Coral reef twice the size of Britain could become a vast conservation zone

25/01/2010 16:59:27 Gordon Brown could create Britain's Great Barrier Reef

January 2010. One of the world's largest coral atolls, which belongs to Britain, could soon become the biggest marine protected area on Earth. A three-month public consultation is underway to persuade Gordon Brown to protect the Chagos Archipelago a group of 55 tropical British islands, which lie in the heart of the Indian Ocean. 10,000 people have already signed up in support of the campaign.

Add your support
Conservationists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) are calling on the British public to support the move which could result in the creation of one of the world's greatest conservation areas.

Chagos Archipelago is 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 Diego Garcia, where there is a base, is inhabited (by military personnel and employees). The other 54 tiny islands add up to only 16 square kms (8 square miles) in total. The Chagos are the world's largest coral atoll and 55 tiny islands in quarter of a million square miles of the world's cleanest seas. It is Britain's greatest area of marine biodiversity. Photo credit ZSL

Reef twice the size of Britain
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is part of the Chagos Environment Network (CEN) who put forward the proposal to protect the giant reef, which is twice the size of Britain (544,000 sq km area) and boasts the cleanest sea water ever recorded on Earth. 

Rachel Jones Deputy Team Leader of ZSL London Zoo's Aquarium, said: "If Gordon Brown declares the Chagos Archipelago a marine protected area it will be one of the biggest conservation breakthroughs for 100 years. The Chagos Archipelago is home to over 220 coral species and 1000 fish species. It's one of the best quality reefs that we have left anywhere in the world, and gives us a good comparison to reefs which are ailing because of climate change and rising sea temperatures.

"This underwater Garden of Eden could be a legacy that Gordon Brown will really be proud of."

William Marsden, Chairman of the Chagos Conservation Trust, added: "Britain has a rare opportunity to protect this marvellous but fragile natural environment, creating a conservation area comparable in importance with the Galapagos or the Great Barrier Reef. A protected area in Chagos would contribute to a richer Indian Ocean and would benefit people living in and around it."

The consultation period began on November 10th 2009 will and will run until February 12th 2010.

Visit http://www.protectchagos.org/ to add your support.