Bridging Global Conservation Efforts - SPGA Launches Inaugural International Interns Forum

On Tuesday 17th June, the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA) welcomed a gathering of environmental stewards, academics, and students for its first-ever International Interns Forum—a vibrant celebration of cross-border collaboration and youth-driven conservation. The event, marked the culmination of a transformative 44-day field mission by nine interns from France’s International School of Agro-Development (ISTOM), who were based in the Curieuse Marine National Park.

The forum opened with reflections on SPGA’s longstanding legacy of nurturing international talent. Over the years, students from France, La Réunion, the Czech Republic, and beyond have had the opportunity to contribute towards the Authority’s conservation efforts. This year’s cohort, however, carried a unique significance with their research entitled “Biodiversity Assessment in the Ile Cocos and Curieuse Marine National Park in the Seychelles; with the Objective of Raising Tourist Awareness for the Conservation of these Marine Ecosystems”.

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Senior Human Resource Officer Mr. Darius Padayachy set the tone by framing the partnership as “a strategic investment in our collective future.” He underscored how internships like these—formalized through a robust Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISTOM—infuse SPGA’s work with fresh perspectives while equipping young professionals with real-world skills. “These collaborations are more than formal agreements,” he emphasized. “They are living exchanges of knowledge, innovation, and hope for a sustainable planet.”

Deputy CEO Ms. Lya Docteur echoed this sentiment, applauding the interns—Eden, Maxime, Rozenn, Axel, Louis, Victor, Zoé, Carla, and Elsa—for their adaptability and rigor during their remote stay on Curieuse Island. Addressing the students in French, she praised their professionalism and urged them to carry forward their passion for marine preservation: “Vous avez en vous le potentiel de faire une différence” (“You have the potential to make a difference”). Her words resonated as the interns later took the stage to present findings.

Central to the event was the recognition of the MoU’s role in shaping such exchanges. The agreement, outlines a shared commitment to advancing conservation through education. For the Authority, the event was not merely a farewell to this year’s largest group of interns but a promise: to keep building bridges between local conservation efforts and the broader conservation world.

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