Seychelles? coral reefs have become severely impacted over the years with the 1998 bleaching, 2004 tsunami and recently by third global bleaching event during 2016 with some areas showing losses greater than 60% of live coral cover. Loss of coral reefs affects the biodiversity of these areas, and thus their ability to provide food to local communities, and their erosion mitigating capacity, allowing increased coastal erosion and storm surge inundation of surrounding areas. Similarly, tourism establishments are directly affected by the declining state of the reefs which offer a myriad of activities for which the tourists visit. Coral reefs therefore have a direct economic contribution to Seychelles.

Two project sites have been chosen because of the presence of active, concerned community groups. Cerf Island and at Anse Forbans both having fringing coral reef formations and both have been affected by anthropogenic impacts and the climate change induced coral bleaching events. Cerf Island is within a Marine Protected Area while Anse Forbans is not; however, both have residential communities and a range of tourism establishments.

The project aims to rehabilitate two coral reef systems, which will directly addresse the Community Seascape Conservation Strategic Initiative and the three Cross-cutting themes.

The project grantee and partners will help increase local reef resilience through the use of bleaching resistant corals and the removal of invasive coral eating species.