In a meeting held at the State House, President Dr. Patrick Herminie received representatives of Friends of Aldabra, Ms. Victoria Duthil and Ms. Lucie Harter. The representatives presented a proposed framework towards the government to uphold the current Stop Notice on Assomption Island until a comprehensive biodiversity assessment is conducted by a multisectoral committee.

During the discussion, Friends of Aldabra highlighted their recent engagements with key stakeholders involved in the island’s safeguarding and development, including the Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF) and the Island Development Company (IDC). A central concern raised was the absence of a scientific biodiversity baseline, which is essential before any further construction or development activities can proceed.

Ms. Duthil emphasized that, despite construction being ongoing for over a year, a formal biodiversity assessment has yet to be conducted. She underscored that such an assessment is vital for understanding the current state of the island’s unique ecosystem and must be carried out independently of ongoing development activities to ensure scientific integrity. She added that this presents an opportunity to establish a credible scientific record of the island’s biodiversity, which is critical for informed decision-making moving forward.

The President underscored that a comprehensive biodiversity assessment must be completed minimum one year before any additional construction resumes on Assomption Island. He stated that he will review the proposal submitted by Friends of Aldabra, and a formal response will follow.

Friends of Aldabra was part of the presidential delegation’s official visit to Assomption Island two weeks ago.