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Giant tortoises in Seychelles face threat from luxury hotel development

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Wednesday, September 11, 2024

The habitat of the largest giant tortoise population in the world is threatened by a Qatari-funded hotel development that aims to bring luxury yachts, private jets and well-heeled tourists to a remote island in the Indian Ocean, conservationists have warned.Plans for an upscale resort on Assomption, which is part of the Aldabra island group, are currently under discussion by the Seychelles authorities, and construction is already finished on an airport expansion that would allow bigger aircraft to land on the 11.6-sq-km (4.5-sq-mile) coral island.The developers have said they will follow world class sustainability practices. But wildlife conservation organisations and biologists argue that the project is being rushed through without sufficient analysis of the dangers. They say it should be halted until there is independent scrutiny of the risks posed to island fauna, which also include whales, turtles and many species of birds.They also fear there may be knock-on effects on the Aldabra atoll, which is a Unesco-protected ecosystem just 17 miles (27km) from Assomption. Aldabra is considered one of the world’s conservation jewels. It is most famous as a refuge for about 150,000 giant tortoises that bear the same name and are known for their longevity and immense size; males have an average weight of 250kg and a carapace of more than 122 cm.Aldabra provides a refuge for about 150,000 giant tortoises. Photograph: HandoutIn captivity, the oldest on record was a tortoise called Adwaita, who is reputed to have died at the age of 255 years in 2006 in Kolkata zoo, India. Other individuals include Darwin, who died in Blackpool zoo at the age of 105, and Esmeralda, who is said to be 180.Giant tortoises were wiped out from most Indian Ocean islands in the 19th century as a result of predation by sailors, but the Aldabra population thrived thanks to their isolation. Along with 400 other endemic species and the extraordinary colours of the landscape, they were part of why the atoll was listed as a world heritage site by Unesco in 1982.In recent decades, access has largely been limited to researchers, but the new high-end development may draw some of the world’s richest people much nearer.Unesco said it had been informed by a third party about the potential project on Assomption, which might have an impact on the Aldabra atoll world heritage site. A spokesperson said: “Unesco is following the situation and has requested further information from the Seychelles authorities, recalling the need to protect the outstanding universal value of the site.” The UN body has sent a letter to Seychelles president Wavel Ramkalawan outlining its concerns.Local conservation groups have also alerted the authorities to the ecological risks they say are posed by the hotel project proposed by Assets Group, a Qatari-owned company. These include invasive alien species, disturbance of tortoise and turtle habitats, destruction of sand dunes for construction, pollution, increased air and ocean traffic, and soil and plant damage.While the main impacts would be on Assomption, there have been concerns about the threat to Adambra, according to a scoping document seen by the Guardian and compiled by the Island Conservation Society, which oversaw the environmental impact assessment.The Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance said the development jeopardised the Seychelles reputation as a global leader in marine environment protection: “The Assomption Island development project has the potential to significantly disrupt and inflict irreparable damage to one of the most precious national treasures of Seychelles, and indeed one of the most pristine and unique natural places still remaining on our planet,” observed the alliance’s founder, Thomas Kaplan, in a submission earlier this year.Another organisation, the Seychelles Islands Foundation, called for an immediate halt of construction until a biosecurity management plan was put in place. The foundation said that while it was not opposed in principle to the economic development of Assomption, it should not be rushed.“Given the proximity of Assomption to Aldabra, it is crucial to implement biosecurity measures that prevent the introduction of any invasive alien species to either island, given the devastating impacts they can have,” a spokesperson said in an email.There are also questions about the speed at which the project is moving forward and the lack of independent scrutiny. The main body responsible for the environmental impact assessment is the Island Conservation Society, which is part of the entity that is advocating for the project, the Island Development Corporation (IDC). This is headed by one of the most powerful figures in the Seychelles, Glenny Savy.The IDC says it is following due process and helping the Seychelles economy. It denies that the Assomption development will interfere with the habitat of the Aldabra atoll and said that, in any case, tortoises have adapted well to development in the past, and restoration of native vegetation and provision of water sources for the hotel will benefit the giant reptiles.The Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance warned that the development project could ‘significantly disrupt and inflict irreparable damage to one of the most precious national treasures of Seychelles’. Photograph: HandoutIn an email, the IDC said concerns about disturbance of whale migration routes and pollution of marine environments were unfounded because no motorised water sports will be permitted in the vicinity of Assomption and maritime traffic will be limited to resupply boats and vessels with staff, guests and visitors. It said strict biosecurity protocols have been put in place for the construction and operational phases of the development. Half a dozen horses will be introduced for guests to ride around the island without the need for motor vehicles. The IDC said it was experienced and capable of ensuring environmental safeguards would be adequate.“In conclusion, we believe that Aldabra, much like the Galapagos – another Unesco world heritage site – should be accessible to the world. Currently, Aldabra’s access is limited to a select few, unlike the Galapagos, which welcomes global visitors,” a spokesperson said in an email.The Assets Group, one of the largely privately-owned developers in the Gulf, said its focus was on preserving and protecting Assomption and its ecosystem. It said it had conducted all the necessary environmental impact assessments working with local organisations.“Our approach is to protect species and reintroduce native ones. All planning and any future building will be conducted in a responsible manner, following sustainable best practice, with effective waste and water management in addition to regenerating the island’s biodiversity, which has been severely impacted in recent decades,” it said, referring to decades of guano mining on Assomption. “The planned development, when it gets underway, will revive and regenerate the island of Assomption, in collaboration with leading sustainability experts.”

Conservationists and botanists express concern over plans for Qatari-funded upscale resort on Assomption IslandThe habitat of the largest giant tortoise population in the world is threatened by a Qatari-funded hotel development that aims to bring luxury yachts, private jets and well-heeled tourists to a remote island in the Indian Ocean, conservationists have warned.Plans for an upscale resort on Assomption, which is part of the Aldabra island group, are currently under discussion by the Seychelles authorities, and construction is already finished on an airport expansion that would allow bigger aircraft to land on the 11.6-sq-km (4.5-sq-mile) coral island. Continue reading...

The habitat of the largest giant tortoise population in the world is threatened by a Qatari-funded hotel development that aims to bring luxury yachts, private jets and well-heeled tourists to a remote island in the Indian Ocean, conservationists have warned.

Plans for an upscale resort on Assomption, which is part of the Aldabra island group, are currently under discussion by the Seychelles authorities, and construction is already finished on an airport expansion that would allow bigger aircraft to land on the 11.6-sq-km (4.5-sq-mile) coral island.

The developers have said they will follow world class sustainability practices. But wildlife conservation organisations and biologists argue that the project is being rushed through without sufficient analysis of the dangers. They say it should be halted until there is independent scrutiny of the risks posed to island fauna, which also include whales, turtles and many species of birds.

They also fear there may be knock-on effects on the Aldabra atoll, which is a Unesco-protected ecosystem just 17 miles (27km) from Assomption. Aldabra is considered one of the world’s conservation jewels. It is most famous as a refuge for about 150,000 giant tortoises that bear the same name and are known for their longevity and immense size; males have an average weight of 250kg and a carapace of more than 122 cm.

Aldabra provides a refuge for about 150,000 giant tortoises. Photograph: Handout

In captivity, the oldest on record was a tortoise called Adwaita, who is reputed to have died at the age of 255 years in 2006 in Kolkata zoo, India. Other individuals include Darwin, who died in Blackpool zoo at the age of 105, and Esmeralda, who is said to be 180.

Giant tortoises were wiped out from most Indian Ocean islands in the 19th century as a result of predation by sailors, but the Aldabra population thrived thanks to their isolation. Along with 400 other endemic species and the extraordinary colours of the landscape, they were part of why the atoll was listed as a world heritage site by Unesco in 1982.

In recent decades, access has largely been limited to researchers, but the new high-end development may draw some of the world’s richest people much nearer.

Unesco said it had been informed by a third party about the potential project on Assomption, which might have an impact on the Aldabra atoll world heritage site. A spokesperson said: “Unesco is following the situation and has requested further information from the Seychelles authorities, recalling the need to protect the outstanding universal value of the site.” The UN body has sent a letter to Seychelles president Wavel Ramkalawan outlining its concerns.

Local conservation groups have also alerted the authorities to the ecological risks they say are posed by the hotel project proposed by Assets Group, a Qatari-owned company. These include invasive alien species, disturbance of tortoise and turtle habitats, destruction of sand dunes for construction, pollution, increased air and ocean traffic, and soil and plant damage.

While the main impacts would be on Assomption, there have been concerns about the threat to Adambra, according to a scoping document seen by the Guardian and compiled by the Island Conservation Society, which oversaw the environmental impact assessment.

The Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance said the development jeopardised the Seychelles reputation as a global leader in marine environment protection: “The Assomption Island development project has the potential to significantly disrupt and inflict irreparable damage to one of the most precious national treasures of Seychelles, and indeed one of the most pristine and unique natural places still remaining on our planet,” observed the alliance’s founder, Thomas Kaplan, in a submission earlier this year.

Another organisation, the Seychelles Islands Foundation, called for an immediate halt of construction until a biosecurity management plan was put in place. The foundation said that while it was not opposed in principle to the economic development of Assomption, it should not be rushed.

“Given the proximity of Assomption to Aldabra, it is crucial to implement biosecurity measures that prevent the introduction of any invasive alien species to either island, given the devastating impacts they can have,” a spokesperson said in an email.

There are also questions about the speed at which the project is moving forward and the lack of independent scrutiny. The main body responsible for the environmental impact assessment is the Island Conservation Society, which is part of the entity that is advocating for the project, the Island Development Corporation (IDC). This is headed by one of the most powerful figures in the Seychelles, Glenny Savy.

The IDC says it is following due process and helping the Seychelles economy. It denies that the Assomption development will interfere with the habitat of the Aldabra atoll and said that, in any case, tortoises have adapted well to development in the past, and restoration of native vegetation and provision of water sources for the hotel will benefit the giant reptiles.

The Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance warned that the development project could ‘significantly disrupt and inflict irreparable damage to one of the most precious national treasures of Seychelles’. Photograph: Handout

In an email, the IDC said concerns about disturbance of whale migration routes and pollution of marine environments were unfounded because no motorised water sports will be permitted in the vicinity of Assomption and maritime traffic will be limited to resupply boats and vessels with staff, guests and visitors. It said strict biosecurity protocols have been put in place for the construction and operational phases of the development. Half a dozen horses will be introduced for guests to ride around the island without the need for motor vehicles. The IDC said it was experienced and capable of ensuring environmental safeguards would be adequate.

“In conclusion, we believe that Aldabra, much like the Galapagos – another Unesco world heritage site – should be accessible to the world. Currently, Aldabra’s access is limited to a select few, unlike the Galapagos, which welcomes global visitors,” a spokesperson said in an email.

The Assets Group, one of the largely privately-owned developers in the Gulf, said its focus was on preserving and protecting Assomption and its ecosystem. It said it had conducted all the necessary environmental impact assessments working with local organisations.

“Our approach is to protect species and reintroduce native ones. All planning and any future building will be conducted in a responsible manner, following sustainable best practice, with effective waste and water management in addition to regenerating the island’s biodiversity, which has been severely impacted in recent decades,” it said, referring to decades of guano mining on Assomption. “The planned development, when it gets underway, will revive and regenerate the island of Assomption, in collaboration with leading sustainability experts.”

Read the full story here.
Photos courtesy of

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Iguanas Are Native, Not Invasive, on This Mexican Island, DNA Study Suggests, Rewriting Conservation Ideas

The spiny-tailed iguanas of Clarion Island predate human presence in the Americas by tens of thousands of years, researchers say

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‘Serious gaps’ in Labor’s environment laws undermine attempt to fix broken system, integrity experts say

Pressure mounts on federal government to rethink controversial ‘national interest’ exemption for projectsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolitical integrity experts have raised concerns about Labor’s proposed new nature laws, including a contentious new “national interest” exemption, as pressure mounts on the Albanese government to rethink major parts of the reform.As debate on legislation to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act resumes in the lower house on Tuesday, the Centre for Public Integrity has identified several “integrity risks” that threaten to undermine attempts to fix the broken system. Continue reading...

Political integrity experts have raised concerns about Labor’s proposed new nature laws, including a contentious new “national interest” exemption, as pressure mounts on the Albanese government to rethink major parts of the reform.As debate on legislation to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act resumes in the lower house on Tuesday, the Centre for Public Integrity has identified several “integrity risks” that threaten to undermine attempts to fix the broken system.The thinktank has joined a chorus of critics – including environment groups, the former Treasury secretary Ken Henry and Labor MP Ed Husic – in raising alarm about a new exemption that would allow the minister to approve a project in breach of new nature laws if it was in the “national interest”.While the environment minister, Murray Watt, has insisted the power was designed for projects linked to defence, security or national emergencies, he hasn’t been able to rule out the possibility it could be used for other applications – including fossil fuel developments – because of the discretionary nature of the exemption.“Despite the claims to a limited application, the centre holds grave concerns about the scope, transparency, and accountability of the exercise of the discretion,” the thinktank wrote in an analysis of the bill published on Tuesday.The thinktank was also concerned about the apparent lack of independence of the government’s proposed independent environment protection agency.Sign up: AU Breaking News emailUnder Labor’s model, the regulator would exercise some functions at arm’s length of the government, including policing of nature laws, but the minister would keep the power to approve projects.The retention of ministerial decision-making power was a key demand of the Coalition and industry groups, but has been criticised by environmentalists.The centre’s report said it was “highly unusual” for an independent regulator to cede such “significant powers” to a minister.“Public confidence and trust in environmental decision making would be better served if responsibility lay with an independent body, free from political influence and less susceptible to vested interests,” the report said.The centre’s head of research, Gabrielle Appleby, said the government’s bill was flawed.“Environmental decision making is especially prone to capture by vested interests – that’s why integrity safeguards must be strong,” she said.“Yet these bills leave serious gaps: the new regulator lacks independence and appropriate powers, and the minister retains sweeping powers to sidestep environmental protections. The government has the solutions in front of it – it just needs the will to close these loopholes and build a system Australians can trust.”The thinktank criticised the government for developing the legislation largely behind “closed doors” in consultation with select stakeholders.It also raised concerns about the process for creating new national environment standards, which were the main recommendation of the Samuel review that inspired the reforms.While the bill establishes a power for the minister to make, vary, or revoke new green rules, the standards themselves aren’t included in the legislation.The thinktank said the standards should have been detailed in the legislation and subject to parliamentary approval. The minister is planning to consult on the design of the standards before their introduction, starting with those applying to matters of national environmental significance and offsets.Labor’s grassroots environment action group is now lobbying the government to make two amendments to the bill, which it ultimately wants passed after years of internal campaigning to fix the EPBC Act.The first would remove or limit the “national interest” carveout by giving parliament the power to disallow the decision through a majority vote in either house.The second would abolish a “continuous use” exemption that allows historically legal agricultural land clearing, particularly in Queensland, to continue without the need for federal approval or oversight.This exemption is also used by state governments to justify shark netting programs that pose a threat to endangered whales.The national secretary of Labor Environment Action Network, Janaline Oh, said there was a strong case for national interest exemption that could be used in national emergencies, but there was a significant risk that a minister could abuse that power and the power should be limited.“In the case where a project is of such overriding national interest that it can be allowed to have even unacceptable impacts, the government should go through an additional process of parliamentary scrutiny,” she said.

Conservation
Government
Nature

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