The “Lost Paradise” of Aldabra is now open to world’s tourists

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 17

The “Lost Paradise” of Aldabra is now open to world’s tourists

The red-footed boobies and the tortoises of Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean will have many more visitors in the next few years than they have had in the previous 125,000 years. The reason is that the Seychelles Government wants to put on show this ecological treasure-house. But because it is such a unique place; and its despoliation would be a calamity, there are to be safeguards — stringent ones, the scientists hope. The reason why this 24mile wide ring of islands in the vast ocean is so important is that the plants and living creatures found there have developed without being influenced by any other life. The coral ring which forms Aldabra Atoll has risen above sea level only three times. These were because of movements of the earth and changes in the sea level. The last occasion the coral ring emerged from the waves was 125,000 years ago. Completely detached from any land mass, the atoll’s plants and living creatures originated solely from colonisation from neighbouring land masses and then have developed in complete isolation.

Apart from a very occasional expedition, the atoll slumbered on undisturbed until about 13 years ago when it was considered for the siting of an airfield for the Royal Air Force. This brought a terrific uproar of protest in Britain, to whom the atoll was ceded, along with groups of associated isin 1810.

The Royal Society, founded in 1660 to further scientific studies, stepped in and spearheaded a campaign, supported by some international societies interested in conservation, to prevent the assault by bulldozers on the islands' unsuspecting creatures.

Its case was that unlike other islands in the ocean they have escaped interference by man, and that those forming Aldabra Atoll are one of the last undisturbed limestone island ecosystems in the world.

They are the last home

in the old world of the giant land tortoise; the breeding ground of large numbers of sea birds, including the largest colony of frigate birds in the Indian Ocean; and the home of several distinct species and sub-species of land birds. Any development would cause “irreparable damage to this world science resource.”

The R.A.F. promised that construction of a runway would be done in consultation with environmentalists, and in the way which would cause least disturbance, but the Royal Society pressed on with its objection. Late in 1967 the three years of campaigning were rewarded with the announcement by the Government that the airfield project had been abandoned.

The Royal Society conducted a series of experiments from 1967 to record details of the unique life on the islands. At the same time it was building a permanent research station which was ready for occupation in 1971, and the lease on the atoll was bought from a local businessman. Nineteen scientists went to the atoll to record and study the ecosystem, and more than 130 scientific papers have been published.

Diming 1970 and 1971 a taste of what tourism entails was experienced when a cruise ship was allowed to call twice monthly — visits which the Royal Society agreed to only reluctantly after receiving assurances from the organisers and laying down its own regulations for the conduct of the tourists.

"It was felt that some good could result from the publicity, but it was found that the visits were not entirely satisfactory, and that it had been over optimistic to expect up to 100 people a fortnight to visit parts of the atoll without at least causing some undesirable effects, however well-intentioned and wellmanaged the visits,” was the verdict.

Thirty-six cruises were made to the atoll, and they ended when the tourist company decided to re-

strict movements to the main islands of the Seychelles. The atoll, since June, 1976 has been part of the new Republic of the Seychelles. Now an end to the broard-based programme oi scientific studies initiated in 1967 is in sight, and the Royal Society is aiming to hand over the management of the atoll >n March, 1980. It feels optimistic that the unique character of the atoll will be preserved in view of the amicable

By

JOHN WILLIAMS,

World Feature Service

relations that it has with the Seychelles Government, and the fact that the President, Mr James Mancham, has expressed his sympathy with the work of conservation. During a visit to London a few weeks ago, Mr Mancham and Professor D. C. Phillips, acting president of the Royal Society, had talks about the future of the scientific research station on the atoll. Both expressed the view that it was natural for the Seychelles Government to assume responsibility for the

atoll. Mr Mancham said that while his Government wanted to develop all the natural resources of their islands, including tourism, they recognised the need to presene 'one of the last natural wonders of the world.” He urged that a concerted effort be made h\ all the conservation bodies who have shown interest in being involved with the future scientific activities on the atoll, to attempt to attract the substantial funds needed to maintain the activities at the level

of those carried out by the Royal Society. The society has spent about £IM over the years. Mr Mancham said that visits by tourists would be strictly controlled, and that conservation regulations would be introduced in the manner of those already protecting the green turtle in the Seychelles. An organisation to conserve the ani mal and plant life on the atoll has been agreed in principle by the Royal Society and other similar bodies.