As a World Heritage Site, Aldabra provides an outstanding opportunity to study natural ecological and biological processes. Scientific research on Aldabra is extremely important both to the world’s information base and to Aldabra’s survival. A significant volume of basic research was carried out from 1969 and into the 1980s, which serves as a base for further studies. In addition, several monitoring programmes are in place which provide long-term data on significant species and natural phenomena. While there are many research possibilities and needs, emphasis is given to those studies which provide information on which sound management and conservation can be based.