06 February 2004

Albans, England: Global Vision International (GVI), a UK-based organization providing volunteer opportunities in the fields environmental research and conservation, is inviting volunteers to join its expedition on Silhouette Island, the Seychelles as part of its new marine conservation project. The volunteers/expedition members will be assisting in biological study and conservation programmes, coral reef research, whale shark migration, turtle nesting research, trail clearance and foreign species eradication.

GVI has been invited by the Seychelles government and the Nature Protection Society of the Seychelles to undertake coral reef research expedition and assist the work of local government agencies, namely, the Marine Parks, Ministry of Environment and Island Development Company (IDC); local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Nature Protection Trust of the Seychelles (NPTS) and Marine Conservation Society of the Seychelles (MCSS).

Volunteers/expedition members will help in all project areas which include land and sea based marine mammal surveys, coral reef and fish monitoring surveys, developing the expedition base as an ecological research and awareness centre and assist in education and awareness programmes at local schools and surrounding communities.

Steve Gwenin, GVI’s Director of Marine Science says, "The Seychelles contain the highest bio-diversity of the Indian Ocean island groups, and from the species recorded so far, Silhouette Island contains 80% of the Seychelles species, plus many endemic species found only on this island. There are areas of the island so far untouched by man, areas where no person has even trod. The marine environment, although classified as a National Marine Park, has not so far even been characterised, so who knows what we may find, this is an amazing opportunity to work in amazing place".

For more information about the programme, volunteers' qualifications and recruitement procedures, visit: www.gvi.org

Article and photo courtesy of GVI