Restoring Paradise: The Noah’s Ark Project and Marine Volunteering on North Island

What is the Noah’s Ark Project?

The Noah’s Ark Project is a visionary conservation initiative based on North Island in the Seychelles, conceived with the bold aim of reversing centuries of ecological degradation. This pioneering effort seeks to restore the island’s natural ecosystems to their original state, nurturing vibrant populations of endemic and indigenous flora and fauna, both terrestrial and marine.

Through structured and science-based rehabilitation, North Island is slowly becoming the living ark it was meant to be: a safe haven for species pushed to the brink and a model for ecological renewal. Our marine conservation volunteers get to be part of this incredible legacy.

A Brief History of North Island

The story of North Island is one of loss and redemption. For nearly 150 years, the island was used as a coconut plantation, its indigenous forests stripped to make way for monoculture crops. 

From as early as 1826, and continuing until the plantation was finally abandoned around 1970, the natural biodiversity of the island suffered severe disruption. Invasive species, such as rats (introduced after a Portuguese shipwreck in 1784), pigs, chickens, cats, and aggressive plant species, added to the devastation. Indigenous flora and fauna suffered, and in some cases, disappeared completely. 

By 1997, when the island was purchased by Wilderness Safaris, its condition was ecologically dire. But from this point, a steady and deliberate process of transformation began and the Noah’s Ark Project was born.

A Multi-Decade Restoration Effort

Since its beginnings, the Noah’s Ark Project has taken a holistic approach to conservation. Every milestone has been carefully planned and executed, often in partnership with experts and local stakeholders:

• Invasive Species Removal: One of the first major steps was the removal of livestock (cows, pigs, chickens) in 2001, followed by intensive efforts to eradicate rats, feral cats, and invasive plants.
  
  
• Endemic Species Reintroduction: The project facilitated the reintroduction of key species including the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, the Seychelles Black Mud Terrapin (introduced to the island in 2008), and threatened bird species like the Seychelles White-eye.

• Habitat Restoration: By 2011, over 25% of the island (42 hectares) had been rehabilitated, with native palms and hardwoods replacing coconut groves. Among the species reintroduced are the Coco de Mer (Lodoicea maldivica), Millionaire’s Salad Palm (Deckenia nobilis), and Seychelles Stilt Palm (Verschaffeltia splendida).

Even today, efforts continue with vigilance. Myna birds (introduced competitors for nesting sites) were successfully eradicated by 2018, and water purification systems have been installed to reduce plastic waste from bottled water, cementing North Island’s place as a model of sustainability.

Marine Conservation and Volunteering

The surrounding marine environment is equally vital to the Noah’s Ark Project. North Island is located within a marine biodiversity hotspot, offering volunteers a rare opportunity to engage in meaningful ocean conservation efforts alongside terrestrial rehabilitation.

Key Marine Conservation Activities Include:

• Sea Turtle Monitoring: North Island is a nesting site for both Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. Volunteers assist with daily monitoring, patrolling for turtle tracks, nest translocations, and nesting data collection. This contributes to broader turtle conservation initiatives across the Indian Ocean.
  
  
• Marine Megafauna Observations: The waters surrounding the island are home to species like wedge-tailed shearwaters, reef sharks, manta rays, and seasonal cetaceans. Sightings and fish identification data help support biodiversity mapping and migration understanding.
  
  
• Beach Cleanups and Marine Debris Audits: Volunteers actively remove marine debris washed ashore and track trends to inform global databases like the Ocean Conservancy’s TIDES project.

Living the Legacy: Volunteer Experience on North Island

What sets the North Island marine volunteering program apart is the depth of immersion. Volunteers are seen as integral members of a conservation team. The experience includes:

• Hands-On Science: Learn real-world field techniques from conservationists, including beach profiling techniques and contributing to long-term data sets.

• Daily Impact: Every activity contributes to visible outcomes, from releasing rehabilitated tortoises to recording the first sighting of a nesting turtle of the season.
  

• Cultural and Ecological Insight: Volunteers engage with the historical and ecological context of the island, gaining a holistic understanding of tropical island ecosystems and the delicate interplay between land and sea. Data captured by volunteers contributes to a better understanding of the Endangered and Critically Endangered Green and Hawksbill Sea Turtles, including their visiting and nesting patterns and determining long-term poplation trends.

A Conservation Model with Global Recognition

North Island’s restoration success has been widely acknowledged:

- 2015: Winner of the Energy Globe Award for Seychelles

- 2017: First place in the National Geographic World Legacy Awards (“Conserving the Natural World” category).

- 2019: Selected as one of the Top 100 Sustainable Destinations worldwide.

These achievements show that long-term conservation, rooted in collaboration, can yield tangible, lasting benefits for biodiversity.

Wildlife ACT’s Role and How You Can Get Involved

Wildlife ACT is proud to be a conservation partner on North Island, working closely with the island's Environmental Management team to support the goals of the Noah’s Ark Project. 

Our role includes providing skilled conservation volunteers who contribute directly to reforestation, biodiversity data collection, and species protection efforts. 

Living and working as a Wildlife ACT volunteer on North Island means being immersed in varied and hands-on fieldwork that supports both land and marine conservation objectives, from tracking endangered species and assisting with habitat restoration to participating in beach profiling and turtle monitoring. 

Whether you're a student, a nature enthusiast, or a professional looking to make a real-world impact, joining this project through Wildlife ACT is a unique chance to be part of a globally recognised island restoration model.

Become part of something extraordinary and help us write the next chapter of North Island’s restoration story! Apply here.