Structures on the islands are located in the joint defence and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, although the Plantation house and other structures left behind by the Ilois are still standing, however left abandoned and decaying. Cable from AMEMBASSY LONDON; DTG 150700ZMAY09; SUBJECT: Political Counselor Richard Mills for reasons 1.4 b and d. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Depopulation of Chagossians from the Chagos Archipelago, UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic § International Human Rights: The Chagos Islanders, Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago tropical moist forests, List of Lepidoptera of the Chagos Archipelago, Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, List of island countries and territories in the Indian Ocean, "Track of the Calcutta East Indiaman, over the Bassas de Chagas in the Indian Ocean", "Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago tropical moist forests", "Time for UK to Leave Chagos Archipelago", "U.N. asks international court to advise on Chagos; Britain opposed", "UN court rejects UK's claim of sovereignty over Chagos Islands", "At last, the Chagossians have a real chance of going back home", "General Assembly Welcomes International Court of Justice Opinion on Chagos Archipelago, Adopts Text Calling for Mauritius' Complete Decolonization", "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Jun 2004 (pt 13)", "A Return from Exile in Sight? Here are the clear waters of the Indian Ocean and ekostitemite in the area have proven resistant to climate change when there is no human intervention. We hope we have been helpful in this our small article about natural attractions of Chagos Archipelago. Unspoiled islands provide us with the biological information that we need to re-establish the native plant communities on heavily altered islands. [28] The protection of the marine reserve will be guaranteed for the next five years thanks to the financial support of the Bertarelli Foundation. There is considerable poaching of turtles and other marine life. He said that the BIOT's former inhabitants would find it difficult, if not impossible, to pursue their claim for resettlement on the islands if the entire Chagos Archipelago were a marine reserve. Commander Robert Moresby made a survey of the Chagos on behalf of the British Admiralty in 1838. The islands were settled by African slaves and Indian contractors who worked on the coconut plantations. Former Seychelles President James Mancham welcomes the news. Integral to this is the self-determination of the whole of the territory enco… The last license to fish near the Chagos archipelago expired in 2010. It consists of about 60 low-lying coral islands, and covers some 640,000 sq km of ocean. The surviving Ilois are still fighting for the return of their country via British courts. The Chagos Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, and forms the British Indian Ocean Territory. History is strewn with people screwed over by humanity. In 2016 Adina was privileged to visit the Chagos Archipelago, also known as British Indian Ocean Territory. In fact, it is very hard to get to at all, as the main atoll, Diego Garcia, is also a joint military facility of the USA and the UK. Maldives has so much to offer with its 200 inhabited islands and 80 more which are chiefly used as resorts. The Chagos Archipelago or Chagos Islands, formerly the Bassas de Chagas and later known as the Oil Island, are a group of seven atolls comprising of more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometres (310 mi) south of the Maldives archipelago. In addition, advocacy on the Chagossians' behalf continues both in the United States and in Europe. The territory, an archipelago of 58 islands also known as the Chagos Archipelago, covers some 640,000km 2 of ocean. The third atoll Peros Banhos is the closest to Nature of Maldives. “We hope to gain sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago in order to develop these islands for eco-tourism. The tribunal considered in detail the undertakings given by the United Kingdom to the Mauritian Ministers at the Lancaster House talks in September 1965. This is a Military Island inhabitated by the US under a 50 year agreement with the UK it is not open to tourism, I visited there when in the Royal Navy in the 80's its a beautiful island, and the chagossians were forced off it to Mauritius and the Seychelles - I think the 50 year agreement is now up but a new 20 year agreement has just been signed The biodiversity of the Chagos archipelago and its surrounding waters is one of the main reasons it is so special. Red fody had been introduced and now widespread. … Nearly closed atoll, it has built an asphalt road. However, licenses have not been given since October 2010; the last expired after the creation of the no-take marine reserve.[9]. Diego Garcia, coral atoll, largest and southernmost member of the Chagos Archipelago, in the central Indian Ocean. Also called British Indian Ocean Territory. [63], On 1 April 2010 Britain announced the creation of the Chagos Marine Protected Area, the world's largest continuous marine protected reserve with an area of 545,000 km2 (210,000 sq mi).[64][65][66]. The British government rejected any jurisdiction of the court to deliberate these matters. They formed an inter-island culture called Ilois (a French Creole word meaning Islanders). They named as well some of the atolls, such as Diego Garcia and Peros Banhos Atoll, mentioned as Pedro dos Banhos in 1513 by Afonso de Albuquerque. It is home to an astonishing diversity of life, and acts as a refuge for many threatened species. On 22 June 2017, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius. The issue of compensation and repatriation of the former inhabitants of several of the archipelago's atolls, exiled since 1973, continues in litigation and as of 23 August 2010[update] has been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights by a group of former residents. Chagos Islands: UK refusal to return archipelago to Mauritius show the limits of international law November 26, 2019 11.10am EST Miriam Bak McKenna , Lund University The top tourist attractions in Maldives will charm their way into your heart. There has been considerable debate, presented before the International Court of Justice (ICJ or Court), regarding the scope of the request to the ICJ and the powers of the Court to express an opinion on the matter. This followed an effort led by The Chagos Environment Network,[67] a collaboration of nine leading conservation and scientific organisations seeking to protect the rich biodiversity of the Chagos Archipelago and its surrounding waters. Cruisers are permitted to anchor at only two atolls, and they typically drop their hooks at: 1. If you are granted permission to visit, you must moor your vessel at BIOT approved sites only, to help conserve BIOT’s fragile coral environment. Thus for many centuries the Chagos were ignored by their northern neighbours. Southern California may be known for its stars, but northern California is the home of true legends. The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), also called the Chagos Islands, is a British overseas territory. The British administered the Chagos archipelago originally as part of a colony containing Mauritius and the Seychelles (which became its own colony in 1902). However, the plantations, both under their previous private ownership and under government administration, proved consistently unprofitable due to the introduction of new oils and lubricants in the international marketplace, and the establishment of vast coconut plantations in the East Indies and the Philippines. In the past, there were about 400 slaves who worked on coconut plantations. Tourism Chagos archipelago will, because at the end of last century, almost all natives have left for building a military base in the UK and the US. The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), an archipelago of 58 islands covering some 640,000 sq km of ocean, is a British Overseas Territory. Britain failed to leave the Chagos Archipelago by November 2019, as instructed by the UN. Leaked US Cables have shown the FCO suggesting to the US counterparts that setting up a protected no-take zone would make it "difficult, if not impossible" for the islanders to return. Eventually they were rescued and brought back home. … Sea cucumbers, which cleanse sand, are poached to feed Asian markets. The last license to fish near the Chagos archipelago expired in 2010. Tourism promotion in Indonesian cities by countries such as Singapore is the reason that could be attributed for growth in … As of 2010, 76 species that call Chagos home were listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Personally, I like me this destination if traveling as from Reunion Island to Indonesia or Australia. Seeds and spores arrived on the emerging islands by wind and sea, or from passing seabirds. [35], On 16 November 2016, the UK Foreign Office maintained their ban on resettlement of the islands. This became known as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The Chagos Archipelago is a group of seven atolls consisting of more than sixty islands, of which Diego Garcia is the largest and the only one inhabited. As of 2018[update], Mauritius has taken the matter to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion, against British objections. This chain of islands is the southernmost archipelago of the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, a long submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean.[3]. Detailed market classification covering tourism flows, tourist expenditure and average expenditure per trip is provided. All the water, food and other essentials of daily life are shipped to the island. In 1972, the United Kingdom decided to close all the remaining plantations throughout the Chagos, and deported the Ilois to the Seychelles or Mauritius. The islanders were known as the Ilois (one French Creole word for "islanders") and they numbered about 1,000. [32], In November 2016, the United Kingdom restated it would not permit Chagossians to return to the islands. The British Indian Ocean Territory, or the Chagos Archipelago, is only accessibly by private vessel. It found that the UK's commitments towards Mauritius in relation to fishing rights and oil and mineral rights in the Chagos Archipelago are legally binding. Sharks, which play a vital role in balancing the food web of tropical reefs, have suffered sharp declines from illegal fishing for their fins and as bycatch in legal fisheries. [11], Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to discover the archipelago. Diego Garcia is currently the only inhabited island in the Chagos, all of which comprise the British Indian Ocean Territory, usually abbreviated as "BIOT". Seventeen species of breeding seabirds can be found nesting in huge colonies on many of the islands in the archipelago, and 10 of the islands have received formal designation as Important Bird Areas, by BirdLife International. In 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence, the United Kingdom excised the archipelago from Mauritius and the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches from the Seychelles to form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). [citation needed], Successive UK governments, both Labour and Conservative, have supported environmental conservation of the Chagos and have resisted attempts to allow the exiled Chagossians to return. The motion was approved by a majority vote with 116 voting for and 6 against. The most important natural attractions of Chagos Archipelago are protected by international conventions of the UN and especially the commitment of the UK. I'm not going to do it for you, but if you type "Chagos Archipelago" into a Google search box and hit the return button, you'll have answers to all your questions and much, much more. Chagos Islands are about 500 kilometers from the Maldives to the south, but belong to the fictitious island of Mauritius. [citation needed], Today, the status of the Chagos Islands’ native flora depends very much on past exploitation of particular islands. In 1965, three years prior to the independence of Mauritius, the U.K. split the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritian territory, and the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar and Desroches from the Seychelles, to form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The annual mean rainfall is 2 600 mm (100 inches), varying from 105 mm (4 inches) during August to 350 mm (14 inches) during January. [56] Dugongs, being locally extinct today, once thrived in the archipelago and the Sea Cow Island was named after the presences of the species. Chagos archipelago of five atolls, the most interesting is the atoll Diego Garcia. According to Southern Maldivian oral tradition, local traders and fishermen were occasionally lost at sea and became stranded in one of the islands of the Chagos. It considered the events from February 2009 to April 2010, during which time the MPA proposal came into being and was then imposed on Mauritius.[29][30]. Unlike the Maldives, there is no clearly discernible pattern in the atoll arrangement, which makes the whole archipelago look somewhat chaotic. Besides beautiful pictures of the Chagos archipelago and atolls another interesting gone. The Chagos was home to the Chagossians, a Bourbonnais Creole-speaking people, for more than a century and a half until the United Kingdom evicted them between 1967 and 1973 to allow the United States to build a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands. The inhabitants of Chagos were speaking Chagossian Creole, also known as Ilois creole, a French Creole which has not been properly researched from the linguistic point of view. Hundreds more are waiting to be rediscovered by curious travelers in what is regarded as one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the world. Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius, pointed out that it is the first time that the UK's conduct with regard to the Chagos Archipelago has been considered and condemned by any international court or tribunal. Also has an airport and quite facilities for living, but there are no conditions for tourism. While a number of islanders had petitioned for the return of their former homes, their efforts have not been accepted by the US and UK legal systems.[44]. In 1965, the UK bought the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius for £3 million. The Chagossians and Their Struggle", "Mauritius: MPA Around Chagos Archipelago Violates International Law - This Is a Historic Ruling for Mauritius, Says PM", "MPA around Chagos Archipelago violates international law – This is a Historic ruling for Mauritius, says PM", "Chagossians fight for a home in paradise", "Chagos Islands dispute: UK 'threatened' Mauritius", "Chagos islanders cannot return home, UK Foreign Office confirms", https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/maldives-defends-un-vote-on-chagos-islands-dispute-145501, "Mauritius to reiterate its conditions for renewed talks with UK on Chagos", "Mauritius threatens to take Chagos Islands row to UN court", "U.K. seeks Indian help in resolving Chagos Archipelago dispute", "U.N. Asks International Court to Weigh In on Britain-Mauritius Dispute", "Chagos legal status sent to international court by UN", "UK suffers crushing defeat in UN vote on Chagos Islands", "Chagos islanders cannot return home, says Supreme Court", "Diego Garcia "Camp Justice" 7º20'S 72º25'E", "A Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Chagos", "Bleaching impacts on carbonate production in the Chagos Archipelago: influence of functional coral groups on carbonate budget trajectories", "Coral bleaching impacts from back-to-back 2015–2016 thermal anomalies in the remote central Indian Ocean", "Reefs and islands of the Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean: why it is the world's largest no-take marine protected area", "Sharks Crack The Case: Uncovering Illegal Activities In Paradise", The Creation of the Chagos Marine Protected Area: A Fisheries Perspective, "Concerns about the Chagos Archipelago MPA Proposal", "Conservation and Management in British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)", "Wetland and marine protected areas on the world heritage list", "Britain protects Chagos Islands, creating world's largest marine reserve", "UK sets up Chagos Islands marine reserve", "Welcome to the Chagos Conservation Trust | Chagos Conservation Trust", "Consultation on Whether to Establish a Marine Protected Area in the British Indian Ocean Territory", "WikiLeaks: Foreign Office accused of misleading public over Diego Garcia | Politics", "Hmg Floats Proposal For Marine Reserve Covering", ICJ 2019 Advisory Opinion on Legal Consequences of the Separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chagos_Archipelago&oldid=1000036938, Geography of the British Indian Ocean Territory, Articles with dead external links from July 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2018, Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Articles needing additional references from October 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2010, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from August 2010, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2012, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2015, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. This administration is represented in the Territory by the Officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia, the "Brit Rep". The Chagos archipelago has six atolls and a number of reefs. ONLINE. London then expelled the population of the islands, then numbering about 2,000 people, to build the air base. The number of atolls in the Chagos Archipelago is given as four or five in most sources, plus two island groups and two single islands, mainly because it is not recognised that the Great Chagos Bank is a huge atoll structure (including those two island groups and two single islands), and because Blenheim Reef, which has islets or cays above or just reaching the high-water mark, is not included. All of the remaining islands are … [57][58] There are also donkeys roaming free on the island that were left behind when the Ilois were relocated. There are currently no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. …Seychelles colony, along with the Chagos Archipelago, formerly part of the Mauritius colony. But one group of people being screwed right now that almost no one knows about is the people of the Chagos Islands.. At 640,000 km2, it is larger than France or the US state of California. On 30 December 1966, the United States and the United Kingdom executed an agreement through an Exchange of Notes which permit the United States Armed Forces to use any island of the BIOT for defence purposes for 50 years, until December 2016,[20] followed by a 20-year optional extension (to 2036) to which both parties must agree by December 2014. Those sailing to the BIOT and mooring in one of the harbors, need to apply for a permit prior to visiting. The United Kingdom claims that it has no doubt about its sovereignty over the archipelago. Diego Garcia, the largest island of the group, was considered “one of the most strategically placed air bases to launch flying-boat strikes against the U-boats which might try to escape to Japan.” An independent feasibility study led to the conclusion that resettlement would be "costly and precarious". The Tribunal firmly rejected that argument, holding that those undertakings became a binding international agreement upon the independence of Mauritius, and have bound the UK ever since. There are two very beautiful beaches at both ends of the atoll. In 1965, prior to Mauritian independence, the UK split the archipelago from the territory of Mauritius to form the British Indian Ocean Territory. The Chagos Archipelago (/ ˈ tʃ ɑː ɡ oʊ s / or / ˈ tʃ ɑː ɡ ə s /) or Chagos Islands (formerly the Bassas de Chagas, and later the Oil Islands) is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometres (310 mi) south of the Maldives archipelago. Purchase of the Chagos Islands for £3m. "[72], Outlying territories of European countries. The tribes that inhabited the islands were forcibly removed by the US and British governments during the late 1960s and early 1970s—effectively turning the islands into a military base. Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago tropical moist forest is composed entirely of low coral reef associated coralline structures, and sandy islands, which have grown upon the crest of the submarine Chagos-Laccadive Ridge. In addition to the seven atolls with dry land reaching at least the high-water mark, there are nine reefs and banks, most of which can be considered permanently submerged atoll structures.

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