Desroches is the largest island in the Amirantes at 394 hectares, and the closest to the granitic islands, 230 kilometres southwest of Victoria. It is a sand cay on the western edge of a submerged atoll about 20 kilometres in diameter, separated from the main Amirantes ridge by water of up to 1,740 metres depth. It has an elongated shape with a maximum length of 5.25 kilometres and an undulating width with a 1.1 kilometres maximum and 330 metres minimum. There is a submerged reef platform 1-3 kilometres wide, forming a broken rim around the lagoon. A large channel 18 metres deep and 1.6 kilometres wide is located 12 kilometres northwest of the island, enabling large vessels to enter the lagoon safely. Over the reef, depths are shallow, ranging between 3 to 7 metres; with some exceptions in the west and south east, where the platform extends to 18 metres. Inside the lagoon, the average depth is 25 metres, with sparse elevations from patch reefs. Outer reef slopes are characterised by multiple; caverns, tunnels and sinkholes, many of which are popular dive sites. The southeast slope has the most shear wall of the atoll, known as the “Desroches Drop”. Depths quickly increase when leaving the atoll, attaining more than 1000 metres after 2-3 km.
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History
The island was named L’île des Roches in 1771. It was run as a coconut plantation for more than a century until this economic activity was superseded by ecotourism. The first hotel was built in 1987.
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Flora & Fauna
Desroches is of international importance for both green turtles and hawksbills. Wedge-tailed shearwaters breed in significant and growing numbers while pockets of native woodland remain.
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ICS Activity
Desroches Island Conservation Centre opened in 2009. Monitoring focuses upon turtles nesting on the long sweeping beaches. Vegetation restoration and monitoring of shearwaters is also important.
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,In 1771, the island was named L’île des Roches by la Biolière commander of L’Etoile du Matin to honour of François Julien des Roches, Governor of Mauritius (then Île de France) and Reunion (then Bourbon). On English charts, it was called Wood Island, because of the extensive native Pisonia forest. In 1815, Lieutenant Bibye Lesage, Civil Agent in Seychelles was granted the concession of Desroches, which passed to Ensign George Harrison in 1819. In 1825, the island was purchased by Jean-François Hodoul, Many casuarina trees were planted, providing timber for construction and charcoal. The major source of income became copra when in the 1880s a coconut plantation was established. By 1906 Desroches was producing 15-20,000 coconuts a month. Timber continued to be important to the island’s economy. A visitor in 1906 mentioned that the island was still exporting firewood. Casuarinas and other trees still yield useful products, island timber having been used in the construction of the hotel. Today, tourism is now the main economic activity. The first hotel was built in 1987. Since, the hotel has been extensively rebuilt twice, once in 2007 and most recently for the 5-star Four Seasons Resort, which opened in 2018.
The long, encircling beach and beach-crest of Desroches are of national importance for both green turtles and hawksbills, particularly on the south and northeast coasts. The only known endemic of the Amirantes, a species of cockroach Delosia ornata, is found on Desroches. Around the hotel and village there are populations of House Sparrows and Barred Ground Doves, and in the woods Madagascar Fodies and the more retiring Grey Francolin. All these land birds were introduced to Desroches either deliberately or accidentally. The francolin, a game bird, was introduced in 1875 to provide shooting to amuse island managers and visiting VIPs. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters breed in small numbers and Tropical Shearwater has been recorded as breeding. Desroches has always been a well-wooded island and pockets of this forest remain.
In 2007, Desroches Foundation was formed as a new NGO, bringing together Island Conservation Society, Islands Development Company, Ministry of Environment and hotel investors. An agreement was signed establishing a long-term basis for conservation and restoration of the ecosystems of Desroches. Each party remains independent, but recognises the need to cooperate for the successful delivery of conservation. Under the agreement all conservation and science related projects on Desroches are carried out by ICS unless an agreed alternative is authorised by a meeting of the foundation.
The ICS Conservation Centre was established in 2009. The main objectives are to protect the marine and terrestrial environments, to rehabilitate, monitor and research the environment, to educate staff and guests and to make sure Desroches Island is an environmental rehabilitation success through a partnership of ecotourism and conservation. The eastern end (around the old lighthouse) is being restored to its former natural state by removing alien species. The area will be replanted with native broadleaf trees. The rehabilitation of this vegetation will help restore the biodiversity of the island and create habitat for species we aim to introduce to the island. A tree nursery has been established in the Creole village consisting of sixteen species of indigenous trees and shrubs present on the island, as well as a few other plants indigenous to the Seychelles. Since the establishment of a Conservation Centre in 2009 the sea turtle populations have stabilised and show signs of increase. The Tortoise Sanctuary hosts some of the oldest inhabitants of the island and also the new generation of Giant Aldabra Tortoise. The sanctuary also features a Native Tree Trail with information about the flora of Desroches.
Going forward, the beach crest around the island will be restored, starting at Bombay Beach. All alien species will be removed and replaced with indigenous salt tolerant shrubs, trees and creepers. This restoration will help to protect the beach crest, reduce erosion, act as a wind break and improve the nesting areas for the turtles. Guests of the island’s only resort are encouraged to be conservation conscious. The ICS conservation team provides informative nature walks and guests are invited to interact with the conservation team in the evenings at the bar or visit them in the Desroches Island Conservation Centre located in the Creole village.
The long, encircling beach and beach-crest of Desroches are of national importance for both green turtles and hawksbills, particularly on the south and northeast coasts. The only known endemic of the Amirantes, a species of cockroach Delosia ornata, is found on Desroches. Around the hotel and village there are populations of House Sparrows and Barred Ground Doves, and in the woods Madagascar Fodies and the more retiring Grey Francolin. All these land birds were introduced to Desroches either deliberately or accidentally. The francolin, a game bird, was introduced in 1875 to provide shooting to amuse island managers and visiting VIPs. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters breed in small numbers and Tropical Shearwater has been recorded as breeding. Desroches has always been a well-wooded island and pockets of this forest remain.
In 2007, Desroches Foundation was formed as a new NGO, bringing together Island Conservation Society, Islands Development Company, Ministry of Environment and hotel investors. An agreement was signed establishing a long-term basis for conservation and restoration of the ecosystems of Desroches. Each party remains independent, but recognises the need to cooperate for the successful delivery of conservation. Under the agreement all conservation and science related projects on Desroches are carried out by ICS unless an agreed alternative is authorised by a meeting of the foundation.
The ICS Conservation Centre was established in 2009. The main objectives are to protect the marine and terrestrial environments, to rehabilitate, monitor and research the environment, to educate staff and guests and to make sure Desroches Island is an environmental rehabilitation success through a partnership of ecotourism and conservation. The eastern end (around the old lighthouse) is being restored to its former natural state by removing alien species. The area will be replanted with native broadleaf trees. The rehabilitation of this vegetation will help restore the biodiversity of the island and create habitat for species we aim to introduce to the island. A tree nursery has been established in the Creole village consisting of sixteen species of indigenous trees and shrubs present on the island, as well as a few other plants indigenous to the Seychelles. Since the establishment of a Conservation Centre in 2009 the sea turtle populations have stabilised and show signs of increase. The Tortoise Sanctuary hosts some of the oldest inhabitants of the island and also the new generation of Giant Aldabra Tortoise. The sanctuary also features a Native Tree Trail with information about the flora of Desroches.
Going forward, the beach crest around the island will be restored, starting at Bombay Beach. All alien species will be removed and replaced with indigenous salt tolerant shrubs, trees and creepers. This restoration will help to protect the beach crest, reduce erosion, act as a wind break and improve the nesting areas for the turtles. Guests of the island’s only resort are encouraged to be conservation conscious. The ICS conservation team provides informative nature walks and guests are invited to interact with the conservation team in the evenings at the bar or visit them in the Desroches Island Conservation Centre located in the Creole village.
Island Gallery
