Bernardo Nascimento, Manager of the Odysseo Foundation: “We are all connected by the Ocean”
The Last Archipelago has been selected for the Cannes Short Film Festival 2025. What does this international recognition mean for the team behind the project and for the conservation message you are sharing?
This recognition means a great deal to the Foundation and to everyone involved in the project. I would especially like to congratulate Prashant Mohesh, National Geographic Explorer, for this achievement and for the many other festivals that have selected the film.
Having The Last Archipelago showcased at such a prestigious international festival gives important visibility to St. Brandon and helps people better understand why this ecosystem matters and why it deserves protection. Film and storytelling have the power to connect with audiences in an emotional and human way, often beyond what scientific reports alone can achieve. We hope this recognition will strengthen global awareness around the importance of conserving remote and relatively untouched ecosystems such as St. Brandon.
The documentary combines science, conservation and storytelling. Why do you believe films like this are important in driving awareness and action?
Human beings have always been moved by stories. Throughout history, stories have shaped cultures, values and behaviours. Scientific data is essential, but storytelling can help people connect with that information on a much deeper emotional level.
The real impact happens when science and storytelling come together to transform data into meaningful narratives. That is what we are trying to achieve alongside Heather Koldewey and Prashant Mohesh, who are both inspiring National Geographic Explorers. Through film, we can make environmental issues more accessible, relatable and engaging for wider audiences.
St. Brandon is often described as one of the last untouched marine ecosystems in the region. What makes this place so special and worth protecting?
The first time I visited St. Brandon, it felt like travelling back in time. It was an opportunity to experience nature in a way that is becoming increasingly rare today.
St. Brandon is what we call a “reference ecosystem.” Many marine environments in Mauritius have already been heavily degraded, and in some cases there is very little historical data showing what healthy ecosystems once looked like. Places like St. Brandon help us better understand what thriving marine ecosystems should be and what we should aim to restore and protect.
Its importance goes far beyond biodiversity. The archipelago plays a critical role in food security, as healthy lagoon ecosystems help maintain fish stocks in surrounding waters. It also contributes to climate resilience through important seagrass meadow ecosystems that support carbon sequestration. In addition, many species in St. Brandon are still waiting to be discovered, making it an invaluable site for scientific research and conservation.
The Last Archipelago shows that even one of the most remote places on Earth is affected by plastic pollution. What message do you hope viewers will take away from the documentary?
For me, the project highlights the fact that we are all connected by the ocean. The large amounts of waste found in St. Brandon are not produced there. Most of it originates from countries across Asia and travels vast distances before reaching these remote islands.
I hope the documentary helps people understand that waste is one of the clearest examples of how local actions can create global consequences. Every individual has the ability to contribute to the solution and help protect places like St. Brandon.
Once the project’s data analysis is complete, we also intend to contact the brands and countries identified as having the greatest impact on the archipelago. Our hope is that this can encourage greater awareness, responsibility and meaningful action.
Why was it important for the Odysseo Foundation to support a project dedicated to St. Brandon and marine conservation?
This project is supported through a grant from the National Geographic Society. While Prashant Mohesh and Heather Koldewey are the lead applicants, the Odysseo Foundation was involved from the very beginning and contributed to the project concept.
The Foundation manages the St. Brandon Conservation Trust, and everyone who visits St. Brandon is deeply moved by the experience. Supporting this project was important because it contributes to understanding and addressing one of the greatest threats facing the archipelago: marine waste and plastic pollution.
I would also like to acknowledge the support of Raphael Fishing Company, the St. Brandon Conservation Trust, Lea de Oliveira, Programme Manager of the Foundation, and David Philogene, our research assistant for the project. Their contributions have been invaluable.
Plastic pollution is a global challenge affecting coastlines everywhere. What simple actions can individuals and organisations take to make a real difference?
This is a challenge where everyone can contribute. We need to stop littering and become more conscious of the waste we leave behind. Even small actions matter.
When people have the opportunity, they can help by collecting waste they find along coastlines, rivers or natural areas and disposing of it properly or recycling it whenever possible. Waste left on beaches or near waterways can eventually travel across the ocean and impact ecosystems far away.
We are all responsible for the waste that circulates around the world. If each of us plays our part and encourages others to do the same, we can make meaningful progress toward solving this issue.