Amsterdam Island is burning, along with its unique biodiversity
Environment — di Andrea Barolini
A fire is devastating Amsterdam Island, in the Indian Ocean, which is home to unique fauna and flora and a particularly important scientific base.
Amsterdam Island is burning, along with its unique biodiversity
A fire is devastating Amsterdam Island, in the Indian Ocean, which is home to unique fauna and flora and a particularly important scientific base.
A mega-fire has already destroyed approximately 55 per cent of Amsterdam Island, located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The small territory, together with Saint-Paul Island, forms one of the five districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. With a surface area of just 58 square kilometres, it owes its importance above all to its rich biodiversity and an important scientific base, the Martin-de-Viviès. Both, however, are today threatened by the flames.
The fire has destroyed 55 per cent of the island and there are no means to stop it
The blaze broke out on 15 January and remains out of control to this day. So much so that local authorities appear powerless in the face of the flames: "We are letting the fire run its course, since Amsterdam Island is so isolated that there are currently no means available to attempt to extinguish it," the local prefecture admitted. Making matters worse is the fact that the island has no water sources, and the only supply of water comes from rainwater collection.
The strip of land is indeed situated a full 2,880 kilometres from the French overseas department of La Réunion. It is precisely its position, so far from everything, that makes it an ideal location for certain scientific measurements of air, pollution levels and greenhouse gases present in Earth's atmosphere. It is no coincidence that data recorded on Amsterdam Island are considered particularly important for understanding climate change.
Scientific base staff evacuated, but fears remain for the equipment
The fire was fuelled by weather conditions marked by a lack of rainfall, combined with particularly strong winds that frequently shift direction. An explosive situation that immediately necessitated the evacuation of the 31 people — researchers, technicians and military personnel — present at the scientific base. They were first transferred to a fishing vessel that happened to be in the area, then moved aboard another ship.
Les 31 personnes évacuées de l'île Amsterdam sur le caseyeur de la SAPMER L'Austral ont été transférées ce matin sur le navire Marion Dufresne. L'opération, d'une durée d'1h30, s'est déroulée dans des conditions de mer et météorologiques difficiles mais en toute sécurité.
While the personnel have been brought to safety, fears remain for the equipment on site. According to the prefecture, the fire has now reached the base, and "although the walls are still standing, some water supply and telecommunications infrastructure is no longer operational."
Amsterdam Island's unique biodiversity
Yet this is not the only source of concern for the scientific community. What is also alarming is the fate of the rich fauna found on Amsterdam Island. In particular, according to the Institut polaire français, "Amsterdam Island is home to the world's largest population of yellow-nosed albatrosses, as well as the only existing population of the Amsterdam albatross, an endemic species for which the island holds the sole breeding ground, the Plateau des Tourbières, at an altitude of 600 metres."
Furthermore, the territory "hosts impressive colonies of fur seals," which use the coastline to breed — and do so at precisely this time of year. Large numbers of southern elephant seals are likewise known to frequent the site.
"Amsterdam Island's reserve is one we have taken great care of"
As for the flora, Amsterdam Island is home to a woodland of phylica arborea: a shrub with needle-like leaves that can reach up to 7 metres in height. It is, moreover, the only tree species present on the island.
Depuis le 15 janvier, un incendie continue de ravager une partie de l'île Amsterdam. Les équipes des TAAF, entourées de leurs partenaires tels que l'État-major de zone, le SDIS de La Réunion, le CROSS et Météo-France, sont pleinement mobilisées. taaf.fr/actualite/mise…
"This is a reserve that we have taken great care of – explained to the newspaper Le Monde Isabelle Autissier, president of the advisory council of the Terres australes et antarctiques françaises -. Last year, we completed a rat eradication programme to protect the birds. A great deal of work was then carried out to replant the phylica trees that had been devastated during an era when cattle were brought to the island. We may have to start all over again, but this time the area has been burned."
"A wall of fire, we had incredible luck"
Everything thus risks disappearing in the face of the "wall of fire" striking the island, with "flames up to two metres high", according to the account of Rémi Chazot, an IT worker who was evacuated along with the rest of the staff from the scientific base: "It was a place where we felt safe. We had the incredible luck that the fishing vessel l'Austral happened to be right in the area. The boat was supposed to have left the previous week, but it hadn't reached its expected catch quota. If it hadn't stayed, things would have been very complicated for us."