Mission 2008
Galapagos Islands
Ouqi
Jiang
Las Tortugas, Group 2
tor2@mit.edu
Update:
December 1, 2004:
Attended run-through of the presentation. It needs more
work. How are we doing the question and answer?
November 30, 2004:
Presentation:
Building:
three primary villages
agriculture highlands villages
Transportation:
land
air
water
Energy
Waste Management
sewage
organic and inorganic
Economy:
agriculture
tourism
fishing and marine patrol
daily goods production
Timeline: 12 years - 1 year: run test, run demos, train locals, 2nd
year: build
parallels
GPS on boats
Pressue: pop increase
floating airport and immigrantion control
Pressure: natural resource use
Living machine technology
green design to minmize impact
stable economy
regulation
What islands will the villages be located on?
Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal
Need:
diagram of the village
cost-benefit analysis, using data
Marine - buoys
buoy network:
coastal and offshore monitoring
subsurface profiles to tens of meters
New block copolymer batteries (Sadoway)
Oceanographic parameters/sensors:
sea temp
dissolved oxygen
nitrates
salinity
current vector (direction and speed)
Atmospheric conditions:
already monitored by three meteorological stations, two on Santa Cruz
and one on
Isabela
Data telemetry
InterOcean Systems, inc. uses spread spectrum readios
2-way communicaiton capability
low powered
reliable
another method - iridium Satellite
for the offshore buoys
low cost satellite data transmission
Acceptable limits of the parameters are currently
Populations of :
key/indicative species
endangered species
introduced psecies
Use CDF's species list as basis
use of cameras on boats?
traditional grid-based methodologies
lost os info is already being collected
Land-based monitoring
soil samples near agri areas
looking for phosphates, heavy metals, and other pollutants
DO levels in streams adjacent to the agri areas
hydrocarbon, phosphate soil monitoring of runoff near towns and near
dump sites
populations of:
key/indicative species
endangered species
introduced species
Logistics:
team of scientists, biologists, and other experts as a subcommittee to
the World
Biopreserve
registration of independent research efforts
colleciton and archiving of data from monitoring network
recommendation of legislation to be passed by the biopreserve due to
concerns
from data
reocmmendations of extensions/changes to monitoring network
coordination of monitoring efforts
make data available to public, but full papers can be
Need:
why gather such data?
how are we going to look at species? (mounting cameras on bottom of
boats:
visual tech)
what are we going to monitor on the land and how are we going to do
that?
connect green village with biopreserve
where do we take soil samples? how are we going to take the soil
samples? how
deep? how much of am impact will it have on the environment?
how do we choose the scientists to be on the panel? how much
power do they
have?
Purpose
integrate the efforts and products of the international scientific
community and
encourage further scientific collaboration
protect ecosystem from threats
educate residents of the importance of preservation
streamline the currently running of the Galapagos to encourage
collaboration
between the administrators and the natives
Unified Preservation Strategy:
unifying the two management bodies responsible for the Galapagos
National Park
and the marine Reserve
keep the participatory counsils in place while encouraging further
contributions
from the natives
Unified preservation strategy:
keep the majority of the current preservation legislation in palce;
adeuqately
address specific concerns but are not sufficiently enforced
invasive species
illegal fishing and overfishing
International Committee:
integrating an international perspectivei nto the current govenring
bodie sof
the Galapagos:
Galapagos national Institute (INGALA)
additional representatives to be drawn from international gov't who are
involved
International Committe:
will not intrude on sovereignty of ecuador
committe will be overseen by the Ecuadorian Naitonal congress
committe represents a large source of funds and debt forgiveness
International Trust:
comprised of governmental institutions and GHOs who are currently
donors to the
CDF and other reserach insittutions on the island
separate the money from the donors, can be more efficiently employed in
conservation
Can we connect the three sections together in a few slides?
get numbers!!! how much money from NGOs?
illegal fishing
education of public and implementaiton
logistics!
November 22, 2004:
Education Proposal:
After speaking with Anna about education in the Green Village, I've
come to the
conclusion that we need to scale back a bit. So here's the
reworked version of
my education proposal:
There are universities with outliers in the Galapagos already, as well
as a
Galapagos school: The Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and
Sciences.
So the idea of having a school on the Galapagos has been realized, but
I don't
think the school is tailored to what we want it to be. The school
should focus
on consolidating the outliers of other universities on the Galapagos,
as well
as focusing more on long-term students, not just teaching students for a
semester or a year, but maintaining a four year institution.
Also, I believe
the university should be very research oriented, so as to consolidate
the
research scientists so that any visiting researchers will have to
lecture at
the school as well as do research (this part remains unchanged from my
original
proposal). I believe the university should focus on training
future scientists
and researchers, thus, I believe majors in the sciences, especially
biology,
marine biology, planetary sciences, etc.
So basically, to sum up, my point in this proposal is that even though
there is
a university in the Galapagos, it does have adquate lecturers or majors
geared
toward research and science. So our job would be to make sure
November 15, 2004:
Saw video of other teams. TF says we need to do alot more work if
we want to get ourselves on the right track.
November 10, 2004
Greenvillage, info to think about:
2,000 people
food production and materials should be local
economy is self sufficient
everyone who is employed
population description:
tour guides
park rangers
fishermen
farmers
educators
construction workers (green village design) - repairmen
civil servants
(anyone who lives in village, and thus living in Galapagos, must fit
into one of
these description, but be employed in this way, thus, this limits the
population of the Galapagos)
Should know:
zoning laws
what structures are there right now
education
agriculture skill of ppl
what goods are imported and exported
what present population, Ecuadorian gov't, park service thinks about
the way
things are
maps
pictures of village
waste management
endemic species - how species could be used for profit
there's a shift in the way tourism is being run - some tourists are
staying in
Galapagos all day, we should decide on how we want the tourist industry
to run
infusing of private
tourist industry
is there a quota system?
how is the tourist
industry is organized
have gov't favor small
tourist companies that will donate some parts of their
profit to Galapagos
need to find ways for ppl to have fun
Energy:
distributed grid
wind energy
solar energy
geothermal energy
things to have an opinion about:
kinds of energy in village
scholarship program for kids that is contingent upon the fact that they
study
and work to help the Galapagos
waste management
skill requirements for tour guides and park rangers
percentages of different groups in our population
October 29, 2004
Blurb for The Green Village:
Currently, we are projecting the Green Village to house 2,000
people. We are uncertain yet whether the Green Village will be a
centralized infrastructure or a scattering of different green villages
throughout the islands in accordance with where indigeneous people have
already set up homes. Immigration to the green village will be
restricted, in ways that directly benefit the islands. The Green
Village itself is to be constructed using eco-friendly building
material imported from the Ecuador mainland. Such problems as
alternative energy sources and water recycling will be worked out
soon. The governing body of both the Green Village and the
Mission 2008 program will also reside in the Green Village, along with
villagers of all various traits, some of whom will be conservationists,
park rangers, construction workers, scientists, etc.
Vertebrate Ecology and Monitoring in
the Charles Darwin Foundation:
Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Monitoring (VEM) concentrates on
conservation science involving the land animals of the Galapagos
Islands, but also includes other general monitoring activites.
The VEM has four research and conservation programs which focus on
introduced vertebrates and endemic animals, birds, reptiles, and
general monitoring. Below is the break down:
1. Introduced vertebrates and endemic mammals: studying native land
mammals such as rodents and bats, as well as methods for control of
introduced mammals
2. Birds: land birds such as Darwin's finches and seabirds including
Galapagos penguins
3. Reptiles: giant tortoises, land and marine iguanas, and lava lizards
4. General monitoring: the collection of meteorological and seismic
data and the development of the Galapagos Geographic Information System
(GIS)
(Charles Darwin Foundation website)
Control and eradication of harmful
introduced species:
Frogs: experiments on the salinity tolerance of the introduced frog Scinax quinquefasciata indicated
that these frogs cannot survive in water more than 14% of the salinity
of sea water. Because the frogs now occur mostly in slightly
saline coastal lagoons, this information may lead to control of the
frogs by pumping in sea water and raising the salinity of the lagoons
above the frogs' toleranc level.
Cats: the cat eradication project on Baltra is a success.
Doves: Introduced rock doves (feral pigeons) are successfully
eradicated on Santa Cruz. Eradication began on San Cristobal in
2003. By December, 500 rock doves have been eliminated.
Eradication on Isabela, the only remaining island with rock doves,
began in 2004.
Birds:
1456 cormorants (highest number since 1970s)
slight decline in penguin numbers (down to 770 from 848 in 2002)
Complete survey of the critically endangered Floreana mockingbird on
two islets where it still occurs. About 200 mockingbirds
remain. However, only 5% of the birds were juveniles, which means
a very low level of reproduction in 2003. The Floreana
mockingbird remains vulnerable to introduced threats, such as black
rats, introduced diseases such as avian pox, and the parasitic fly Philornis downsi.
Reptiles:
Capturing or recapturing and marking 347 giant tortoises on Alcedo
Volcano (Isabela), 170 Galapagos land iguanas at Cartago Bay (Isabela),
and 65 Galapagos land iguanas at Cerro Dragon, as well as locating and
marking 25 Galapagos land iguana nests on North Seymour for use in the
captive-rearing program.
(Charles Darwin Foundation website)
Terrestrial Invertebrates:
Department of Terrestrial Invertebrates has three primary
programs:
1. Research on the biology and ecology of Galapagos invertebrate fauna
2. improved the invertebrate reference collection
3. developed strategies for invasive species eradication and control,
strengthen the Inspection and Quarantine System for the Galapagos
Islands.
(Charles Darwin Foundation website)
More Introduced Species Discovered:
2003: 10 new species discovered, 50 new records of
endemic and native insects reported. However, 440 new introduced
insect species were also recorded, an increase of 22% over 2002.
Controlling Engue Mosquitos: not found extensively on Isabela or
Fernandina Islands, but found on other islands.
Eradicating Fire Ants on Marchena Island: fire ants not found to great
extent on Isabela
Invasive Australian mealybug in Decline
Black Fly control: not major problem on Isabela or Fernandina Islands,
though is a big problem in San Cristobal.
(Charles Darwin Foundation website)
Botany:
High rainfall of el Nino contrib
uted to the mortality of some species.
Taxonomy of many Galapagos plant groups is unclear, which makes it
difficult to determine what constitutes a species or which populations
are the most distinct. The knowledge is essential for
prioritizing conservation action for rare and endangered species.
(Charles Darwin Foundation website)
Projected Expenditures of CDF in 2003:
41%: Science
21%: Administration, Finance, IT, Logistics
11%: Isabela Project
10%: Communication and Participation
7%: Director's Office, Governance and Representation in San Critobal
and Isabela
6%: Institutional Development
4%: support to GNPS
(Charles Darwin Foundation website)
Sources of Income of CDF for 2003:
36%: GEF/UNDP
14%: CDF Inc
10%: other restricted funds
9%: CDF-services and sales
8%: UNF
7%: Ecuadorian government/IADB
6%: GCF/Lindbald expeditions
4%: USAID
4%: Frankfurt Zoological Society
2%: Robert Wood Johnson Trust
(Charles Darwin Foundation website)
Project Isabela: Eradicating Introduced Species
Foal of the Isabela Project (joint GNPS and CDF initiative), is
the ecological restoration of northern Isabela Island in the western
part of the Galapagos Archipelago. In 2003, Project Isabela
continued to eradicate goats on Santiago Island. A larger
campaign of goat eradication will occur on northern Isabela Island in
2004. Ground hunting and dog teams dramatically reduced the goat
population on Santiago. An earlier phase of the project
eradicated the feral pig population. The helicopters for the
aerial hunting of the goats arrived in Galapagos in July and aerial
hunting will begin early next year.
(Charles Darwin Foundation website)
Useful data:
Galapagos population has increased over 300% in the past few decades.
The 1990 census marks the population at 9,735. Today, more than
20,000 people live on the islands. The population is doubling
every 11 years. By 2014, there will be 40,000 people living in
the Galapagos.
(Galapagos Islands)
October 24, 2004:
Fishing
commercial vs. subsistence (amount vs. technique)
commercial: large amount of fish, technique is bad
subsistence: small amount of fish, good technique
But not all subsistence fishing is good, when thinking and solutions,
have to consider how to limit and regulate both, also, the approach to
both groups are different.
Fishing in Galapagos: commercial fishing is banned in Galapagos, but
circumvented by commercial fishermen when they buy subsistence
fishermen's catch.
What is the current status? What are the current regulations?
Consider farming sea cucumbers?
If you come up with something radical, have to know why its good,
better than what Ecuador has now.
Maybe there's not a problem with regulations, it's a problem with
enforcement. Have to ask yourself: if you have 100% compliance
with your regulations, will that solve your problem?
Trends: what are the trends in the fish population? Is what has
been done effective?
Use monitoring to show how effective our regulations are.
Use analogy of geothermal energy use in Iceland, New Zealand.
Incremental steps leading to a solution.
October 18, 2004:
Environmental Sensing of Ecosystem:
wolves and whales are symbolic.
systems perspective:
remote sensing:
1. scale of observation
2. specificity
Time scales?
want to measure:
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
chemical sensing
dissolved oxygen in the water
fish population
nitrate levels in the soil and ocean - fertilizer in ocean and land,
which decreases oxygen
The monitoring is a snapshot of everything, but these are processes,
not inventory
October 16, 2004:
Scientists we should contact:
Visiting Scientists Dave Anderson (Wake Forest University): Marine Bird
Study on Española " Mark Westbrock " Carol Shively " Ashley
Amick " Tiffany Beachy " Teresa Maness " Deborah Shelton " Devin Taylor
" Jill Awkerman " Diego Garcia " Mark Mack Caustland " Victor Apanius "
Diana Astorga
Jim Bednarz (Arkansas State University): Study of Polyandry and
Cooperation among Galapagos Hawks " Kenneth Levenstein " Dave Giordano
" Anne Robinson " Marco Aguilar
Charlotte Causton (consultant, USA): Control and Eradication of the Red
Ant on Marchena
William E. Conner " (Wake Forest University): Study of Butterfly and
Moth Communities
Robert Dowler (Angelo State University): Study of introduced rats on
Floreana and nearby islets " Cody Edwards " Scott Clement
Peter Dutton (NOAA-NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, USA): Sea
Turtle Study
Dennis Geist (University of Idaho and Colgate University): Geological
Study of Floreana " Karen Harpp " Alison Koleszar
Gabrielle Gentile (University of Rome): Population Genetics of Land and
Marine Iguanas " Giacomo del Omo " Sabrina Rosa " Anna Fabián
Peter Glynn (University of Miami): Study of Coral on Floreana " Joshua
Feingold " Derrick Manzello " Dana Wingate
Peter Grant (Princeton University): Study of Finches on Daphne Island "
Rosemary Grant
Donna Harris (Oxford University): Study of Endemic Rats " Stephen
Gregory
Cleveland Hickman (Washington and Lee University): Taxonomic
Investigations of Marine Diversity " Bill Ober " Jorge Gomezjurado "
Glynn Page " Leslie Newman " Pam Beesley " Judy Winston " Giancarlo
Toti
Paul Kingston (Herriott Watt University): Study of Polychaetes "
Phillipa Kingston
Simon Laegaard (Universidad de Aarhus): Studies of Introduced Grasses
and Sedges in the Galapagos Islands
John W. McCreadie and Charles Brockhouse (University of South Alabama):
Study of the Control and Eradication of the Black Fly
Terry Naumann (University of Alaska): Geological Study of Volcan Darwin
" Catherine Gibles " Lisa Nelson "
Patricia Parker (St. Louis Zoo, University of Missouri St. Louis):
Avian Disease " Noah Whiteman " Jenny Bollmer " Kate Huyvaert "
Hernán Vargas " Erika Travis " Jessica Rabenold " Nicole
Gottdenker " Luis Padilla " Paul Doherty " Robert Miller " Kevin Matson
" Tjitte de Vries " Pablo Sanchez
Jeffrey Podos (University of Massachusetts): Morphology and Evolution
of Vocalization in Darwin s Finches " Andrew Hendry " Anthony Herrel "
Sarah Huber " Marcos Rossi
Jeffrey Powell (Yale University): Molecular genetics of giant tortoise
populations " Adalgisa Caccone " James Gibbs " Scott Glabberman "
Michel Milinkovitch " Sabrina Rosa " Nancy Karraker
Benjamin Ruttenberg (University of California Santa Barbara): Reef
Fishes: Causes of Regional Ecological Variation
Tania Siemens (Cornell University): Ecology and Control of Kikuyu Grass
Pennisetum purpureum " Jorge Peñafiel
Antje Steinfurth (University of Kiel): Penguin and Cormorant Census
Wolfgang Sterrer (Bermuda Biological Station for Research): Study of
Meiofauna in Sand Beaches
Douglas Toomey (University of Oregon): Seismic Investigations " Peter
Burkett " Scott George " Darwin Villagomez " Charles Ryan " Wilson
Enriquez
Walter Traunspurger (University of Bielefeld): Diversity and Ecology of
Miobenthic Organisms in Volcanic Lakes " Walter Judith Denkinger "
Thomas Bartolomaeus " Andrea Brinkmann
Fritz Trillmich (University of Bielefeld): Social Structure of Sea
Lions " Jochen Wolf " Cas Eikennar " Johanna Forster
Jennifer Trusty (Florida International University): Study of
Biogeographic Relationships between Plants in the Galapagos and the
Cocos Islands.
Hernán Vargas (Darwin Initiative): Penguin and Cormorant Census
Sophie Violette (Université Pierre et Marie Curie): Study of
fresh water springs and their circulation " Noemi d Ozouville "
Christian Camerlink " Jens Danielsen
Leila Von Aesch (Museum of Zoology, Lausanne, Switzerland): Study of
Aggressiveness among Ants on Floreana
lonka von Lippke (University of California): Evolution of Social
Behavior of Mockingbirds " Dan Reineman " Brittany Huntington
Marcus Wenner (SeaWorld): Penguin and Cormorant Census
Mike Wilson (National Museums and Galleries of Wales): Management of
the Invertebrate Collection
Jon Witman (Brown University): Study of Productivity on Subtidal Rock
Wall Communities " Franz Smith " Giancarlo Toti
Martín Wikelski (Princeton University): Study of Stress in
Marine Iguanas " Maren Vitousek " Elisa Tarlow " Michael Romero "
Thomas Roedl " Silke Berger " Veit Eitner " Andrea Coloma " Gabriela
Maldonado
Martín Wikelski (Princeton University): Studies on the Effects
of Fuel Spills on Marine Iguanas " Mark Michell " Maya Bewing " Javier
Nevarez
Publications that we should look into:
"Population size and trends of the Waved Albatross"
SeaWiFS satellite monitoring of oil spill impact on primary production
in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
Phylogeography and history of giant Galapagos tortoises
The larva of Cicindelidia galapagoensis
Feeing Range Studies of Rodolia cardinalis
Biocontrol of Invasive Insect Threatening Galapagos Islands
Ensuring compatibility of biological control of lcerya purchasi
The critically endangered Mangrove Finch
The effect of the Jessica grounding on Galapagos reef fish communities
adjacent to wreck site.
Impacts of the Jessica oil spill on intertidal and shallow subtidal
plants and animals
Nutrient exchanges between marine and terrestial ecosystems: The case
of the Galapagos sea lion
An assessment of a Galapagos Rail population over thirteen years
The fishery for endemic chitons in the Galapagos Islands
Ancient DNA gives green light to repatriation of Galapagos iguanas.
Phenotypic variation in Calandrina galapagosa
The Charles Darwin Research Station Herbarium: Improvements of the last
six years
Presence of Stenoma catenifer Walsingham
First report of Tischeriidae on the Galapagos Islands
A trophic model of a Galapagos subtidal rocky reef for evaluating
marine conservation strategies
A new record of anemone barrens in the Galapagos
Experiences and limitations with Pest Risk analysis in the Galapagos
Islands
The butterflies of the Galapagos Islands
Populations decline of Galapagos endemic Lepidoptera on Vocan Alcedo
The Jessical oil spill effects on the Galapagos sea lion
Effects of the 1997-1998 Nino on population size and diet of the
Galapagos Sea Lion
Estimating the abundance of Clustered and Cryptic Marine
Macro-Invertebrates in the Galapagos with Particular Reference to Sea
Cucumbers
Plant research for conservation in Galapagos
The Mangrove Finch conservation project in the Galapagos Islands
October 13, 2004:
Galapagos Ecosystem Threats
information gathered:
Conservation of Natural Resources: Responsible for coordinating,
directing and
supporting the work along with the different Management Programs inside
the
Protected areas, aiming towards sustainable and participative
development of
the community.
Marine Resources: Supervises the 140,000 km² inside the 40 miles
of Marine
Reserve, coordinating together with all of the involved sectors, the
rational
and sustainable use of the Reserve by means of the Interinstitutional
Authority
of Management.
Public Use: Organizes tourist activity by granting and stating norms of
visits
to distribute the carrying capacity of the different visitors’ sites.
Environmental Education and Interpretation: Sensitizes the community to
the
conservation of the environment through educational activities directed
at the
community and visitors.
Investigation and Monitoring: Its objective is to increase present
scientific
knowledge in order to optimize the management of Protected areas. This
program
is carried out by the Galapagos National Park with the collaboration of
universities and organizations, both local and foreign.
Control and Vigilance: Guarantees the physical integrity of the Park
and Marine
Reserve through permanent terrestrial, aerial, and marine patrols.
Direction and Administration: Responsible for coordinating, directing
and
supporting the work, together with the different Management Programs of
the
Protected Areas, to aim for a sustainable and participative development
of the
community.
Land and Cattle and Quarantine Extension: It is responsible for the
control of
plant and animal sanitization to ensure the protection of the natural
areas
against new introductions of organisms from the mainland and between
islands.
This program is executed through SICGAL (System of Inspection and
Quarantine
for Galapagos).
Problems:
Alien plants/animals - biggest threat
Illegal fishing
Poaching
Biodiversity at risk
Isabela, the largest island in the Gal pagos Archipelago, has the
largest, most
diverse spectrum of giant tortoises in all of the islands.
Sex of tortoises can be influenced by temperature, thus, destruction of
nesting
areas may lead to skew in male:female ration.
Worth more alive than dead: tourism could potentially earn more money
than
poaching or illegal fishing. Thus: job training
ISSUES IN GALAPAGOS
Introduced goat in the Galapagos Islands
Galapagos is a World Heritage Site. It is the world's largest oceanic
archipelago with its biodiversity intact (95%+). Its conservation
represents a
challenge and will only be achieved by the research and application of
new
legal/policy and technical solutions.
There are three key issues:
* Control of introduced species
* Over-exploitation of natural resources
* Management of the human population
Control of Introduced Species
The greatest threat to the biodiversity of Galapagos comes from
introduced or
invasive species. These benefit from the lack of natural defences of
the native
species and can reproduce rapidly, destroying or replacing the native
species.
Examples are the black and brown rats which predate on young tortoises
and the
native rice rat. Plants such as gauva and Cinchona dominate and exclude
native
plants such as Miconia and Scalesia.
In-depth studies are required to produce radical plans to eliminate
these
introduced species. Due to the critical nature of the situation in
places such
as Alcedo Volcano on Isabela, where an estimated 100,000 goats are
threatening
the unique flora and the survival of the largest population of giant
tortoises
in Galapagos, immediate action is required. Specific projects include:
Goats
Isabela is badly over-run with over 100,000 goats on Alcedo volcano,
there are
also several thousand more on the volcanoes of Darwin and Wolf to the
north of
Alcedo. There are another 80,000 on Santiago, where 18 hectares have
been
fenced to preserve a representative floral diversity. To protect the
native
animals and plants from invasive species on Isabela and restore the
biodiversity of Northern Isabela Island, Project Isabela was developed.
The
project is a world class programme of habitat restoration being
undertaken on
Isabela island. For further information visit Project Isabela.
Introduced pig in Galapagos
Pigs
Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are among the most ecologically destructive
introduced
animals in Galapagos. They eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds, giant
tortoises and sea turtles, and at times compete for food with them. In
the
1970's, it was observed that all it took was a single pair of pigs to
destroy
23 tortoise nests on Santa Cruz Island over a one month period. In
mid-1997 the
pig eradication programme on Santiago island was given priority status.
In May
2002 the Galapagos National Park declared Santiago Island pig free -
the first
time in at least 127 years, and the largest ever island from which an
established pig population was successfully eradicated.
Cats and Dogs
Increasing levels of these feral animals are predating on and
threatening the
population of marine and land iguanas, lizards, tortoises and birds.
Research
is needed to identify the most appropriate means of eradicating these
animals.
Plants
Research is required into the best means of preventing the spread of
these
invasives, plus the methodology of removing them and ensuring the
re-establishment of the correct balance of plants in the affected areas.
Control and elimination of introduced species is a difficult and long
term
operation and can only be achieved by identifying the means most likely
to
succeed and develop a flexible approach based upon established
methodologies
combined with a strategy based on extensive study and research.
Quarantine
Complimentary to the programme of eliminating existing introduced
species is the
need to ensure that these same species are not reintroduced or that new
species
are not brought to the islands in the future. A clearly defined and
enforceable
system is required based on experience from other parts of the world
adapted to
the precise requirements of Galapagos.
For further information on the quarantine inspection system and
prohibited
products, visit the Inspection and Quarantine System for Galapagos
(SICGAL)
website.
Education in the Galapagos Islands
Education
If the measures outlined are to have any hope of succeeding, it is
essential
that they have the support not only of the people of Galapagos, but of
Ecuador
as a whole. A major educational campaign is required to ensure that
people
understand the economic imperative of preserving as much as is possible
of the
biodiversity of Galapagos, and indeed on improving the present
situation.
..Top
Exploitation of Natural Resources
These include tourism, fisheries, agriculture and building supplies. To
date,
apart from the tourism industry, the exploitation of natural resources
has been
unplanned, resulting in a severe reduction in these resources. Tourism,
while
initially carefully controlled, has become less so as it has expanded.
A new
regime must be introduced to ensure the sustainable use of resources
and the
continued survival of Galapagos as a socio-economic entity.
Fisheries
There is a clear need for strengthening the fisheries regulatory
structure to
ensure optimum use of this resource for local consumption rather than
for
export. The protection of the marine environment is essential to the
survival
of the Galapagos National Park and the prosperity of the tourism
industry. At
present there are some 800 'new fishermen' in Galapagos and the
programme needs
to address ways of reducing the number of people involved.
Agriculture
Little or no research has been done on the agricultural potential of
Galapagos
and it is not geared to the needs of the local population. Studies are
needed
to investigate ways of making it more responsive to the needs of the
local
market, to help farmers to switch production and to make the best use
of the
existing land available for agriculture. Significant areas of land
available
for agriculture have been used and then abandoned.
Timber and Building Materials
Effective controls are needed to ensure that the local resources (sand,
scoria,
timber, rock) are used to maximum effect with minimum impact on the
environment.
..Top
Management of the Human Population
The success of tourism in Galapagos has resulted in a rapid population
growth
without a corresponding growth of infrastructure or alternative economic
activities compatible with the conservation of the islands, on which
tourism
depends. Limiting migration to the islands is a key objective and the
Ecuadorian constitution has been amended to allow controls to be
introduced.
Studies are needed to decide how best to proceed to link socio-economic
development of the island communities with the protection of the
biodiversity.
This will include developing an administrative and operational
structure to
suit the unique situation of the Galapagos Islands.
Tourism
Tourism in the islands is managed by the Galapagos National Park
authorities.
The current Park management plan is under review and is expected to be
completed in 2003. This document outlines all the regulations regarding
carrying capacity, permitted use according to a zoning system, and all
activities related to public use of the Galapagos land areas.
These activities include:
* Establishing and implementing a tourism system
(first created in the late
1960's)
* Control and receiving of visitors
* Management and control of tourism operations that
includes the regulation
of new methodology
* Management of a concession system for licensing of
tour operators
* Management and control of the training and
licensing of national park
naturalists guides
* Management of visitors site and recreational areas
* Support for tourism activities in the urban and
rural (non park) areas
October 9, 2004:
What has been done
about threats to the ecosystem:
Fishing:
Executive Decree enforced by the National Part service banned all
fishing of sea
cucumbers in the Galapagos.
Ban has since been replaced by a quota.
Introduced Species:
Charles Darwin Foundation:
Total Control Plan consists of three strategic direction:
1.) prevention of new introductions and spread of existing ones,
including the
development and strengthening of the Inspection and Quarantine System
for the
Galapagos (SICGAL), as well as the establishment of a monitoring system
and
rapid response teams to detect incursions.
2.) mitigation of the negative impact of existing introduced species,
including
the development of prioritizing systems and the implementation of
restoration
and management programs based on cost-benefit criteria.
3.) capacity buidling and institutional strengthening of organizations
within
the Galapagos to enable them to effected manage and implement the
overall total
control plan.
Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Monitoring (VEM) in Charles Darwin
Foundation concentrates on conservation science involving the land
animals of
the Galapagos Islands, but includes general monitoring activites.
Four research and conservation programs focus on introduced vertebrates
and
endemic mammals, birds, reptiles, and general monitoring.
Department of Terrestrial Invertebrates of the Charles Darwin
Foundation carries
out research on the biology and ecology of Galapagos invertebrate
fauna, and
improve the invertebrate reference colleciton. Also developed
strategies for
invasive species eradication and control.
Project Isabela: a joint GNPS and CDF initiative. The ecological
restoration of
northern Isabela Island in the western part of the Galapagos
Archipelago.
In 2003, Project Isabela continued to eradicate goats on Santiago
Island while
preparing for the larger campaign on northern Isabela Island in
2004. Gound
hunting and dog teams dramatically reduced the goat population on
Santiago. An
earlier phase of the project eradicated the feral pig population; no
pigs have
been seen in three years. The helicopters for the aerial hunting
of the goats
arrived in Galapagos in July 2003 and aerial hunting began in 2004.
Project for the Control and Eradication of Invasive Species - part of a
strategy
devised jointly by the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos
National
Park Service to handle the problem of invasive species.
It is funded by the United Nations Foundation (UNF) through a grant of
approximately US$4 million, which is channeled through UNESCO.
Project's main goal is to determine new methods for the management of
invasive
species and their effects, while simultaneously accomplishing actual
eradication of selected populations and impact mitigation of others.
Management includes local participation.
Project fact sheet:
Full project name: Control and Eradication of Invasive Species: A
necessary
condition for conserving endemic biodiversity of Galápagos World
Heritage Site
Project site: Galápagos World Heritage Site, Ecuador
Duration: Four years
Project starting date: January 31, 2000
Funding: United Nations Foundation (UNF)/United Nations Fund for
International
Partnerships (UNFIP)
UNF/UNFIP total grant of US$ 3.999.850, of which
* US$ 1.999.850 is an outright grant
* US$ 1.000.000 is a challenge grant subject to
recipient agency raising and
additional US$ 1.000.000
Recipient: UNESCO World Heritage Center
Project execution: UNESCO World Heritage Center in co-operation with
the Charles
Darwin Foundation, Charles Darwin Research Station and the
Galápagos National
Park Service
Legal framework: Special Law for Galápagos, enacted by the
Ecuadorian Government
on March 18, 1998
Main goal: To constitute an example of how to handle the problem of
invasive
species by
1. providing proven methodologies for eradicating invasive
species and/or
mitigating their effect
2. establishing an effective and participatory quarantine
system to prevent
new introductions and the spread of existing ones
Islands chosen for project execution: Baltra, Fernandina, Floreana,
Genovesa,
Marchena, Pinzón, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santiago,
Southern Isabela and
Western Isabela.
Species/Ecological interactions chosen for project execution:
* Eradication of Smooth-Billed Anis (Crotophaga ani)
* Eradication of Rock Doves (Columba liva)
* Eradication of feral cats (Felis catus)
* Eradication of Black Rats (Rattus rattus)
* Eradication of Little Red Fire Ants (Wasmannia
auropunctata)
* Impact mitigation of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) on
Dark-Rumped Petrels
(Pterodroma phaeopygia)
* Impact mitigation of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) on
Mangrove Finches
(Camarhynchus heliobates)
* Impact mitigation of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) on
Galápagos tortoises
(Geochelone ephippium)
* Impact mitigation of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on
sea turtles (Chelonia
mydas)
* Impact mitigation of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on
Galápagos Tortoises (G.
guntheri and G. vicina)
* Impact mitigation of Black Fly (Simulium
bipunctatum) on native fauna
* Experimental control of Quinine (Cinchona
pubescens)
Other project components:
* Communication of invasive species issues to the
local, national and
international public
* Training of scholarship students and technical
staff in invasive species
research and management
* Establishment of an effective quarantine system
for the islands
Green Turtles:
Long term study initiated by Patricia Zarate called: Monitoring green
turtles on
the nesting beaches of Galapagos. Previous studies showed that
the nesting
colony in Galapagos was one of the larges in the Eastern Pacific.
This research will continue the earlier work, compiling new data about
the
nesting habits of green turtles and quantifying the impacts that
predators have
on the reproduction of the species.
The study will serve to develop future plans for the conservation and
protection
of the species.
Result of work: hope to learn how many females nest in Galapagos each
year, and
the number of hatchlings. There will also be genetic
identification of the
green turtle population of Galapagos.
Previous research indicated that wild pigs and native sacarab beetles
are
preying on eggs of the green turtles. Through this study, it will
be possible
to evaluate their impact and also to plan methods to protect the
turtles'
nests.
Social Actions:
Special Law for Galapagos.
Process of management of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, the System of
Quaratine
and Inspection for Galapagos (SICGAL), and the formulation of
regulations and
norms include Galapagos inhabitants.
The procedures established to regulate the activaties that affect
conservation
need a strategy whereby the community "appropriates" them,
participating in
their design and development.
Education:
GLOBE program - world wide network of teachers, students, and
scientists.
Integrated Educational Reform
Curriculum Reform
Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR)
Created in 1998.
Galapagos National Park founded
In 1959, precisely one hundred years after the publication of Darwin's
Origin of
the Species, Ecuador decred the islands its first national park,
preserving
whatever land that was already settled for protection.
Five years later, the Charles Darwin Research station was opened
outside of
Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz.
In terrestrial conservation, the main issue is management of invasive
species
and how to restore the native biodiversity and ecosystems.
The challenge to marine conservation is overexploitation.
Threats
* Some endemic species are close to extinction e.g.
two sun stars and one
reef fish.
* Illegal, industrial-scale fishing remains in
Galapagos a constant danger
to the Marine Reserve.
* Many fishermen would like to be allowed to trade
sharks caught as bycatch
of fishing aimed at tuna. This would encourage indiscriminate fishing
methods
and may lead to the decline of the sharks, which are an ecologically
important,
as well as famous, part of Galapagos marine life.
* Monitoring of incoming fishing boats is well
controlled from land, but the
Galapagos National Park still does not have sufficient resources to
adequately
monitor fishing activities at sea.
* There is continuing resistance from the fishing
sector to the limits
imposed on fisheries. They will continue to fight for higher numbers
until it
sees hard evidence that this extraction could be over exploitative and
might
cause irreversible economic and environmental impacts.
* Other ecological threats posed by shipping, such
as pollution, are
increasing. The oil spill from the tanker, Jessica, demonstrated this so
dramatically in January 2001. Contingency plans have to be prepared for
ecological emergencies.
Projects addressing the threats:
* Monitoring the commercial fishing, by Galapagos
fishermen, of sea
cucumber, grouper and three species of lobsters.
* Investigating the impacts of the growing dive
tourism on the marine
visitor sites.
* Collecting data regarding the subtidal and inter
tidal biodiversity of
fishes, invertebrates and macro algae at shallow coastal sites (of less
than 20
metres depth). These activities are part of the continuing evaluation
of the
different management zones established in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
* Protection of the two species of Galapagos sea
lion.
* The study of the nesting activities of the green
turtle (Chelonia mydas)
at the four main nesting sites. Data collection on marine turtles had
been
interrupted for 17 years and was only reinitiated last year.
* The collection and analysis of satellite data of
sea surface temperature
and chlorophyll. This analysis is of paramount importance in predicting
El Nino
events and their impact on marine life.
* Educational activities e.g. training courses for
the naturalist guides of
the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
* Experimental rearing of sea cucumbers in areas
where they are fished with
a view to restocking areas that have been over fished.
* Protection of Sea lions - there are two endemic
species: Galapagos Sea
Lion Zalophus wollebaeki and Galapagos Fur Seal Arctocephalus
galapagoensis.
The fur seal and sea lion populations are highly vulnerable to fishing
operations and an unknown number of individuals are drowned, entangled
or
hooked during coastal and high seas fishing operations which in many
cases
result in death.
09/22/04
Tentative assignments for this week, as was divided during the team
meeting today:
Part I
1. Ecosystem (Alicia, Marco, Anna)
2. Threat to the ecosystem (Jackie, Fawah, Jessica)
3. What has been done about the threats to the ecosystem (Brittany,
Ouqi)
Part II
1. Village design (Anna, Jessica, Ouqi)
2. Network of sensors monitoring ecosystem (Jackie, Alicia)
3. Biopreserve (Fawah, Brittany, Marco)
Contact Information:
Ouqi Jiang
320 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
(617) 225-8496
jiango@mit.edu
MIT homepage