Chagos: With or Without People?

The debate about whether Britain should create the world's largest marine reserve in the Indian Ocean around the Chagos Islands raises some interesting issues (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/27/gordon-brown-britain-great-barrier-reef). Apparently, 10,000 people have signed an online petition (supported by a collection of 9 conservation groups operating as the Chagos Environmental Network) in favour of protecting this area of 500,000 square kilometres with its 55 islands and the world's largest atoll, from fishing (largely for sharks and sea cucumbers) and people. A variety of levels of protection from making the proposed reserve a complete 'no take zone' to allowing deep sea fishing in particular locations and times have been suggested. The proposed reserve has a very diverse fauna and very low levels of pollution, partially related to the fact that the indigenous human population (around 1000 at the time) was evicted in the 1960's and 1970's to create a military zone (including Diego Garcia, the leased US base with its resident personnel). The Chagossians are understandably deeply unhappy about this (they have often finished up in relative poverty on Mauritius or the Seychelles) and have attempted to have the eviction declared unlawful in UK courts (currently without success). They are now somewhat further irritated by the suggestion that allowing them back would be to the detriment of the reserve (as they would want an airport, tourism, fishing rights etc). It will be interesting to see how this one 'pans out'. There is no doubt that humans are a real problem for fragile ecosystems but any plans for a reserve could be negated by a) a decision of the UK or European courts or b) human activities elsewhere in the globe.