A biodiversity assessment is not a box-ticking exercise.

DEC 18 2025 · 19:25

A biodiversity assessment is not a box-ticking exercise. It is the foundation of any responsible decision about development. Here’s why it matters so much for Assomption: 🌱 It records what exists: it maps plants, animals and habitats, and will determine whether Assomption may be home to rare species or even species found nowhere else on Earth. 📸 It creates a baseline: a “before” snapshot of life on the island, giving us a reference point so that what is discovered can be properly understood, monitored, and protected over time. 🐚 It has never been done on Assomption Island: there is no comprehensive existing data. We know the island is rich in insect life and is an important nesting site for sea turtles, but we don’t yet know the full extent of the life it supports, or what could be at risk. 🌦️ It must last a full year: life on the island changes with the seasons and monsoons. A short study cannot capture the full reality of Assomption’s wildlife. Following discussions with SIF, we learned that there was a plan to carry out a biodiversity assessment in parallel to construction. However, a biodiversity assessment cannot serve its purpose if construction is ongoing. Without a pause in building, there is no true baseline - only a distorted picture shaped by human disturbance. An independent, year-long assessment, carried out before any risk of further construction, is the only way informed and responsible decisions can be made about Assomption’s future. ⁉️ Have questions about what a biodiversity assessment is or why it matters? Let us know in the comments. #ProtectAssomption #ProtectAldabra #Seychelles