Varuna_AMP Training in Mauritius: Strengthening Communication for Marine Protected Area Managers

From across the southwest Indian Ocean to the shores of Mauritius, 15 marine protected area (MPA) managers from 6 different territories came together for a week-long intensive training focused on a key challenge: communicating effectively about their management sites.

This training, part of the Varuna Biodiversity_AMP program and led by NatureXpairs (an initiative of Réserves Naturelles de France), marked the fifth session in a cycle launched in 2022. It aims to strengthen communication skills among field professionals, enabling them to better highlight their work, raise community awareness, and engage partners in marine ecosystem conservation.

Practical, hands-on skill-building

Throughout the week, participants had the opportunity to:

• Explore the core challenges, principles, and tools of environmental communication,
• Take part in practical simulations and collective intelligence exercises,
• Share experiences and discover tools tailored to their local needs,
• Receive constructive feedback to improve their communication strategies.

Guided by communication experts Corinne Brunois and Romain Latournerie, and supported by local technical partners Coral Garden Conservation, Reef Conservation, and Eco-Sud, the training combined theory, fieldwork, and peer collaboration.

Inspired, equipped, and ready for action

By the end of this rich and collaborative week, the MPA managers left inspired, equipped, and motivated to implement concrete, relevant, and impactful communication strategies within their territories. This skill-building effort directly contributes to a more sustainable and visible management of marine protected areas.

With just two months to go before the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, this initiative demonstrates the importance of training, connecting, and empowering marine conservation actors to collectively tackle the challenges ahead.