Aldabra atoll ranked second among all marine World Heritage sites |07 May 2025
Aldabra atoll ranked second among all marine World Heritage sites
- 830 different marine species discovered
By Anika Cathene
Aldabra atoll, one of the world's most remote and untouched natural wonders, has been ranked second among all marine World Heritage sites for species diversity and abundance.
This remarkable recognition underscores Aldabra's global importance as a sanctuary for marine life and it comes with the added pride of local students’ involvement in the science behind the discovery. From March 31 to April 4, 2023, 11 students and four teachers from the eco-school clubs embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to Aldabra. During their visit, they joined scientists to collect water samples from five different spots around the atoll as part of a pioneering global project using environmental DNA (eDNA) to study marine biodiversity. This project was led by the Unesco World Heritage Centre and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, aiming to create a global snapshot of marine life across 50 World Heritage sites.
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