Conservation In The Galapagos
Unique ecosystems such as the Galapagos are delicately balanced, and no species has done more to upset this balance than humans. Startling evidence shows that the damage may have even begun with the first arrival, Tomas de Berlanga, in 1535 . One study of thousands of fossil bones reveals that just about every extinction of native species occurred after that date. Hunting of tortoises, whales, fur seals and other animals at various points throughout the centuries brought populations to the brink of extinction, but a far worse human legacy has been the catastrophic introduction of alien species . The islands have been naturally colonized by a relatively small number of species, that have adapted to the environment, often by taking up surprising niches, filling the gaps left by the missing mainland species. When settlers arrived they brought with them domestic and farm animals, and plants that soon went wild, overrunning the islands and out-competing native species. Pigs trample vegetation, snaffle up land bird hatchlings and young tortoises and devour turtle eggs. Packs of wild dogs have been known to attack land iguanas, killing hundreds at a time on Santa Cruz and Isabela, while black rats are thought to be responsible for the extinction of endemic rice rats on four islands, and have killed every tortoise hatchling on Pinzon for most of the twentieth century. Wild goats , though, are regarded as the biggest threat, denuding entire islands of vegetation, causing plant species to become extinct as well as depriving native species, particularly tortoises, of food, and encouraging soil erosion. New insects, such as two species of wasp , are eating indigenous butterfly and moth larvae, while the introduced little fire ant , only 2mm long and easy to unwittingly transport to new islands, is destroying native ant species and attacking tortoise hatchlings as well as being a serious pest to humans. Introduced plants are also a major threat, disrupting the food chain from the bottom up. Agricultural species such as guava, blackberry, red quinine and elephant grass are out of control on several islands, squeezing out native plants such as tree ferns, scalesia, guayabillo, cat's claw and others. The Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station have been following a three-pronged approach to the problem of introduced species. In some cases, eradication programmes have done enough to allow threatened native species to recover. Only a handful of pigs remain on Santiago, and goats have been eliminated from five of the islands and islets, while their numbers on Pinta have been brought down from over 40,000 to around a hundred. Several native species have also been the subject of repopulation programmes ; on Espanola, where tortoises once numbered just twelve, the thousandth of this unique subspecies was successfully repatriated here in March 2000. Land iguanas have undergone the same treatment, with similar results. A new quarantine system has been set up in relevant ports and airports with inspectors to check incoming cargoes for alien pests. In recent years, one of the most fiercely fought conservation issues has revolved around illegal fishing within the Reserva Marina de Galapagos. Among the worst culprits were those diving for sea cucumbers , considered a delicacy in the lucrative Asian market. In December 1994 alone, around seven million animals were harvested, prompting the government to shut the industry down. Political and physical confrontation followed, including an instance in which fishermen opened fire on park wardens. Meanwhile fishing fleets of over 300 boats were spotted around the Galapagos by US spy satellites, some of them undoubtedly long-lining - an indiscriminate fishing method responsible for killing large numbers of seabirds and marine wildlife. A major turning-point came in 1998, with the establishment of the Special Law for the Galapagos , which permitted only tourism and "local artisanal fishing" within the reserve, as well as attempting to curb immigration. Unsurprisingly, the mainland fishing industry has been less than receptive, and in 1999 flagrantly disobeyed it: the Mary Cody , registered in Manta, was caught just six miles from Wolf with a twenty-mile long fishing line. After six hours of reeling it in, four species of shark, dolphinfish and marlin were among the countless fish found attached to the hooks, and large numbers of shark fins were found in the hold. Despite snaring boats like the Mary Cody , illegal fishing continues unabated and resources are badly needed to enforce the Special Law. Worse still, in May 2000, trouble flared again when local sea cucumber fishermen (accompanied by a hardcore from the mainland) protested at the regulations that they had just signed up to; they damaged park property and took hostage endangered reptiles at the breeding centre on Isabela, threatening to kill them if their demands weren't met. As yet the government has done little to re-establish law and order, and it looks as though the next sea cucumber harvest might spell unregulated destruction. The Galapagos tourism industry, which injects over $100 million into the Ecuadorian economy, dwarfs the financial output of both the local agriculture and fishing industries. Even though tourist numbers rise each year, the industry, which has an interest in conserving the islands, is very well regulated through visitor sites and accredited guides, and detrimental impacts have been kept to a working minimum. Many tour operators make regular contributions to the conservation effort, but even so, the Charles Darwin Foundation claims that only five percent of its entire budget is generated through tourism, and it says it needs double its annual budget of $1.5 million to achieve its objectives. The best thing you can do as a visitor is to join the Friends of Galapagos , a network of international conservation organizations. Membership largely consists of previous visitors, who, in return for an annual donation, receive detailed news bulletins about the islands, ongoing conservation work, and information on events and appeals. They provide vital funding for the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park Service, and encourage the government to safeguard the islands' future. In the UK, contact the Galapagos Conservation Trust, 5 Derby St, London W1Y 7HD (tel 020/7629 5049, gct@gct.org ); in the US, get in touch with the Charles Darwin Foundation, 100 N Washington St, Suite 311, Falls Church, VA 22046 (tel 703/538-6833, darwin@galapagos.org ); or in the islands you can join at the CDRS in Puerto Ayora.
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