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Current Human Settlements on the Galapagos and Some Statistics

Settlements

1. San Cristobal (pop. 8000)
1. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno* - administration capital, naval base, airport
2. El Progreso - inland village
   
2. Santa Cruz (10000)
1. Puerto Ayora* - largest settlement, tourist ctr., GNPS, CDRS
2. Bellavista - inland farming
3. Santa Rosa - inland farming
   
3. Floreana (steady pop., longest inhabited)
1. Black Beach
4. Isabela
1. Puerto Villamil* - thriving, immigration, fishing, airport under construction
2. Santo Tomas
   
5. Baltra (small, steady military pop.)* - naval base, main airport

• Settlement limited to 3% of islands. 
• Population doubled 1990-1994. 20,000 people today. Predict doubling every 11 years: 40,000 in 2014 and 80,000 in 2027.  Need to restrict immigation.
• 7.8% pop. growth = 1.7% internal + 6.1% net immigration

Immigrants

• Incentives to immigrate
• Water, electricity, waste disposal subsidized by gov't
• Cost of air ticket: as of Apr 1995, $90 for resident
  
• Types of immigrants
• Skilled/semi-skilled: hired by tourist operators, transport, commerce, construction
• Entrepreneurs
• Unskilled: urban and rural poor
• Floating population: make money and leave
• 73% arrived since 1986 according to random survey of 214 households in 4 port towns
• General attitude: subsist at whatever cost or make oneself rich now
  

Urban Problems

• Contributing factors: weak government policy on basic human services, pressures of growing population
• Demand >>>> supply for:
  
• Potable water
• Electricity
• Solid waste disposal
• Transportation services
  
• Crowding --> increased crime, prostitution, drugs
• Air transport btwn islands and mainland --> introduced species, almost all food imported
  
• Poll: 66.4% inhabitants think conditions of living will worsen in the future; 3.6% think future brighter only if immigration restricted

Farming

• Arable land limited b/c land rocky, superficial.  2.9% of inhabited land constitutes arable land.
• Income for 10% population
• Introduced species --> endemic extinction
• Many farms abandoned - could be rehabilitated with more efficient, enviro-friendly technology, land use planning, proper incentives, medium-term view economics
  

Reference

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Notes compiled 10/18/04