Duration: October 2020 – January 2025
Description: The objective of the project is to undertake a comprehensive Ridge to Reef (R2R) approach that addresses the ‘whole island’ priorities of improved management and conservation of upland forest and agricultural ecosystems as well as coastal and marine ecosystems in the Seychelles to produce global benefits in terms of conservation of globally significant biodiversity and the effective management of large marine ecosystems (including coastal and near-shore marine ecosystems), and to arrest and reverse ecosystem degradation. BERI-UniSey is a key partner in project activities related to aquatic ecosystem monitoring and the consolidation, management and sharing of environmental information supported by the development of a database.
Funding Body: GEF
Partners: N/A
Duration: December 2020 – September 2021
Description: This COMESA project assessed climate-related risks, vulnerabilities and adaptation measures of 140 randomly selected farm households across four agricultural zones on Mahé, Seychelles. This study also analysed perceptions of climate-related risks and adaptation actions implemented by farm households.
Funding Body: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
Partners: Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA)
Duration: April – December 2019
Description: UniSey and SSTF conducted a Willingness to Pay (WTP) survey to determine the feasibility of adding an environmental levy to Seychelles’ existing departure fee.
Funding Body: SeyCCAT
Partners: Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation (SSTF), Valsen Consulting
Duration: 6 months
Description: The Department of Blue Economy, Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, under the project ‘Third South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Project (SWIOFish3)’ contracted the Blue Economy Research Institute (BERI) to design and conduct a perception survey to gain insight into how people understand the purpose and role of the Seychelles ocean resources management measures, how the government should work with and for the benefit of users, where development and investment in the fisheries value chain should be focused to ensure sustainability, and how existing policies and strategies in place contribute to the effectiveness of these measures.
Funding Body: Department of the Blue Economy (primarily financed by World Bank (IBRD) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
Partners: N/A
Duration: October 2020 – June 2022
Description: The objectives of the project was the development of a field validated seagrass map for Seychelles, the provision of baseline estimates of in-situ carbon stock in seagrass soil, and the sharing of this research results with the government of the Republic of Seychelles. In coordination with the Island Conservation Society (ICS) and the University of Oxford, a field data sampling plan that outlines specific field sites was developed, along with sampling points and methods for data needed for validation and soil coring. Using the data collected, seagrass maps, associated carbon stock data, and ancillary open data repositories were developed.
A transversal component of the project was to build national capacity for environmental studies and to support local researchers in building new international connections with scientists working on similar projects where Pew is engaging globally.
Funding Body: Pew Charitable Trust and SeyCCAT
Partners: SeyCCAT
Duration: December 2020 – September 2021 (10 month)
Description: The project primarily focused on capacity building in Climate Change Education and on Adaptation in the Seychelles Small Island Developing State through the development of climate change related certificate programmes, short courses and training workshops. BERI-Unisey worked with a local partner – Wildlife Club of Seychelles (WCS) on the project.
Funding Body: COMESA
Partners: Ministry of Agriculture Climate Change and Energy (MACCE), Wildlife Club Seychelles (WCS)
Duration: March 2021 – December 2021
Description: This study determined the feasibility of local seaweed species for aquaculture production in 1) land-based systems, and 2) integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems (IMTA). Species that were investigated are Sargassum sp. and Ulva sp. as these occur along the coastal habitats of Mahé Island, Seychelles, and are natural food sources for lower trophic species such as sea urchin.
Funding Body: IRD/FSPI
Duration:
Description: Within the proposed research project the extent of a seagrass meadow near Bougainville, Mahé was assessed. In situ experiments were conducted to estimate the net primary production of seagrass and monitor how coral growth and health is affected in the presence of seagrass.
The outcomes of this project include:
Funding Body: IRD
Duration: January 2021 – July 2022 (18 months)
Description: The main objectives of the project were to purchase and install 15kw PV system on the rooftop at UniSey, Anse Royale Campus, to promote agroforestry among 40 farmers on Mahé Island through the planting of 600 fruit trees at the edge/boundaries of farmlands for carbon capture and food security, to demonstrate fibre processing to produce local craft from invasive plant species, and to research the following components: (i) factors that influence the uptake of PV systems among households on Mahé Island, (ii) Potential of agroforestry among smallholder farmers: a SWOT-AHP analysis, and (iii) Determinants of agroforestry adoption among smallholder farmers in a tropical island with Seychelles as case study.
Funding Body: UNDP Small Grants Programme
Partners: Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA), and M. Eco-fabrics
Description: The aim of the project was to improve the livelihood of small-scale fishermen. The project addressed issues related to socio-demographic and institutional factors, capital costs, operation costs, external cost estimation, and benefits enjoyed by small-scale fishers.
Funding Body: SeyCATT
Partners: Fishers Boat Owners Association (FBOA)
Duration: November 2020 – April 2021 (6 months)
Description: The project aim was to support the Seychelles in completing its reviewed Nationally Determined Contributions to the UNFCCC. The project provided support through its assessment of Seychelles adaptation to climate change from a Blue Economy perspective. This was augmented by a National Adaptation Plan, and verified through stakeholder engagement and a workshop.
Funding Body: World Bank
Partners: Deltares
Duration: January 2021 – March 2021 (3 months)
Description: This project was a follow-on to a previous UNECA consultancy completed in December 2020, Testing a Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit. This project did an in-depth study of the socio-economic perspective on the Blue Economy to enable more accurate reporting for the toolkit and to guide the inclusion of any socio-economic metrics that should be used.
Funding Body: UNECA
Partners: – Independent Consultant, Djibouti Chamber of Commerce, Vanguard Economics
Duration: August 2020 – December 2020
Description: The overall objective of this work was to assist a coordinating team with the development of a valuation toolkit for socio-economic assessments aimed at providing an accurate snapshot of the potential of the Blue Economy, in particular in Eastern Africa. The ultimate result was the production of a comprehensive report highlighting analysis of data and information collected as well as main findings from the testing of the toolkit and key recommendations.
Funding Body: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA)
Partners: University of Portsmouth, Independent Consultant, Djibouti Chamber of Commerce, Vanguard Economics
Duration: March 2019 – March 2022
Description: The One Ocean Hub aims to transform our response to the urgent challenges facing our ocean. Its research seeks to bridge current disconnections in law, science and policy and integrate governance frameworks to balance multiple ocean uses with conservation. It strives to empower the communities, women and children, most reliant upon the oceans to inform decisions based on multiple values and knowledge systems. The Hub specifically addresses the challenges and opportunities of South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Fiji and Solomon Islands, through collaborative, transdisciplinary research
Funding Body: World Bank / Global Challenges Research Fund
Partners: N/A
