Jessica Lam--Mission 2008 personal website

JESSICA LAM
MISSION 2008--THE GALAPAGOS-- TORTUGAS TEAM 1

2008 Mission Site for entire class

Las Tortugas Team 1 site
See our team minutes here

www.mymegaweb.com/amy/at_web/pages

Las Tortugas - Team 1 - Definition of an A

Website	* Accessible to everyone * Correctly referenced * User friendly * Standards compliant * Post alternative solutions
Developing our preserve	* Definition of a preserve * UN Regulations/Rules * Political feasibility of the preserve * Limitations of our design * Making sure our preserve is realistic
Environmental sensors	* Climatology * Wildlife * Topography o i.e. looking for good spots in the water for buoys * Environmental impact of the sensors * Types of sensors
Tourism	* Capacity of islands to host people * Possibility of relocating residents * Regulation of tourism * Transportation * Waste disposal * Economy of island * How our plan will benefit the people * Quantifying the results
Team Protocol	* Follow the established group rules

OUR 3 MAIN OBJECTIVES <as taken from the mission 2008 website>

To develop a new preservation stratego fro the Galapagos that builds on the
current management plan for the Galapagos national Park and Galapagos Marine
Reserve by designating the two as a “World Scientific Preserve” that would
be managed by an international commission and funded by a multinational trust.

To design and deploy a network of environmental sensors to support a
comprehensive program of ecosystem monitoring on the islands and surroundign
waters.

To design an idealized “village” for permanet residents and visitors that would
ensure the lowest possible human impact on island ecosystems.

MY RESPONSIBILITIES

Up to Oct 1st Priliminary
Oct 1-7, 8-14 Marine Ocean Reserve and Marine life
Oct 15-21 Marine Ocean Sensors (temperature, salinity, nutrients, photosynthesis)
Oct 22-29 Biopreserve Section
Oct 30-Dec 1 Presentation Group

Map of the Galapagos Islands

www.mikebaird.com/ecuador/galapagos_islands.htm

Preliminary Research as of Oct 1st

main source: Cambridge Scientific Abstracts Internet Database Service
                    http://md2.csa.com/htbin/ids65/procskel.cgi
                    keywords: "Galapagos" & "Marine"
                    subject: Environmental Science & Pollution Mamagement
                    ASFA 3: Aquatic Pollution & Environmental Quality

* At sea distribution of waved albatrosses & the Galapagos Marine Reserve
   authors: Anderson, Huyuaert, Wood, Gillikin, Frost, Mouritsen
   Department of Biology, Wake Forest, Winston, Salem, NC
   source: Niological Conservation, Vol. 110, no. 3, 367-73 Apr 2003

   Recent establishment of Galapagos Marine Reserve --> protection of marine skeptical due to threat of LONGLINING fishing (illegal fishing) of waved Albatros (nest in Ilsla Espanola)

* Assessment of Jessica oil spill impacts on intertidal invertebrate communities
   Charles Darwin Foundation
   Marine Pollution Bulletin Vol 46, no. 11, 1377.84, Nov 2003

   Past oil spills by big oceanliner, little immediate visible damage

* Oil Contamination of sedimentary shores of the Galapagos Islands following wreck of the Jessica Oil Tanker
   Center for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, Edinburgh, Scotland

   Sediments show little change of hydrocarbon content following Jessica incident

* Impacts of the Jessica oil spill on sea lion (Zalophus woollebaeki) population
   author: Salazar, S
   Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador
   Marine Pollution Bulletin Vol 47, no 7-8, p.313-8 July 2003

   Following Jessica oil spill --> 79 oiled Galapagos Sea Lions around San Cristobal, Santa Fe, Isabela, & Floreana islands
                                         --> multitude burns, conjuctivities, 1 death
                                          --> (threat of population decline due more to catastrophic impact of 1997-8 El Nino --> marine population suffered & still recovering)

* Use & Misuse of the Seas around Galapagos Archipelago
   author: Merlen, G.
   Oryx, vol 29, no 2, 99-106, 1995

   Major impact of marine resources by local fishermen occurred only during last 40-45 years
         --> Lack of attention to largely uncontrolled fishery
                     --> confusion, conflicting interests, INAPPLICABLE laws and regulations

    Proposed zoning of inshore fish assemblages of Galapagos Archilepago

* Eastern Pacific Sea Survace Temp Since 1600AM: The Delta Super (18)O record of climate variability in Galapagos Corals
   authors: Dungar, Wellington, Colgan, Glynn
   Dept Geological Geophysics, Rice University
   Paleoceanography vol. 9, no. 2, p.291-314, 1994

   <source from own knowledge> --> threat of coral bleaching and declining coral population due to increasing algae due to Global Warming

* The New Pirates of Galapagos
   author: Constant, P
   Oceanorama, Institute of Oceanographique Paul Ricard no.21, p.9-12, 1993

   1992--scandals for marine reservation (officially protected since May 1986)
           --attract fishing industries
                             <sharks' fins--Japan>
                             <sea cucumbers, aka pepinos> --> capture about 6,000/day = 1 million / month

Oct 1-14

     I feel that although our islands are mainly uninhabitted, I still have a
responsibility to assess the impacts of creating a village in the Galapagos.
Many people in Las Tortugas seem to advocate setting up villages and sending
people to the islands. I am very against this notion. An increase of human
population will increase the rate at which the flora and fauna, as well as the
ecosystem as a whole, deteriorate. Heightening both the number of residents and
tourists in the Galapagos will increase the waste and disturbance accumulated
by ecotourism and raw sewage/litter.

Here is my research as of this week:

Marine Species Reserve and Monitoring Program:

data for biological and ecological monitoring of endangered species in the
Galapagos
     *commercially exploited and/or of ecological importance (in other words, if
goes extinct, can set of a chain reaction to negatively affect the population
of other species)
     *include: sea lions, sea cucumbers, mollusks, octopus, lobster, green
turtles, sharks (endangerment heightened by the large market in Japan and
Korea), and fish... lots of fish...

current plan to undergo protection of ecosystem: The Management Plan of the
Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR)
     *implemented to resolve issues between conservation and exploition of the
marine resources (to assess the wants and needs of environmentalists and
fishermen)
     *geographical zoning starting in 2001
     *collaboration of the Galapagos National Park Service with other sectors
and management entities

Authority for monitoring:
Rules and Regulations: “The Special Law for Galapagos” and “Marine Management
Plan”

Decision Making: Inter-Institutional Management Authority (national) and
Participatory Management Board (local)

sources:
Department of Marine Research and Conservation
Charles Darwin Foundation
http://www.darwinfoundation.org/marine/species.html

www.hawaiianatolls.org/research/NOWRAMP2002/features/counting_sharks.php

Oct 15-21

     My responsibility this week is to research possible elements needed to be
taken into account when developing environmental sensors association with
marine life. Some of these incluse temperature, salinity, nutrients,
photosynthesis.

My Research:

Exotic species introduced by humans a problem: as of 1996, caused 11 of 13
species extinctions, along with 15 subspecies/population/races/varieties
extinctions

Total extinctions: 30 taxa and populations
     *8 of 11 terrestrial mammals gone (~79%!!!)

Human impact causes direct pressures on biodiversity
     *disrupts biological cycle of species <eating habits, response to
predators, internal biological systems such as blood pressure, mentality>

Fisheries Monitoring Program already in existance since 1997
     *methods of collecting data: surveys, sampling, forms
     *daily collection --> stored via computer, categorized by fishery info and
biological data
          ~efforts, sales, capture, population structures, sizes, sex, etc.

sources:

Biodiversity Conservation and Human Population impacts in the Galapagos Islands,
Ecuador
MacFarland, C. and M. Cifuentes. 1996. Case Study: Galapagos, Ecuador. Pages
135-188 In: Dompka, V. ed. Human Population, Biodiversity and Protected Areas:
Science and Policy Issues. Report of a Workshop April 20-21, 1995, Washington,
D.C. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington,
D.C.
http://www.darwinfoundation.org/articles/aaas00009601.html

One More Year of Fisheries Monitoring
editor: Isolda Rojas Lizana
1999 Annual Report
PROJECTIONS, Apr 2000
http://www.darwinfoundation.org/articles/ar00040029.html

Oct 22-29

     This is the last week Las Tortugas Team 1 meets together. (sob) I signed
up to work on the Presentation for our entire Las Tortugas section, which will
be presented to a large committee of scientists and Ecuadorian politicians on
December 1st.

From what I have found through research, setting up more villages in the
Galapagos is very unnecessary. In fact, we should start looking at ways to
monitor the increasing flow of tourists to the islands in we wish to preserve
and rekindle the declining species on and around the islands.

Here is my summary for the Biopreserve Section of our team website:

Fishermen Conflict
     We feel that one of the main reasons why the Galapagos has been
experiencing problems with preserving marine life is because a many of the
species, such as lobster, fishes, and sharks, have been exploited by fisheries.
For example, because the market for shark fin soup is very large in places
like Japan and Korea, there has been a large increase in fishermen overfishing
with hopes of gaining profit, despite attempts by the Ecuadorian government and
conservational groups to monitor and sustain fishing around the Galapagos
islands. Organizations such as The Galapagos Marine Reserve has been set up to
deal with this problem, but recently, tensions have increased between
environmentalists and fishermen, largely caused by a recently new Galapagos
Park Manager, appointed by the Ecuadorian government, who has been favoring the
fishermen. As a result, violent conflicts have erupted between the fishermen,
who want more freedom to harvest the marine life, and the environmentalists,
who are agaist fishing arount the islands. We currently feel that this is a
problem and hindrance to creating a bioreserve strategy for the Galapagos.

Previous and Current Biopreserves
     Before we started to fully discuss ways to implement sensors and strategies
on protecting the Galapagos marine and terestrial environments, we researched
previous and existing biopreserves in other countries in order no extract
effective methods of dealing with this issue and avoid reinventing the wheel
again. From this information, we were able to extract inportant information
regarding ways to monitor our own islands. For example, we discussed how
scientists were able to monitor and track the different species within birds
that migrate back and forth between the Galapagos very important due to the
fact that many of these species are endangered and in need of quick attention.

Oct 30-Dec 1
My role in preparing for the Presentation in a couple of weeks is to research and analyze funding by local and international NGO's (Non-governmental Organizations) to the Galapagos:

Locally Managed Organizations:
*Consorcio Camaren
     Sustainably managing natural resources
       1) improve efficiency
       2) recognizing a padagogy for management training
       <I'm not sure if this NGO is involved with the Galapagos. Location concentrated in Andean part of Ecuador...>
       www.camaren.org

*Charles Darwin Station
       1959-present
        Under UNESCO and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (aka World Conservation Union)
        ecosystem conservation
        manages the Charles Darwin Research Station -->scientific research and education
        *****expendited US$4.6 million in 2003
                                   --> control exotic species (funded by "Global Environmental Facility , which is part of the UN Development Program)
                                   --> Galapagos Environemntal Management Program (funded by Ecuadorain Government--loan contract with Inter-American Development Bank)
        email: Roslyn Cameron cdrs@fcdarwin.org.ec
        www.darwinfoundation.org

*New Era Galapagos Foundation
        prepares San Cristobal youth for conserving Galapagos
                         --> 1) educational alternatives
                               2) appreciation and respect for ecosystem
        email: info@neweragalapagos.org
        www.neweragalapagos.org/eng/index.htm

*Fundacion Jatun Sacha
        agroforestry, environmental education, public health
        one of ten stations in San Critobal Island in Galapagos
        one of largest and most recognized
        www.jatunsacha.org

*New Horizons
         provides resources and supplies to NGO's
         email: laucord@hotmail.com

International/National Organizations:
*Global Environemntal Facility/UN Development Program
          control of exotic species
*UN Fund/UNESCO
           control of exotic species
*Darwin Initiative (British Government)
            -----
*National Museums and Galleries of Wales
            Galapagos arthropods
*Wildlife Conservation Unit at Oxford University
          Galapagos penguin and ecology
*Government of Ecuador
           loan--marines education and monitoring
*Inter-American Development Bank
              management and increase strength of Galapagos Islands' institution
*USAID
              management plan for Galapagos National Park Service and marine research/management/education

Additional funding: Tourists ($100 per person)
       Distribution:
               40% to Galapagos National Park
               20% to Municipalities of the Galapagos
               10% to Provincial Government of Galapagos
               10% to Galapagos National Institute--INGALA
                5% to Galapagos Marine Reserve (WE NEED MORE FUNDING IN THIS AREA!!!!!!!)
                5% to INEFAN
                5% to Provincial Inspection System
                5% to Ecuadorian Navy

USAID funding to Ecuador for Fiscal Year 2004-2005
"Biodiversity Conservation--> Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade"
2004 FY proposed: DA $5 million
                                 ESF $1 million
--DA $1.26 million; ESF $1 million Conservation in indigenous lands
--DA $1.64 million; Biodiversity program in the Galapagos
--DA $2.1 million; Conservation of the tropical Andes

2005 FY proposed: DA    $5.1 million
                                   ESF $2 million
--DA $0.5 million / ESF $2 million; Conservation of indigenous lands
--DA $2.1 million; Biodiversity program in the Galapagos
--DA $2.1 million; Conservation of the tropical Andes

Sources:
"Financial Review." 2003 Annual Report for the Charles Darwin Foundation. p.24+. 2.003 <http://www.darwinfoundation.org/downloads/ar2003ing.pdf>

Data Sheet--USAID funding to Ecuador. Biodiversity Conservation. Fiscal Year 2004-2005

Conner, Charlie. "In Spite of it All: Ecuador's NGO's". EcuadorExplore.com/html/ngo_list.html. 2004.

Prajogo, Juan E. "MIT-12.000 Mission 2008, Las Iguanas, Team Three". 25 Oct 2004.

Anna Jaffe's Website

Team 1 Las Tortugas Website

Informe Galapagos. Fundacion Natura. vol 2001-2002.
                   --> this source is in Spanish, hard to read........

Nov 20th:

My very very ROUGH DRAFT PROPOSAL:

Currently, I'm organizing which NGO's we should target to maximize our funds with the least restrictions on the specific areas the money are used for. For example, the New Era Galapagos Foundation, a local NGO, has some money, but it is very little compared with what we need, and its uses are specifically concentrated on the San Cristobal youth. It is a waste of time to bother trying to get more money from, or change the where the money from that NGO is used for. Instead, we will focus on larger and more powerful NGO's that are way more flexible with monetary provisions and allocations.
One such is New Horizons, which is one of the largest Ecuadorian and most respectable NGO. It is the "NGO of the NGO's", which provides large sums of money to other organizations so that they can carry out their own conservation strategies and scientific research/monitoring.
New Horizon, as opposed to New Era Galapagos Foundation, is thus a better target, because it has more money to give out and it is less anal about what the money is used for. In terms of the specific amount of moeny from "/x"/ NGO and organizing the ones we should look at, I am still researching it, but will definitely be prepared to bring it on to the panel.

Nov 26th:

Revisions to proposal--what we should also do (after consulting Bob, Yi Cai, and Anna Jaffe):

1. Confirmed need to focus on big respectable NGO's
2. What to do about smaller NGO's?
               --> Although smaller NGO's seem to have less $$ and alreayd a specific agenda, they, according to Anna, and I'll take her word, since she just went to the Galapagos, actually want more tasks because they feel that they are doing very little in contributing to preserving the Galapagos relative to other organizations, so giving them an assignment <that encompasses what they are already currently doing but that broadens their scope to more education, etc.> will make them very happy.
3. Target large, wealthy, western European countries <we already definitely have the US> who are already affiliated with conserving the Galapagos or show interest in it (i.e. can heighten their image of generosity and power). <ex: Great Britain>
4. What to do about countries who are part of UNESCO and are exploiting, or have in the past exploited the Galapagos. (ex: JAPAN, Korea?)
               --> drawbacks of getting $$ from them:
                       a) Giving the Galapagos $$ may cause them to "blackmail the Galapagos" by increasing their fishing market/continuing their fishing of endangered species
                                    *****RESOLUTION?*******
                                    We can kick them out if we catch them violating the <we have proposed> increased restrictions and laws on fishing, regulated by monitors...This will hurt their image, and image/pride is very very very important to countries like Japan!
                       b) Giving the Galapagos $$ may also force Japan to admit that they have in the past exploited the Galapagos, so it is now their turn to give back and help conserve the islands (which seems a little ironic and contradictory...)
                                   ******RESOLUTION?*******
                                    We can probably get Japan to seem like they are donating $$ due, and only due to, generosity.
                                               <DRAWBACK: New image might not be effective, since it is not a secret that Japan has exploited the Galapagos, so other countries already know Japan's previous involvement with the islands...and Japan probably knows that too>
                                    Japan, as part of UNESCO, is binded to helping places UNESCO is preserving, so they are binded to contributing $$ to the Galapagos if they want to stay in the organization.