Chagos News Issue
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Chagos News The Periodical Newsletter of the Chagos Conservation Trust and Chagos Conservation Trust US No 48 July 2016 ISSN 2046 7222 Contents Editorial P2 Director’s report P3 A Royal Visit P5 The Chagos Difference P7 Big Resuts, Small Charity P13 Biodiversity Action Plans P15 CCT’s Investment Review P19 My misson to Hawai’i P21 Cover image © Ronan Holt 1 Editorial Anne Sheppard, CCT Trustee Research in the Chagos Archipelago has by the scientists who carry out the research undergone several changes of pace over and write reports and articles informing the the years. scientific community, politicians and the public about this extraordinary place. Many decades ago it was only a very occasional researcher (dedicated too, Today, there is a huge increase in research considering how difficult the islands were to into new areas, which we all greatly welcome, get to) who visited the islands. Then in the and CCT will retain its focus into the core 1970s there were a series of expeditions, the areas of the islands and shallow reefs that results of which have provided the baseline build them. data for some of the present day research. In Informing the public is very important. With 1998 there was the shock of the first massive the recent increased involvement of many bleaching event and some timely research research groups there has been an increase on a CCT expedition just before that in 1996 in the media output, excellent films from augmented these results and set the stage Stewart MacPherson, Jon Schleyer and the for work which turned out be important to Khalid bin Sultan Foundation being some of understanding effects of climate change on the newest. reefs. Our Facebook presence is growing, and Following that, starting in 2006, there has shortly CCT will have a new website. This is been a huge surge in research carried out in preparation now and will hopefully be ready in the archipelago, the results of which show in the next few months and will also be linked just how important the archipelago is as to the Chagos Information Portal, ChIP, (see an Indian Ocean biodiversity refuge. Well last issue of Chagos News). over a hundred scientists visited in these programmes, carrying out research in a wide To cap it all CCT is producing a superb new range of subjects and all agree - very clearly - book on the history of the archipelago (see that it is very important that it be protected. the announcement on page 14). CCT is proud to have been at the forefront With a Facebook page, a website, ChIP, this of all this, as a focus for the expeditions, newsletter, scientific publications, books and a co-ordinator for many, and as a leading all the videos, and the annual conferences, participant in the creation of the Chagos there is a lot more information available for Marine Reserve. This has involved a lot of members. work by the many who give their time in a voluntary capacity, either in the running of the trust or the large amount of time spent 2 Director’s Report Helen Pitman, CCT Director The 8th June saw us celebrate World In April we were happy to announce we were Oceans Day. awarded a Darwin Initiative grant that will enable us to conduct a comprehensive survey The vast expanse of water covering 71 per of two thirds of the marine reserve’s islands, cent of the globe is home to a huge diversity with a team made up from CCT, Zoological of species and is relied upon by many millions Society of London, Royal Botanic Gardens of people for food and income. It is a time to Kew, Royal Society for Protection of Birds and reflect and acknowledge that although the the International Union for the Conservation oceans face a myriad of threats from pollution of Nature. The project was masterminded by, and overfishing to climate change, collectively and will be led by, CCT trustee Pete Carr and we can work to help them recover and thrive will produce a Chagos Archipelago Terrestrial well into the future. Action Plan for the British Indian Ocean We’ve heard and read about the coral Territory Administration. bleaching occurring in the Chagos This is an essential step towards the goal Marine Reserve due to record-breaking of increasing the natural biodiversity on the temperatures. A group of leading coral islands of the archipelago by managing, scientists, including CCT trustee Dr Heather reducing or eliminating threats such as Koldewey, saw first-hand the effects during invasive plants and animals that have a the Bertarelli Foundation science expedition. negative effect on the island habitats and But it may not be all doom and gloom. As we species. know the marine reserve did recover after the 1998 global bleaching event and we all We were also invited to take part in a number sincerely hope this will happen again. of initiatives including the recent Rethinking the future for coral reefs symposium, The last six months have been an exciting convened by HRH The Earl of Wessex, time for the CCT. As we came to the end of which aimed to stimulate a fresh discussion our 2013-2015 strategic plan it was time to amongst scientists, educators, media and reassess the direction we wanted to take and NGOs on how to tackle some of the threats to plan for the next three years. We’ve decided coral reefs. to focus on continuing to build a strong organisation; inspiring action by increasing As ever the CCT is grateful for your support the knowledge and understanding of the and we hope that together we can continue importance of the Chagos Archipelago; and to have a positive impact on the Chagos as always working towards the continued Archipelago. protection of this a global asset (see p4). 3 Director’s Report Protecting a global asset The Chagos Conservation Trust has a long and credible history in island and coral reef research and conservation in the Chagos Archipelago. Since 1996 we have coordinated and lead expeditions with over 100 scientists involved from institutions across the world. Over 250 scientific papers have been written on the discoveries made in one of the most remote places on earth, over a decade of sea temperature data has been collected and without the Chagos Conservation Trust vital information about many species wouldn’t have been known. We continue to research and monitor the coral reefs of the marine reserve and the many islands that exists there. By concentrating on these two important parts of the ecosystem we aim to work towards fully understanding the natural environment of the Chagos Archipelago and ensuring it is well protected and conserved for the benefit of people and our planet. Islands of the Chagos Archipelago Island rehabilitation strategy • A comprehensive review of the The Chagos Archipelago islands are home to a biodiversity of the islands, focussing variety of plants and animals, including 18 species of on invasive alien species and their seabirds. Many of the 58 islands have been invaded management by invasive black rats, which are known to have a catastrophic impact on oceanic island ecosystems. • Creation of a terrestrial action plan to prioritise and cost rehabilitation We have developed a five-year island ecological • A rat eradication programme for the rehabilitation programme that aims to identify the priority islands most degraded islands to be restored in the hope • A long term seabird and native they will provide natural habitat for native species to vegetation monitoring programme thrive in once again. Coral reefs of the Chagos Archipelago Coral reef strategy • Collect baseline data and assess The Chagos Marine Reserve protects valuable the stress response and health of habitat and one of the world’s most resilient coral the coral reefs reefs at a time when scientists fear that coral reefs around the world face rapid decline due to pollution, • Develop a coral cover monitoring warming and ocean acidification. plan • Monitor sea temperatures and Coral reef research is a priority for us and will assess changes and associated continue to be so over the next three years through anomalies our coral reef strategy. • Develop species action plans to address any threats to the reef biodiversity 4 A Royal Visit Professor John Turner, CCT Trustee His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Prince Charles was introduced to CCT was briefed on science and conservation Trustee Professor John Turner and Dr Ronan in the Chagos Archipelago during his visit Roach to hear about the world’s largest to Bangor University. contiguous Marine Reserve, and how the protected reefs of Chagos have proven more Prince Charles opened the new Marine resilient than most reefs around the world to Centre Wales at the School of Ocean coral bleaching and disease. Sciences and was given a tour of the new buildings and RV Prince Madog. He viewed underwater video from the Chagos Archipelago on a large display screen and The new facilities have been built to high saw CCT/Darwin Initiative branded posters environmental standards to minimise energy depicting the Chagos Marine Reserve and consumption, and provide natural light and recovering reefs. scenic views of the Menai Strait. His Royal Highness was evidently very The building was financed as a part of the interested to learn more about Chagos £25 million SEACAMS project, part funded Archipelago, asked questions about climate through the European Regional Development change and coral bleaching, and what it was Fund. Research focuses on marine renewable like to dive in such a remote location, and told energy, sustainable fisheries, and impacts us about some of his own diving experiences on the wider environment, and involves on coral reefs.