Karl WP Beyer February 26, 2019 - The pollution of the world's oceans is a shame. The cruise company PONANT has been supporting projects that protect the environment for many years. PONANT recently became the main sponsor of the Aldabra Clean Up project.
The environmental project is dedicated to the rehabilitation of the Seychelles' Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. The UNESCO World Heritage Atoll is severely affected by plastic pollution. The second largest coral atoll in the world is the habitat of the Aldabra giant tortoise, manatees and other rare and endangered animal species.
Giant tortoises in the botanical garden of Mahé / Seychelles
At the end of February, as part of a clean-up operation, a start was made to clean up masses of plastic waste in Aldabra Atoll. The aim of the program is to raise awareness among the Seychelles for environmental protection. The project will promote measures to counteract pollution in the Seychelles. As part of the clean-up work, a scientific study is carried out to determine where the garbage comes from.
Seychelles beach
What does all of this have to do with PONANT?
For more than 30 years the company has been transporting guests to remote regions of the world. In doing so, the shipping company assumes great responsibility towards the existing ecosystems and the people who live there. According to PONANT, environmental protection is a top priority. - The Aldabra project is based on a collaboration between Queen's College, Oxford and the Seychelles Islands Foundation. The aim of the project is to free the atoll from plastic pollution.
PONANT ship Le Lyrial off Thira / Santorin
The Aldabra Atoll is located 500 kilometers southwest of the Seychelles main island Mahé. Politically, it belongs to the Seychelles and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. A total of 46 islands make up the Aldabra Atoll. The 155 square kilometer land area is a maximum of eight meters above sea level. The atoll is mostly uninhabited. Cruise specialists like PONANT offer excursions to islands in the atoll.
