Objectives
We have three distinct but overlapping objectives in Mission 2008.
1. To develop a new preservation strategy for 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.
2. To design and deploy a network of environmental sensors to support a comprehensive program of ecosystem monitoring on the islands and surrounding waters.
3. To design an idealized "village" for permanent residents and visitors that would ensure the lowest possible human impact on island ecosystems.
Due the number of participants almost doubled from last year, the structure of our course is very different than it was for Mission 2007. Students are divided into two sections (Las Tortugas and Las Iguanas), which independently do research about the issues with Galapagos Islands and develop two distincr strategies to deal the ovjectives described above.
Both sections are then divided into five smaller groups consisting of about ten enthusiastic students. Each group has an island or two on which they perform the research and cooperating with other groups in their section aim to achieve the goals set in the beginning of the course
My group, Group Three of the Las Iguanas, has the following islands to work with: Santiago, Santa Cruz and a bunch of smaller isnlands. The first impression of the assigned task was full of enthusiasm but also that these islands predict a lot of work for us. The characteristics of our islands were identified at least the following things: Santiago and Santa Cruz are the main islands of Galapagos and thus the most dense populated areas; tourism on these islands is a major issue and our area is in the middle of Galapagos archipelago and surrounded by islands researched by the other groups.
