to strengthen community capacity in ecosystem-based coastal restoration. The training supported key activities under the Nature-based Solutions for Protecting the Coastal Zone project, with a focus on seagrass restoration, monitoring techniques, and water and sediment sampling for eDNA analysis.
Day 1 introduced participants to seagrass ecology, species identification, ecosystem services, and restoration principles. Interactive activities helped make complex concepts accessible and engaging. Participants also learned about the national seagrass restoration trial in Roches Noires and the monitoring techniques used to assess shoot density, coverage, epiphytes, biodiversity, and carbon storage.
Day 2 focused on hands-on fieldwork at the restoration site in Roches Noires. Participants rotated through three stations: quadrat and transect monitoring, eDNA water sampling, and eDNA sediment sampling. Under guidance from the project’s marine biologists, they learned how to collect reliable ecological data, handle equipment safely, and apply contamination-free sampling techniques.
The strong engagement demonstrates how locally driven training can empower coastal communities to participate in restoration, ecological monitoring, and long-term stewardship.
