Success! Chagos Islands Now A Fully Protected Marine Reserve

As Earth day approaches we recognize the importance of protecting and preserving our environment. Here is one recent success story that reminds us just how powerful our actions can be.

Over several months, activists and organizations around the world sent messages — and nearly 12,000 Care2 members signed a petition — urging the British Government to protect the marine area of the Chagos Islands. The comment period ended March 5th, and just one month later, actions are being put into place.

An announcement made last week by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, served as a victory. Thank you, Miliband, for designating the Chagos as a no-take marine reserve. This announcement makes the Chagos marine reserve the largest marine protected area in the world.

Measuring more than 210,000 square miles, the Chagos area, located near the centre of the Indian Ocean, consists of tropical islands, coral reefs and diverse wildlife. In order to protect the diversity of the local marine life, activities such as industrial fishing and deep sea mining will be prohibited.

Thank you to all the people and organizations around the world who took action. This huge success for the Chagos Islands and the surrounding marine area, would not have been possible without your support!

photo credit: iStockphoto

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Terry V.

8:20AM PDT on May 25, 2012

EXCELLENT

send a green star

Shailja M.

9:50PM PDT on Apr 7, 2012

I agree, best achievement ever,
Kudos to great minds who thought to do this,
leaders who are a true inspiration,
who actually did the job- great job!!

Past Member .

1:22PM PDT on Apr 1, 2012

great work!

take a look at this too

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_coral_sea_4/?slideshow

Myron S.

12:49AM PDT on Mar 26, 2012

Welcome news.

Iva T.

12:39AM PDT on Mar 26, 2012

Fantastic! We should continue that way!

Suzanne L.

2:30PM PDT on Mar 25, 2012

Fabulous and keeps us inspired.

Harsha V.

3:19AM PDT on Mar 17, 2012

Though this news is almost 2 years, it still inspires!!

Laine V.

5:06AM PDT on Mar 13, 2012

"When you see you can make a difference it makes you feel so good. One persons voice can be a whisper but when there are many the whisper becomes a Roar and is harder to ignore!"

Agree with that =]

Julia M.

6:57AM PDT on Mar 12, 2012

Yay!! hopefully successes like this can happen more often around the world.

Heather M.

7:37PM PST on Mar 1, 2012

When you see you can make a difference it makes you feel so good. One persons voice can be a whisper but when there are many the whisper becomes a Roar and is harder to ignore!