In this post, Didier Zoccola, Chargé de Recherche at the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and coral specialist, shares his thoughts on his participation in the summer thematic school organized by IRD from June 10 to 14, 2024 at the University of Seychelles. The school was part of Component B of the DIDEM program (Dialogue Science-Decision-Makers for the Integrated Management of the Coastal and Marine Environment). Its theme was the vulnerability and resilience of reef heritage (VulPaRe). Its organization was supported by Explorations de Monaco. Explorations of Monaco.
In June 2024, after 2014 and 2016, IRD organized the third edition of VulPaRe at the University of Seychelles, bringing together experts from across the Western Indian Ocean region, including Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania and Reunion, to discuss the challenges of coral reef conservation.
For five days, we plunged into the heart of coral reefs, exploring their secrets and fragilities. Conferences, lively debates and field trips were all springboards for deep reflection on the future of our oceans. I was particularly moved by the shared determination of all these players, from so many different backgrounds, to join forces to face up to the climate challenge.
Beyond the theoretical concepts, it was the spirit of collaboration that really impressed me. The shared meals and passionate discussions, far from screens and virtual meetings, revealed the power of human exchange. Yes, science is a universal language, but it’s in meeting others, in sharing our experiences and emotions, that real solutions are born.
During my speech, I made a point of presenting the World Coral Conservatory as a player committed to this common struggle. But beyond this presentation, it was hope that animated me. The hope of seeing young researchers, managers and decision-makers all united by the same ideal: to preserve our blue planet.
For it’s not just a question of saving coral reefs, but of saving our common future. And this school, this moment suspended in time, reminded me that we are all linked, all interdependent. Together, we can face the challenges that lie ahead and build a future where man and nature live in harmony.
Photos : Xavier Koenig and IRD
