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The British Territory The : Its Nature and the Future

Organisations supporting the environmental objectives set out Creating one contents in this brochure include: of the world’s 1 Where and what is the Chagos? 2-3 What’s so special about the The Chagos Environment Network: Chagos environment? Chagos Conservation Trust greatest natural 4-5 What’s the big idea? The Linnean Society of London 6-7 Creating a Chagos Archipelago Pew Environment Group conservation areas Conservation Area The Royal Society The Royal Society for the 8-9 The largest coral in the world Protection of Birds (RSPB) 10-11 The Chagos oceans and fisheries The Zoological Society of 12-13 The massacre of Indian Ocean sharks London (ZSL) 14-15 The Chagossian people and Coral Cay Conservation History of the Chagos National Coral Reef Institute 16-17 Science and the Chagos 18-19 Chagos: climate change and The Nature Conservancy island survival UK Overseas Territories 20-21 Chagos natural treasures Conservation Forum 22-23 Hard shells: the world’s largest United Nations Environment crab, and others Programme (UNEP) 24 An inspiring example The University of Wales 25 The Chagos Conservation Trust The University of Warwick The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Published by the Chagos Conservation Trust www.chagos-trust.org Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 7738 7712 All papers used in this publication are FSC-certified and the inks are vegetable-based.

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Where and what is the Chagos?

5°00 “In our Trust” The Coat of Arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory

The Chagos Islands are in the middle of the Indian Ocean. They have belonged to Britain since 1814 (the Treaty of Paris) and are constituted as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Only , where 6°00 The Chagos has the there is a base, is inhabited (by military world’s largest coral personnel and employees). The other 54 atoll and 55 tiny islands tiny islands add up to only 16 square kms in quarter of a million square miles of the (8 square miles) in total. world’s cleanest seas. It is by far Britain’s Now, before it is too late, there is an greatest area of opportunity to save this precious natural marine biodiversity. environment, creating a conservation area comparable with the Galápagos or the 7°00 Great Barrier Reef.

Please support this planet-saving project and encourage the British Government to make it a reality.

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10380_CH_ChagosArchipelagoTEXT_v10.indd 1 26/1/09 11:56:10 71°00 72°00 4°00 The cleanest sea water in the world. Pollutant levels in Chagos waters One exception was in Salomon 1 Everaarts, JM, Booij K, Fischer CV, Maas and marine life are exceptionally where small quantities of nickel YEM, Nieuwenhuize J. 1999. Assessment low. Analyses in 1996 suggested were concentrated in some marine of the Environmental Health of the that “The marine environment of life, which probably came from Chagos Archipelago. In: Sheppard CRC & Seaward MRD (eds), Ecology of the the Chagos Archipelago as a whole the fungicide used in the coconut Chagos Archipelago, Linnean Society is exceptionally pristine” and was plantation 40 years previously. London pp305–326 the cleanest water tested so far in 2 The 2006 Chagos expedition again Guitart C, Sheppard A, Frickers T, Price the world.1 Hydrocarbons found are sampled lagoon water. Analytical ARG, Readman JW. 2007. Negligible almost entirely of biological (natural) risks to corals from antifouling booster sensitivity was such that during origin. Oils, and pyrogenic (combustion) biocides and triazine herbicides in coastal sampling, no sunscreen, perfume or hydrocarbons, are present only in parts waters of the Chagos Archipelago. deodorants could be worn in case this per billion, while some particularly Marine Pollution Bulletin 54:226–246 5°00 caused contamination! Samples were toxic organic pollutants such as PCBs, then analysed in Plymouth Marine lindane and dieldrin are present in Laboratory. Again, concentrations parts per trillion only. Many others found were at mostly below detection screened showed no trace at all, even limits of 1 part per trillion, using in bird livers and other tissues which the most sensitive instrumentation concentrate pollutants. The identity of available. We conclude that Chagos those chemicals that were detected water “…could be considered suggest that they are wind borne, appropriate as a global reference rather than of local origin. Levels of baseline.”2 toxic metals were similarly lower than in most areas.

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2 Turtle on seaward reef of Diego Garcia 8°00 71°00 72°00

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What’s so special about the Chagos environment? What’s there?

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Creating one of the world’s greatest natural conservation areas.

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The following are features The wildlife biodiversity of the Most of the Chagos is uninhabited. which make the Chagos an Chagos is very rich. It provides This is the main reason why at least 220 coral species and the ecology of the Chagos is full outstandingly important over 1,000 species of fish with a of diverse life, a rare surviving environmental site and surviving stronghold. It is also a example of nearly pristine threats which make refuge and breeding ground for tropical habitats. large and important populations comprehensive conservation Because of its mainly unspoilt of sharks, dolphins, marine so important. and healthy environment, the turtles, rare crabs, birds and other Chagos provides us with a scientific The Chagos contains some of the vulnerable marine and island benchmark for how the world could world’s healthiest coral reefs and species. In marine terms BIOT is by be without pollution and other the world’s largest surviving coral far the most biodiverse part of the 7°00 environmental degradation. This is atoll. Scientists fear that half of the UK and its Overseas Territories. evidently important in helping us world’s coral reefs could be lost by The archipelago is isolated and at to understand and deal with such 2025. It is essential to save them: the very centre of the Indian Ocean problems as pollution, loss of hundreds of millions of people in where it acts as an ‘oasis’ for marine biodiversity and climate change.1 the world depend on healthy reefs and island species (which are nearly in one way or another. Living reefs 1 all in decline elsewhere, under Sheppard CRC, Seaward MRD, Klaus R, provide food, protect beaches from Topp JMW. 1999. The Chagos Archipelago: an pressure from the effects of massive erosion and form a treasure house introduction In: Sheppard CRC & Seaward MRD recent human population growth in of genetically diverse creatures and Ecology of the Chagos Archipelago, Linnean the region). Society London pp1–20 plants.

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The Chagos Brain Coral, Ctenella chagius, found only in this archipelago 6°00 Sea fan - seaward reefs of Salomon atoll “It has been my dream that the whole Chagos Archipelago should be an International Marine Nature Reserve and Sanctuary…. The whole ecological structure is under threat. Fortunately all is not yet lost, though time is short. The powers-that-be, the international commune of conservation and locally focused bodies such as the Chagos Conservation Trust can work together in an effective mix of vision and management. Maybe the Chagossians 7°00 too can have a role to play. The Archipelago will even more deserve, and perhaps at last obtain, the title of World Heritage Site.”

Professor David Bellamy, 2002

4 Dr Carl Lundin, World Conservation Union 8°00 71°00 72°00

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5°00 The vision: Protecting the Chagos Archipelago and its seas as a world-class, unspoilt, natural conservation area comparable to the Galápagos and the Great Barrier Reef

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“The Chagos Archipelago is comparable in size and importance to some of the world’s largest marine protected areas, such as Phoenix Islands Protected Area in Kiribati, Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, USA, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Protected Area in Australia. It performs invaluable services for the Indian Ocean, as a stepping stone, and a refuge, making it the arguably most important area of coral reef in the entire region. Chagos also stands out because of its current near-pristine state, compared with most other reef areas which are impacted by overexploitation and other stresses. As such it is likely to have a higher capacity to adapt to a changing climate. Because of this 7°00 it presents a unique opportunity to strengthen conservation and reduce biodiversity loss, provided the area is managed for these purposes, e.g. as a marine protected area. It would be a fantastic endowment to the oceans of the future. It provides a great opportunity for the UK Government to apply for a designation as a World Heritage Site.”

Dr Carl Lundin, World Conservation Union (IUCN), 2008

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10380_CH_ChagosArchipelagoTEXT_v10.indd 5 26/1/09 11:56:19 71°00 72°00 4°00 “It is important to remember that Visiting BIOT Ramsar is about the wise use of all wetlands in the territory of the Visits to BIOT (the Chagos) require a country and getting the management permit from the BIOT Administration, right. This means, as coral reefs are FCO (www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/ wetlands under the convention, the pdf16/fco_biot_laws guidance_english). whole Chagos ecosystem should be The proposals in this publication managed wisely.” envisage that limited vessel-based visiting, related to science and the Dr Peter Bridgewater, Chair, UK Joint environment, could be compatible Nature Conservation Committee and former with the conservation vision if it Secretary General, Ramsar Convention, 2007 contributed to conservation and did not disturb the nature.

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Steep seaward slopes support the richest 6 marine life 8°00 71°00 72°00

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Creating a Chagos Archipelago Conservation Area: the Programme

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The British Indian Ocean Territory (the Chagos) has the most pristine tropical marine environment surviving on the planet. Its quarter of a million square miles is Britain’s greatest area of marine biodiversity.

The UK Government and the n The existing Ramsar (Wetlands n A programme of further habitat British Indian Ocean Territory Convention) Area should be improvement should be (BIOT) Administration are already extended first to the territorial implemented, particularly on committed to managing BIOT as if waters (as already agreed by the previously inhabited islands now it were a World Heritage site and Government in principle) and then degraded by invasive species, have enacted significant legislation to the whole Chagos Archipelago, notably black rats and imported 6°00 to protect this globally important with strict reserve areas for the vegetation. environment. priority biodiversity sites. The BIOT Environment Zone (created n A sustainably funded, small However, a more robust and in 2003) should be completed. organisation (perhaps a Public comprehensive framework for Foundation) should be conservation is needed to meet n A comprehensive Chagos marine established by the Government, future challenges from destructive and fisheries management and with effective support from impacts of pollution, unsustainable conservation system should be other organisations, to manage fishing, poaching, habitat established, to include a ‘no-take’ and conserve the natural marine degradation, imported invasive fishing zone, building on the and terrestrial environment and species, construction or other proposal already included in the biodiversity of BIOT, as well as forms of interference. approved Chagos Conservation the related science, research Existing environmental safeguards Management Plan. This would and education. Experience 7°00 should be strengthened to create a increase Indian Ocean fish stocks should be drawn from best long-term conservation framework and thus benefit people in practice in other comparable with the maximum international neighbouring countries. protected natural areas in support. the world. n A small, fixed scientific research It would be a world-class facility should be established, n Wider international support conservation area and a major perhaps on Diego Garcia with a should be promoted for a contribution to ‘saving the planet’. simple facility on a northern comprehensive Chagos Policy framework elements Chagos island. Archipelago Reserve Area, (some are already agreed but not using existing protocols such as implemented) could be: Ramsar and World Heritage.

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10380_CH_ChagosArchipelagoTEXT_v10.indd 7 26/1/09 11:56:21 71°00 72°00 4°00 Longfin bannerfish,Heniochus acuminatus Clown triggerfish,Balistoides conspicillum Regal angelfish,Pygoplites diacanthus

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“The Chagos Archipelago provides rare and valuable insights into the dynamics of a reef system far from human pressures; this is what makes it so important on a global scale. The Zoological Society of London fully supports the conservation of this precious series of marine habitats.”

Rachel Jones, Zoological Society of London

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8 The shallow seaward-facing reef of Ile Anglais 8°00 71°00 72°00

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5°00 The largest coral atoll in the world

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The is the largest coral atoll in the world and possibly the healthiest. Coral reefs are crucial for the welfare, livelihoods, and even survival, of several hundred million people. 25% of fish species depend on them. The Indian Ocean region needs the rare, surviving, healthy reef ecosystem of the Chagos Archipelago.

Coral reefs cover only 1–2% of the Corals are living creatures. They build Coral islands depend on past coral Earth’s surface, yet are home to reefs by extracting dissolved limestone growth for their existence, and on 25% of the Earth’s fish species. from the seawater and depositing it continued healthy growth for their over millennia in thicknesses which are maintenance and shore defences. Uncounted numbers of species occur now several kilometres deep. only on reefs, many with no known The rock is limestone, which is

terrestrial counterpart. Throughout the world, many island relatively soft and easily eroded if 7°00 nations rest entirely on the results of live corals do not continuously build Many coral-based species contain coral growth. them up. unusual bioactive chemicals now being researched for pharmaceutical But corals are very sensitive to In many parts of the world the use. environmental change and are easily complex reef ecosystem has already killed. When that happens, the reefs broken down. Scientists predict that The existence of these species decay and islands supported on them 70% of the world’s remaining coral depends on continuing functioning are subject to greatly increased erosion. reefs will be destroyed by the year of a highly complex, interlocking 2050, by human activity. There are ecosystem. few parts of the world where reefs are in good, healthy condition, and in this respect, those in the Chagos are possibly the best example.

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No-take fisheries Nearly all has been lost, but in the last This is expected to be sufficient conservation areas 30 years it has been shown conclusively to conserve the fish, particularly that the setting up of no-take zones, for inshore fishers. The area thus from which nothing can be removed protected is likely to ensure that Fishers have killed over 90% of all the or extracted by humans, allows fish to good stocks of reef fish continue fish in the planet’s seas, most to eat, but recover remarkably quickly. Not only indefinitely. fully 20% are discarded into the sea as do the fish recover but also the fishers waste.1 Attempts to manage fisheries to 1 Roberts C. 2007. The Unnatural History adjacent to the zones see their takes rise. sustain this bountiful source of protein of the Sea, Gaia Octopus Publishing Group For sustained recovery it has been shown have in the main been abject failures.2 2 Ludwig D, Hilborn R, Walters C. 1993. that at least 30% of fish habitats need Fishers have systematically killed the Uncertainty, resource exploitation, and to be systematically protected.3 This is larger animals such as whales and then conservation: lessons from history. commonly called the ‘One Third Rule’. moved down the size scale until only Science 260:17 5°00 small and immature fish survive. When To its credit, the BIOT Government in 3 Roberts CM, Hawkins JP. 2000 Fully catching these becomes unprofitable, drawing up the Chagos Conservation Protected Marine Reserves: a Guide, WWF new species of fish are hunted in far Management Plan accepted in principle Endangered Seas Campaign, Washington away parts of the high seas using every the need for no-take zones. In 2007 modern technique. Species after species a study funded by the Foreign and “Ocean Legacy project is looking at have been all but wiped out. Commonwealth Office, based on opportunities to protect surviving information obtained during research In the process, bottom trawl nets, world-class marine systems. The in 2006, provided for the zones to be ever bigger, have almost completely Chagos Archipelago is a rare gem accurately delineated and this has destroyed fish habitats. In these areas in an increasingly populated region been done. The necessary legislation bare sand, gravel and mud is all that whose shores and waters are will follow. The proposed no-take areas is left where once existed forests of already over-exploited and heavily mainly adjoin islands which are already vegetation and coral sheltering myriads degraded.” designated Strict Nature Reserves on of little fish and other marine animals account of their huge bird populations. Pew Charitable Trusts, 2008 providing food for the larger predators.

6°00 These Gold-Spotted trevally, Carangoides fulvoguttatus, a sought after fish, would be protected in the event of a no-take zone

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The Chagos oceans and fisheries

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Adequate measures to manage the is the fact that the shark population If such measures are implemented Chagos ocean area in accordance with throughout the ocean is some 90% Chagos is likely be of great benefit to official environmental commitments smaller than 30 years ago.)The the vastly increased populations in the and on a sustainable basis have strict ‘no-take’ fisheries reserve countries of the Indian Ocean basin not yet been implemented. By way areas provided for in the official where fisheries resources of reefs are of example, only 3% of the Chagos Conservation Management Plan have heavily depleted. These benefits would shallow water area, which is the also not been implemented. Such result from the creation of a reserve in richest in biodiversity, is protected reserve areas are proven to increase which fish stocks could recover, breed and virtually none of the deep sea fish stocks in the surrounding seas (by and replenish stocks in neighbouring is protected. (An indication of the providing a refuge for breeding and areas. pressure on Indian Ocean marine life growth).

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“The Chagos Archipelago represents a magnificent conservation opportunity that could be of lasting benefit to humanity. There can be few places on this planet that represent better value for leveraging spectacular returns. What is needed is vision and a leadership initiative by Britain to create the Chagos as an iconic, pristine area held in trust for the future of the world community.”

Professor Callum Roberts, Univerity of York, 2007

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10380_CH_ChagosArchipelagoTEXT_v10.indd 11 26/1/09 11:56:33 71°00 72°00 4°00 Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is the world’s largest fish, feeding by filtering food from the seawater

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Nurse sharks, Nebrius ferrugineus, feed by 12 searching the seabed for invertebrates 8°00 71°00 72°00

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Sharks, being at the top of the food chain, are very 5°00 However, small fishing boats mainly important for the marine biodiversity of British Indian based in Sri Lanka, continue to come Ocean Territory (BIOT) waters. The UN’s Food and to Chagos waters, risking a £100,000 fine and the confiscation of boat Agriculture Organisation data show that in the Indian and equipment. Ocean generally, shark numbers are down by about 90% Shark fins are also an important part of the ‘pay’ of otherwise poorly paid over the last 30 years because of over fishing, and diver crews of tuna fishing vessels and observation data in Chagos waters show that a similar this tempts some to set the lines to “accidentally” catch sharks. The 1 decline has taken place here. fins are removed and the bodies are dumped. Dried shark fins are a In BIOT Administration, management measures prohibit high-value commodity, sold on to traders and used to make shark fin 6°00 targeted shark fishing, but unfortunately they are caught soup in Japan and China. by poachers and as by-catch by licensed fishers of other The BIOT’s patrol vessel Pacific species. If this happens, finning is expressly banned and Marlin, managed by Marine Resources Assessment Group Ltd, catches the sharks must be landed whole or released. poachers, but with over half a million square kilometres to cover it has a difficult task. However, some dramatic arrests are made as can be seen from the disheartening photograph, but too late for these unfortunate sharks. In this case the fishing boat was destroyed.

1 Anderson RC, Sheppard CRC, Spalding MD, Crosby R. 1998. 7°00 Shortage of Sharks at Chagos. Shark News, newsletter of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group

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The Chagossian people

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The Chagos Conservation Trust has Some proposals (which have previously drawn attention to the included progressively increasing environmental implications associated exploitation and development of with human activity on these tiny, commercial tourism, fisheries and unpopulated islands. Account must be other extractive industries and the taken of the importance of safeguarding related infrastructure) are clearly not the unique, delicate and vulnerable compatible with even the existing ecology of the archipelago. This is commitments to conservation.

not only because human activity However, the framework outlined for would have an impact on important a Chagos Archipelago Conservation ecosystems and threatened species, Area could well provide good but because any degradation of the employment opportunities. Such environment could adversely affect employment might involve scientific human welfare in the wider region. 7°00 research staff, park rangers, and conservation and habitat restoration staff. It is hoped that this would be considered in a positive spirit.

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History of the Chagos

The Chagos Islands were first 5°00 ‘discovered’ in the 16th century, probably by the Portuguese Pedro Mascarenhas. They were uninhabited

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The Chagos and Maldives chain of During the Napoleonic wars Britain islands was created after India slid captured and Reunion from north, millions of years ago, crumpling France. Under the Treaty of Paris in up the Himalayas in front of it. Upwelling 1814, Britain restored Reunion to France lava from a hotspot deep in the earth’s and France ceded Mauritius to Britain mantle created the bases of these together with its dependencies which islands; those of the Chagos were comprised Seychelles and other islands, pushed up 45 million years ago. The including the Chagos.1 In the late 19th islands’ lava cores then began their long, century Charles Darwin drew extensively slow subsidence, while reefs from the on scientific surveys of the Chagos remains of living coral built up around Archipelago for his theories on them. Amazingly, the coral under Diego coral reefs.

Garcia is about a mile deep. In 1965 the Chagos Islands were 7°00 The French assumed sovereignty in detached to become part of the British the late 18th century and began to Indian Ocean Territory, with the full exploit the islands for copra, originally agreement of the Mauritius Council employing slave labour. However, of Ministers and a grant paid to the islands were never commercially Mauritius. The Territory is administered important. by the UK Government through the

BIOT Administration. There are no economic activities on the islands. UK/ US agreements regulate the use of the Territory for defence purposes.

1 Edis R. 2004. Peak of Limuria: the story of Diego Garcia and the Chagos Archipelago, CCT London 15 8°00 73°00 74°00

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The BIOT Patrol Vessel Pacific Marlin has supported substantial research in Chagos 5°00

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Chagos surface water temperatures showing warming 1871–2006

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Past and forecast seawater temperatures in Chagos, 1900–2100 Anemone fish 8°00 71°00 72°00

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Science and the Chagos Professor Charles Sheppard

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The Chagos will have key positive scientific roles to play in the coming years since its seas and coral reefs are the least affected by direct human impacts. Chagos is providing:

n A scientific control site to compare So far scientific monitoring and with other more impacted sites research have been carried out (especially for coral reefs). with official support, including the essential role of the BIOT Patrol n A means of filling gaps in Vessel. The present mechanism global climate monitoring of expedition-type research visits 6°00 programmes (e.g. acidification, has served well enough in the sea temperature, sea levels and past but there is now a need for gases). The Indian Ocean is as a small permanent facility which yet largely omitted from these remains for authorised scientific programmes. work. Much new science requires equipment which cannot simply n Contributions to our understanding be flown out on a temporary basis of the processes that collectively but needs a non-humid, fixed create global warming and location. climate change, the threats they pose and management options to counter them.

“Every ocean needs at least one set of reefs where no 7°00 run-off, no dredging, no building, no fishing, no nutrient enrichment and no pollutant and pesticide release whatsoever takes place. For the Indian Ocean, the reefs of Chagos are the prime candidate, and perhaps are the only sensible possibility. In the late 20th century, there are now very few others which fit the bill.”

Professor Charles Sheppard, University of Warwick and BIOT Conservation Advisor

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Erosion on Ile Diamante, 5°00 Chagos shores and island survival

Lining the ocean-facing edge of many coral reefs of Chagos is a substantial ridge made of stony red algae, and a system of spurs of the same material projecting perpendicularly into deeper water. These are highly wave-resistant structures, and it is because of them that the reefs, and the islands behind them, can survive in strong 6°00 wave conditions. The algae are mainly of the genus Porolithon, which deposit limestone in the manner of corals. They are crucial in enabling the reefs to resist erosion. On well-developed systems such as those of Peros Banhos and Salomon, the ridge may exceed 50 metres wide, and the perpendicular spurs may be more than 100 metres long, gradually descending into deeper water where they disappear at 5 metres depth or more. The arrangement and sizes of 7°00 the spurs and grooves acts as a very efficient wave break, which greatly reduces the energy of the waves as they reach the islands. It is this extremely effective energy dissipation which permits many islands and reefs to survive at all.

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It is affected by: The Chagos did suffer in the severe The Chagos global warming spike in 1998, but Sea level rises leading to inundation because of the absence of any is very of its low-lying islands (less than additional stressors arising from 2 metres above sea level); human impact, it has recovered more, vulnerable Sea temperature rises leading to and faster, than any other known coral mortality; coral reef system. In its natural state it is exceptionally resilient.1 to global Coastal erosion from loss of protective structure of reefs due 1 Sheppard CRC, Harris A, Sheppard ALS. 2008. warming to coral mortality; Archipelago-wide recovery patterns since 1998 in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean. Rising CO2 levels causing ocean Marine Ecology Progress Series 362:109–117 acidification and reduced reef growth. 19 8°00 73°00 74°00

10380_CH_ChagosArchipelagoTEXT_v10.indd 19 26/1/09 11:56:54 71°00 72°00 4°00 Invasive species

Although the marine environment of Chagos is generally in very good condition, some of the terrestrial environment where there was activity during the plantation era is degraded. The islands were naturally covered by native forest, but in most formerly inhabited places this forest 5°00 is now dominated by introduced alien plants – especially coconut palms – with little of the natural forest remaining.

‘Black rats’

In addition, rats, brought in when the islands were inhabited, have invaded many of the islands, with devastating impacts on seabirds. Madagascar fody, Foudia madagascarensis Rat predation on eggs and chicks 6°00 is so intense that, on rat-infested islands in the archipelago, seabird populations, though diverse, are probably a fraction of their former size. Rats probably also affect native plants and invertebrates, as well as predating sea turtle eggs and hatchlings.

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Graham Wynne, Chief Executive, The Royal Chagos natural treasures Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) 5°00

“The Chagos are The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is estimated to outstandingly important support several hundred thousand pairs of breeding seabirds. in global biodiversity terms. As the largest BIOT has been recognised as an area of Sooty terns, Sterna fuscata, in remaining coral atoll in global importance by the designation of particular, which cope with the no less than ten Important Bird Areas to depredations of terrestrial predators by the world and the most date, all receiving this status due to the nesting in intense densities, manage seabird species rich in numbers of breeding or congregating to breed on rat-infested islands where seabirds. These designations could there is space for their large colonies.2 the Indian Ocean, the change as bird populations fluctuate The iconic bird of BIOT is the red-footed RSPB welcomes the or as breeding colonies shift between booby, Sula sula. This magnificent islands, but the overall densities of birds member of the gannet tribe is the 6°00 work of CCT to conserve remains extraordinarily high. success story of the Chagos. In the this unique and fragile 1970s it re-colonised mainland Diego Over 33 seabird species have been Garcia after an absence of some 100 ecosystem for the recorded in the Territory. The numbers years and now breeds in its thousands of certain species of seabirds are benefit of all.” in the Barton Point Nature Reserve. It thought to be suppressed by the also is very abundant on other atolls presence of rats and cats on several Graham Wynne, from which people have departed. Chief Executive, RSPB of the islands. As a general rule, ground nesting seabirds that have 1 Symens P. 1999. Breeding seabirds of limited defence mechanisms to counter the Chagos Archipelago. In: Sheppard CRC predators tend to avoid or breed only in & Seaward RD (eds), Ecology of the Chagos low densities on islands where invasive Archipelago, Linnean Society London species remain. In contrast, on rat-free pp257–272 2 island groups, such as the three islets McGowan A, Broderick AC, Godley BJ. 2008. Seabird populations of the Chagos Archipelago, in the mouth of Diego Garcia lagoon, Indian Ocean: an evaluation of IBA sites. Oryx 1 7°00 spectacular numbers of seabirds breed. 42:424–429 The main concentrations of the two burrow nesting shearwaters, the wedgetailed, Puffinus pacificus, and Audubon’s, Puffinus lherminieri, are in the rat-free atolls of the Great Chagos Bank, as are the ground nesting brown booby, Sula dactylatra, and masked booby, Sula leucogaster. Five species of tern, Sternidae, breed in very low numbers on rat-infested islands but in huge densities in rat-free islands.

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Hard shells: the world’s largest crab, and others

The coconut crab in action opening a coconut

5°00 Coconut crabs, Birgus latro, thrive with strict protection in the Chagos, but have become extinct in many other places, including Mauritius. They are the largest land arthropods in the world and can have a leg span of more than 100 cms (3.3 ft), and adults can weigh over 4 kg (9 lb). They can climb trees of 6 metres (19.8 ft) or so and open coconuts with their claws, which are strong enough to lift objects of up to 29 kg (64 lb) in weight.

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Hermit crab Ancestral rhythms

Hermit crabs have no shell of The green turtle, a marine their own and so use empty animal, comes onto land to shells from molluscs and then breed. The hermit and coconut change shells when they get crabs, land animals, lay their too small. These are pictures eggs in the sea. Both are of hermit crabs in the Chagos following ancestral breeding where there is sometimes a sort imperatives. of second-hand shell stall where crabs will change around shells for new ones of a better fit.

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10380_CH_ChagosArchipelagoTEXT_v10.indd 23 26/1/09 11:57:05 71°00 72°00 4°00 An inspiring example

The United States has recently created a magnificent marine conservation area in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands which has aspects in common with these proposals for the Chagos Archipelago. Both involve some of the most unspoiled coral reef 5°00 systems on Earth. Both cover around a quarter of a million square miles of ocean. In both, groups and individuals have worked over many years to make progress.

In Hawaii it required Presidents Clinton and Bush personally to make the essential and bold designations. And the role of the Pew Environment Group, with vision backed by resources, was finally conclusive.

The Pew Environment Group 6°00 are now willing to work with the Government, the Chagos Conservation Trust, Chagos Environment Network and other organisations in Britain for protecting, in a similar way, in the Chagos Archipelago, the natural heritage of the planet and people.

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10380_CH_ChagosArchipelagoTEXT_v10.indd 24 26/1/09 11:57:10 70°00 71°00 72°00 73°00 74°00 4°00 Chagos_map.PNG 1581 1768 pixels 13/01/2009 12:12 The Chagos Conservation Trust

The Chagos Conservation Trust (CCT) is a well-established, entirely voluntary, charitable society which promotes conservation and related science and education in respect of the Chagos Archipelago (the British Colvocoresses Reef Indian Ocean Territory). The Chagos Archipelago is an exceptional natural asset for the planet, as one of the most pristine tropical marine environments still surviving. In our increasingly crowded world it provides a rare refuge for very vulnerable wildlife. Also, because it still has a mainly unspoilt and healthy 5°00 Peros Banhos Atoll environment, the Chagos provides us with a benchmark showing how the Benares Shoals web of life functions in its natural state; and this is important in helping us to understand and deal with such problems as pollution, loss of biodiversity Salomon Atoll and climate change. The British Government, through the BIOT Administration, is committed to conserving the environment of the Territory and has taken measures to put this into effect. It has designated a first Ramsar site and has agreed in principle on substantial further Ramsar designations on the basis of proposals from CCT. The Government has also declared a very large Environmental Zone and has undertaken to manage the area as if it were a natural World Heritage Site. Clearly, however, there needs to be a means of engaging non-governmental interest and support for this remarkable treasure trove of marine and island nature. This is the function of the Chagos Conservation Trust. 6°00 Three Brothers The Trust monitors the status of the environment with the most expert Eagle Islands Great Chagos Bank scientific advice and provides a channel for bringing environmental problems to the attention of the British and BIOT Governments. It promotes and supports practical measures such as, in 2006, a major ship-based Danger Island scientific survey. The Society’s publications include CDs, factsheets and booklets on the fauna and flora of the Chagos and the book Peak of Limuria, the Story of Diego Garcia and the Chagos Archipelago. They represent a significant contribution to information on this little-known part of the world. In face of the longer-term threats and uncertainties facing the Chagos Egmont Atoll environment, the Trust is concerned to continue to support and to strengthen the national and international framework for its protection, Cauvin Bank in co-operation and partnership with other organisations.

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Join us and help to conserve the Chagos Website: www.chagos-trust.org Diego Garcia Contact: Simon E Hughes In the USA: Sam Purkis Secretary CCT National Coral Reef Institute 29 Champion Hill Nova Southeastern University London SE5 8AL, UK 8000 N. Ocean Drive, Dania, T: +44 (0)20 7738 7712 FL 33004 USA

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