ZSL Work in Chagos
ZSL has long been active in the conservation of the Chagos Archipelago through the UK Overseas Territories Forum and the Chagos Conservation Trust. ZSL scientists have been part of scientific expeditions to the area to survey and study Chagos' biodiversity and find out how best to protect it.
In 2006, Rachel Jones, deputy team lead of the aquarium, joined other UK coral and reef fish experts in a three-week expedition to the islands. The main aim of this survey was to assess and compare the occurrence of coral disease around Diego Garcia and the Northern atolls respectively using video transects, and to take tissue samples for further disease analysis at ZSL laboratories.
Two ZSL scientists joined another expedition to Chagos from 13th February-7th March this year. This scientific research expedition took place in the Chagos archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory, BIOT), supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and numerous other institutions.
The team's research prioritised the long-term monitoring of the pristine Chagos archipelago. They are trying to establish the best and most economical ways to monitor and manage the MPA in the long term. Hopefully this work will contribute to the understanding and management the world’s largest fully no-take MPA, maintaining this extraordinarily rich area of marine and terrestrial biodiversity.
Get the latest from the field in the Project Chagos blog
