Petition to establish a marine reserve in the Chagos Islands

At least 60 species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species live in and around the Chagos Islands, a UK overseas territory and by far the most incredibly diverse marine ecosystem under British jurisdiction. Help establish a no-take reserve that would provide the maximum protection possible by signing the petition to Foreign Secretary David Miliband urging him to protect the pristine ecosystem of the Chagos Islands.

Image via Wikipedia

The waters are rich with at least 1,000 species of fish, with endemic corals and reef fish found nowhere else in the world. Very special and rare in being a relatively unpolluted and undisturbed part of the world’s oceans, the Chagos Islands are still teeming with fish, invertebrates, mammals, seabirds and turtles.

Marine life almost everywhere is suffering massive losses as a result of over-exploitation, by-catch and pollution. Combine these with the effects of acidification brought about from rising carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the survival of many marine species is in doubt.

Without your help, the diversity of life in the Chagos Islands may not be preserved for future generations. The Chagos Environment Network only has until 12 February to deliver your signatures to the Foreign Secretary. Please sign today. Thank you.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Conservationists urge Gordon Brown to create ‘Britain’s Great Barrier Reef’ (guardian.co.uk)
• Gordon Brown could create Britain’s own Great Barrier Reef (telegraph.co.uk)
• Chagos is our chance to preserve a natural wonder | Tony Juniper (guardian.co.uk)
• Species’ extinction threat grows (news.bbc.co.uk)

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