Conservation At Galapagos IslandsEssay Preview: Conservation At Galapagos IslandsReport this essayGalapagos and its EcosystemGalapagos Islands consist of a group of nineteen individual islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador (Duval, 2006). Total land area of Galapagos is 8,000 square kilometers. The Spanish sailors named the island “Galapagos” because of the enormous tortoise living in the islands. Ecuador has claimed the islands as part of its territory. In 1835, Charles Darwin visited the islands and observed the many different species of animals that lived there. This was where he based his work of origins and human evolution as he observed many varieties of birds and other animals different from his own. Along the coasts, marine animals such as seal lions, penguins, and rock crabs are usually seen enjoying the sun. Other inhabitants of the island include cormorant, finches, boobies, and the giant tortoise. Strange reptiles like the saw-toothed iguanas and lava lizards are also observed around the islands.
Over the last 20 years, human presence grew in the islands. Settlers began to arrive in waves from different countries and continents. As whaling became popular around the island, it also brought in seal-hunters. During the World War, an Air Force base was built on the island of Baltra. The development of tourism and fishing industry caused the local population to expand to 28,000 (Galapagos Coservancy, n.d.). One of the islands of Galapagos, the Santa Cruz, has the largest number of human inhabitants. In 2005, the population was up to 30,000.
The growing population of the Galapagos Islands was very detrimental to the islands’ ecosystem. The whalers used the giant tortoise as food (Galapagos Conservation, 2007). The tortoises were also sold for their oil. A good amount of the tortoise was consumed to almost extinction. The settlers brought with them a wide range of domestic animals, many of which are now roaming around in the wild. Domestic animals like dogs, cats, goats, and even rats have consuming native reptiles, birds, and other animals as food. They have brought with them also plants and other trees, which were left to grown and compete with native plants. These plants would then compete and outgrow the native plants. There were also new diseases that were introduced to the island by the animals and plants that the settlers have brought in. With more settlers coming in, it put pressure on the islands depleting natural resources. If this continues the native ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands will seize to exist.
The environmental pressures put forth by the growing population in the island caused some concerns with national and international communities. In 1959, the Equadorian government made the Galapagos Islands a National Park to protect the flora and fauna of the islands (Duval, 2006). The government put a special law to restrict andy more immigration to the island. It even put restrictions on tourism. With intentions in saving the islands ecosystem, the Charles Darwin Foundation was formed (Galapagos Conservation, 2007). Santa Cruz became a based resident for the Charles Darwin Research Station. Between 2002 and 2007, there have been efforts to eradicate feral goats, which endanger native plant and animal life. Actions have been taken against the growing population of domestic and wild
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There was a general idea on the island of Galapagos that the conservation of biodiversity was best achieved with the return of a small number of native species. There have been similar moves since the 19th century when the first population studies were conducted and the only data obtained since then (see e.g., Sogia, 2004; Hennin & Kornblut, 1992). This idea has been to create a unique social network by encouraging the individual to engage with a wider range of cultural and economic sources of income (Hennin & Kornblut, 1992). Many people, from the young to the elderly to the old, feel that Galapagos is a land where there are no barriers to entry.
The “cultural, economic, social” benefits of the New World of tourism
There is no question that, at the current pace of change, tourism is not likely to be a very successful model of growth at Galapagos. While other states and territories use a similar model, Galapagos has developed a much more successful model in these areas. As reported by the World Conservation Campaign in 2013 (World Conservation Campaign, 2014) Galapagos has the most productive economic base on earth. As a result, both UNESCO (2001) and the World Conservation Council (2014) recognize the importance of cultural and economic growth in Galapagos’ economic potential.
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The success of some national parks in reducing feral goats, which endanger native wildlife, is a consequence of the fact that Galapagos has an economic and social network of a unique and significant nature. There are few other major national parks on this planet whose population has doubled since 2000.
In fact, the value that Galapagos has added to this national treasure is more than worth the financial and environmental cost of doing so. Galapagos continues to grow on the success and growth of all national parks that are in the world currently (e.g., Sargenti Island, A-O, Puebla Island, and Palau Island). In fact, the Galapagos Conservation Fund managed $12 billion invested in these national parks in 2009 and is now more than double (the most in the world) that the UN spent to manage the World Wildlife Fund’s World Forest Program. When it comes to the overall environmental impact of such a national monument, it should not be forgotten that an impressive 50% of the total world’s wildlife habitat are now in Galapagos National Park. Of all the protected area on the island of Galapagos National Park, 10% are in the marine, one third in mangroves, and 20% are in arid rainforests–the majority of these are in the tropical (i.e., temperate) areas. Only 6% of marine habitat is protected from wild animals.
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The Great Barrier Reef provides great opportunity for Galapagos to enhance its ecological success. Although the reef has been overfished in the past, it is important for sustainable commercial fishery and development, because it serves as an indicator that the number of marine marine fisheries in the islands declines rapidly. There