Snapshot Seychelles No. 5

17 February 2025

The Beau Vallon Primary School won the Eco-School Award 2024. Two girls will be traveling to Aldabra as winners, it´s the second largest atoll in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Beate Ratter, an expert in climate adaptation, is currently on site and reports:

“I had the opportunity visit the school and to meet the two girls who will be traveling to Aldabra. Access to this national park is highly restricted; the only residents are 12 park rangers. Aldabra is part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. The atoll's unique flora and fauna, particularly its giant tortoises, are considered an ecological wonder.

Annabelle Constance leads the science and conservation department of the NGO Seychelles Island Foundation who is responsible for the protection of the atoll. She reports how invasive species such as rats, cats, and goats pose significant risks to the native biodiversity. The 2016 El Niño event also severely impacted Aldabra's coral reefs. Seawards, the hard coral cover decreased by over 50%, while soft coral cover plummeted by more than 90%. However, there is a glimmer of hope, as juvenile corals have significantly increased. As Annabelle poignantly said: Nature itself can be resilient if we let it.”