Les Naturalistes de Mayotte

What Les Naturalistes de Mayotte does

Les Naturalistes de Mayotte is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Mamoudzou, Mayotte, with a secondary operation in Dembéni. The organization is dedicated to biodiversity documentation, environmental protection, and natural heritage conservation in Mayotte, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean. It operates through four structured activity poles: Animation (school and periscolaire environmental education), Découverte (public naturalist outings and discovery programs), Environnement (marine conservation programs focused on sea turtles and dugongs), and Aires Protégées (management of sensitive natural areas including the ENS of the Bouéni peninsula). The association employs 16 staff supplemented by 15+ service civiques and benefits from a deep volunteer network engaged in scientific monitoring, anti-poaching patrols, and ecological restoration workdays.

The association's core capabilities combine scientific field research with community-based conservation. Its flagship programs include nightly monitoring of sea turtle nesting across seven beaches that represent over half of all nesting in Mayotte, dugong population surveillance using drones, ULM aerial surveys, and environmental DNA sampling, plus ecological restoration work that has planted over 7,100 plants across 4 hectares of restored land since 2021. The association is the authoritative publisher of regional naturalist guides covering birds, plants, mollusks, echinoderms, and herpetofauna of Mayotte and the Comoros, and recently launched the Revue Gecko scientific vulgarization magazine for the broader southwest Indian Ocean audience under the Varuna Biodiversité program.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model of public grants (DEAL Mayotte for the National Action Plan for Dugong Conservation 2021-2025, EU PO INTERREG V Océan-Indien for regional cooperation, OFB Plan de Relance), transactional sales of publications and merchandise via physical offices, the Coconi market, local bookstores, and mail order, membership dues, and school animation services. The association is embedded in a network of 21 partner organizations and holds affiliations with France Nature Environnement, Réserves Naturelles de France, UICN, and the Réseau EEDD Mayotte, providing access to national and international conservation frameworks and funding streams.

Name

Les Naturalistes de Mayotte

Legal name

Les Naturalistes de Mayotte - Environnement et Patrimoine de Mayotte

Website

https://naturalistesmayotte.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Naturalistes de Mayotte is a French non-profit environmental association founded in 1999 that conducts biodiversity research, sea turtle and dugong conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental education in Mayotte, serving schools, the general public, and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental conservation
• Naturalist field guides
• Marine wildlife protection
• Environmental education
• Biodiversity monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Mamoudzou

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from association members who join to support environmental protection and gain access to naturalist activities and outings.
2. Publication Sales: Sale of naturalist guides, field manuals, the Gecko review, and Univers Maoré back issues. Guides cover birds, plants, mollusks, echinoderms, amphibians and reptiles of Mayotte and the Comoros.
3. Merchandise and Artisan Products: Sale of branded merchandise including turtle and dugong protection collection items (ecocups, stickers, t-shirts), and artisanal products like spices, perfumed soaps, and essential oils.
4. Animation Services for Schools: School animation programs offered to educational institutions covering environmental topics, delivered through the animation pole.
5. Government Grants and Project Funding: Funding from DEAL Mayotte for the National Action Plan for dugong conservation (PNA) 2021-2025. European Union co-financing through PO INTERREG V Océan-Indien for regional cooperation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Les Naturalistes de Mayotte is a non-profit environmental association that delivers biodiversity conservation, scientific monitoring, and environmental education services across Mayotte. Its core offerings are organized through four activity poles: public discovery outings, school animation programs, marine conservation (sea turtles and dugongs), and protected area management. The association also publishes authoritative naturalist field guides, the Gecko scientific vulgarization magazine, and sells branded merchandise and local artisanal products from its boutique.

Product overview

Les Naturalistes de Mayotte is an environmental association offering a portfolio of naturalist publications (field guides, magazines, pocket guides), branded merchandise, and environmental education services. The core offering includes La revue Gecko scientific magazine and the Naturalist Field Guides series covering Mayotte's flora and fauna. Educational services are organized across four specialized poles: Animation (school programs), Découverte (public discovery), Environnement (marine conservation including turtles and dugongs), and Aires Protégées (protected area management). The association also operates a boutique selling publications, local artisanal products, and branded goods, with physical sales points in Mamoudzou and Dembeni plus the Coconi market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Revue Gecko: A scientific vulgarization magazine dedicated to biodiversity in the southwest Indian Ocean, published by the association within the Varuna Biodiversité program, supported by the French Development Agency and Expertise France.

Products and services

• La revue Gecko A scientific vulgarization magazine dedicated to biodiversity in the southwest Indian Ocean, published by the association as part of the Varuna Biodiversité program. Each issue costs 6.90€ and is intended for general public and nature enthusiasts.
• Les Guides Naturalistes (Naturalist Field Guides) Comprehensive naturalist field guides covering birds, plants, mollusks, echinoderms, and amphibians/reptiles of Mayotte and the Comoros archipelago. Prices range from 20€ to 30€ per guide. Targeted at naturalists, researchers, students, and nature enthusiasts.
• Les Mini-Guides (Pocket Guides) Collection of five pocket-sized naturalist guides covering seashells, reptiles and amphibians, mangroves, back-mangroves, and former sugar factories. Designed for field use by visitors and nature enthusiasts.
• Pôle Animation (School Programs) Environmental education programs for schools, périscolaire (before/after school) activities, and associations; includes a Catalogue d'animations scolaires 24-25 available for download. Operated from the animation pole in Dembéni.
• Pôle Découverte (Public Discovery Programs) Public-facing nature discovery activities including monthly naturalist outings (sorties naturalistes), hikes, bivouacs for sea turtle observation, café naturaliste presentations, photo contests, and ecological restoration workdays open to the general public.
• Pôle Environnement (Environmental Conservation Programs) Environmental conservation programs including marine turtle protection (night surveillance, anti-poaching patrols, and sensitization across seven beaches) and dugong conservation (aerial drone surveillance, ULM aerial surveys, ADNe sampling, and regional cooperation initiatives).
• Pôle Aires Protégées (Protected Areas Management) Management and monitoring of protected natural areas including the ENS (Espace Naturel Sensible) of the Bouéni peninsula, including ecological restoration of 4 hectares of former farmland, invasive species management, and native and fruit tree planting.
• Goodies (Branded Merchandise) Branded merchandise including the 'Je protège les tortues de Mayotte' collection (ecocups, stickers, t-shirts) and the 'Je protège les dugongs' collection. Prices: ecocup 2€, stickers 1€, t-shirts (S, M, L, XL) 15€.
• Produits artisanaux (Local Artisanal Products) Local artisanal products including spices, scented soaps, and essential oils sourced from Mayotte. Sold at association offices in Mamoudzou and Dembéni, and at the Market of Coconi.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70 people reached through sea turtle sensitization programs in a single month, including bivouacs, conferences, and community meetings.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• France Nature Environnement (FNE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLes Naturalistes de Mayotte is affiliated with France Nature Environnement, France's largest environmental protection organization representing 6,000 associations and 1 million members. This affiliation connects the association to the broader French environmental movement and provides access to resources and expertise.
• Réserves Naturelles de FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with the network of French nature reserves, a professional network grouping 297 nature reserves, providing collaboration opportunities with protected area management experts.
• Réseau EEDD MayottecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Education to Environment and Sustainable Development network bringing together actors working for environmental education in Mayotte.
• UICN (Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with IUCN including participation in the UICN-France overseas group, connecting the association to international conservation science and policy frameworks.
• Parc Naturel Marin de MayottecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on marine conservation initiatives including dugong research and monitoring, and joint participation in regional projects.
• Parc National de MohélimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in regional cooperation for dugong conservation within the framework of PO INTERREG V Océan-Indien. Joint mission conducted for drone surveillance training and methodology sharing on herbivore and dugong monitoring.
• DroneGomajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnical collaboration for aerial drone surveillance operations to monitor dugong populations and their habitats in priority areas.
• Université de MayottemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for ADNe (environmental DNA) analysis to detect dugong presence, developing molecular detection methods for marine species conservation.
• African Parks / The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (Mozambique)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in regional conservation initiatives including the dugong traveling exhibition and shared conservation objectives across the Indian Ocean.
• Seychelles Islands FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the traveling exhibition on dugongs and regional conservation cooperation across the Indian Ocean region.
• Université de TuléarmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration for the regional dugong conservation initiative, contributing scientific expertise to the regional partnership.
• Les Apprentis d'AuteilminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on ecological restoration workdays at the ENS of Bouéni peninsula as part of the 2021 restoration project.
• NaymaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in ecological restoration workdays contributing to the 20+ restoration days conducted at the ENS of Bouéni peninsula.
• CCSud (Communauté de communes du sud)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on environmental ambassadors programs and support for sea turtle protection initiatives, including support for the Pacte de sauvegarde des tortues.
• RSMA (Régiment du Service Militaire Adapté)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in ecological restoration workdays as part of the ENS Bouéni peninsula restoration project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• France Nature Environnement: France Nature Environnement is the federation to which Les Naturalistes belongs, grouping over 6,000 environmental associations across France. It provides policy advocacy, network coordination, and representation at the national level.
• LPO France (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux): LPO France is France's largest bird and wildlife protection NGO. As a federation member of France Nature Environnement alongside Les Naturalistes, it shares the citizen-science volunteer model, regional publication activity, and conservation advocacy mission but operates at national scale.
• UICN France: UICN France is the French committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Les Naturalistes participates in the UICN-France overseas group, indicating programmatic alignment on species conservation frameworks and policy advocacy.
• WWF France: WWF France is a major international conservation organization active in marine and biodiversity protection, including in the Indian Ocean. While much larger and globally focused, it pursues overlapping species conservation, habitat restoration, and public engagement objectives in the region.

Emerging players

• Sea Shepherd France: Sea Shepherd France conducts marine wildlife protection and anti-poaching operations globally, including in the Indian Ocean. It shares the marine conservation and species protection mission but emphasizes enforcement action over scientific monitoring and education.

Direct peers

• Société d'Étude Ornithologique de La Réunion (SEOR): SEOR is an ornithological study and bird conservation society based in Réunion. It mirrors Les Naturalistes' combination of scientific bird monitoring, publication of naturalist resources, and public environmental education in the French Indian Ocean region.
• Parc Naturel Marin de Mayotte: The Marine Nature Park of Mayotte is a public agency that manages marine protected areas in Mayotte. While a current partner of Les Naturalistes, it operates overlapping conservation, monitoring, and public engagement functions in the same territory.
• Kélonia: Kélonia is a sea turtle observatory and conservation center located in Réunion. Like Les Naturalistes de Mayotte, it focuses on scientific monitoring, public education, and protection of sea turtles in the French Indian Ocean, making it the closest functional peer for the turtle conservation mission.
• Conservatoire Botanique National de Mascarin: The Conservatoire Botanique National de Mascarin is responsible for botanical knowledge and conservation across the Mascarene Islands and Mayotte. It shares Les Naturalistes' mandate of documenting regional flora, publishing reference works, and managing plant conservation, making it a direct institutional peer.
• Naturalistes de Bourbon: Naturalistes de Bourbon is a naturalist association in Réunion with a comparable mission of biodiversity documentation, field guide publication, and public environmental engagement in the French Indian Ocean.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/naturalistesdemayotte
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• Instagraminstagram.com/naturalistes_de_mayotte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Les Naturalistes de Mayotte