Derrick's Sandbank: A Newly Formed Island Adjacent to Seychelles' Farquhar Atoll is Expanding

By IndraStra Global News Tea

Cover Image Attribute: Derrick Sandbank | Dated: May 4, 2021,  Source: Island Conservation Society's Facebook Page

A relatively new island formed following the impact of tropical cyclone Fantala in mid-April 2016 continues to grow in size, says the Seychelles' Island Conservation Society (ICS). Named Derrick's Sandbank by the state-owned Islands Development Company (IDC), the island's remarkable expansion is being closely monitored.
In 2015, the sandbank covered a modest 0.3 hectares, but as of the latest data collected in 2023, it has burgeoned to a substantial 7.8 hectares. The ICS, operating a conservation center on Farquhar since 2014, employs GPS devices to routinely measure the dimensions of significant sandbanks, tracking the stages of this intriguing formation.
Gregory Berke, Director for Conservation and Science at ICS, noted that documenting the island's progression has broader implications, especially in the context of climate change-induced coastal erosion and rising sea levels. "Being able to document the formation of a new island could provide ICS with valuable insights that can be beneficial when addressing climate change issues and mitigation adaptation measures," he explained.
The emergence of Derrick's Sandbank above water was officially certified when vegetation rapidly colonized the area. Coastal shrub Bwataba and other pioneering species like the tree heliotrope and a few coconut sprouts played a prominent role in this transformation. Over the past year, these pioneer plants have grown significantly, with some reaching heights of over a meter and spreading 2-3 meters wide.
The absence of predators such as rats and cats on this new land has attracted breeding colonies of seabirds, including greater crested terns and black-naped terns, along with roosting birds like the Saunders terns.
"The absence of rats could provide useful insight into the effects of how ground-nesting seabirds react to the presence of rat-free habitats in the selection of potential new nesting sites," explained Berke.
According to ICS, the presence of animal life on the island will enhance its fertility, encouraging further vegetation growth. Plant roots will also play a vital role in stabilizing the island's structure by binding loose substrates together.
This combination of animal and plant life, along with various natural processes, can contribute to the establishment of a stable structure resistant to erosion, potentially transforming Derrick's Sandbank into a permanent island.
"However, it is hard to say at this stage if the island will remain permanent. In the future, it is likely that more and more plants will grow, making Bancs Derik very similar to Bancs de Sable - which is only about 50 years old and probably started the same way Derik did," said William McNeely, the conservation officer working on Farquhar Atoll.
Despite these positive developments, ICS cautions that extreme climate conditions could pose a threat, and there remains the possibility that the island might eventually vanish into the sea.
Based on reporting by Seychelles News Agency

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