Curieuse Island Hosts Erasmus GreenTraINT Summer School

The Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA) recently welcomed participants and representatives of the GreenTraINT Erasmus Project to Curieuse Island, as part of the Erasmus Summer School Programme. The visit highlighted Seychelles’ growing role in advancing sustainable agriculture, livestock farming, and biodiversity conservation through international collaboration.

The Green Training International Programme (GreenTraINT) is designed to strengthen higher education and training in sustainable agroforestry and conservation practices. Its overarching goal is to boost local food production capacity while safeguarding biodiversity. Project partners include the University of Bologna (Italy), University of Seychelles, University of Applied Sciences Coburg (Germany), Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Parco Natura Viva (Italy), and the SPGA.

During the Curieuse Island programme, experts from European and Seychellois institutions shared scientific expertise, innovative methodologies, and applied experiences. The initiative also fostered networking among participants, academic institutions, and stakeholders, encouraging long‑term collaborations and knowledge exchange between Europe and Seychelles.

SPGA’s Research Team delivered thematic presentations on terrestrial and marine conservation initiatives. These included mangrove surveys, yellow crazy ant monitoring, Aldabra Giant Tortoise and Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher Censuses, as well as the successful coral reef restoration project within the Curieuse Marine Park.

A practical session led by Dr. Caterina Speizo of the Open Nature Foundation and Parco Natura Viva (Italy) introduced participants to the handling and analysis of Aldabra Giant Tortoise faeces. This research aims to study the microscopic organisms found within, to better understand tortoise health. Initial findings suggest that the tortoises found on Curieuse Island are healthier, benefiting from the freedom to roam and select diverse food sources.

Beyond fieldwork, the week-long Summer School programme allowed participants to engage in expert‑led lectures and laboratory sessions covering food safety policies, livestock production, microbiology, sustainable agriculture, and bioinformatics. The multidisciplinary programme provided a unique international learning environment for students, young researchers, professionals, and stakeholders from Europe and Seychelles.

The GreenTraINT Summer School responds to the pressing need for advanced knowledge and professional competencies in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation, particularly within small island developing states. By combining scientific expertise with practical training, the initiative underscores the importance of innovative solutions tailored to the unique challenges of island ecosystems like Seychelles.