Research Log

September 20, 2004

Research Synopsis:  Thursday, September 16 2004:  Galápagos's park rangers are currently on strike. This involves the shutting down of the Charles Darwin station to tourists, along with the major tourist centers and turtle hatcheries on all the major islands. This is accompanied by inaction on their part, leaving the islands exposed. The park rangers have demanded that a dialog be opened with Fabián Valdiviezo, Ecuador's Minister of the Environment. Among the major points the park rangers are looking for are for wages to be paid promptly and that political influences be kept out of the management of the archipelago. They are also asking for the national park to be run internally (it is currently run by the government) as with the recent change of park directors (Fausto Cepeda is replacing Edwin Naula), it will make eight directors the national park has had in a year. The Ministry of Finances declared that it has set aside $700,000 dollars to pay the wages of the 220 rangers and is already preparing to renew their contracts. The rangers have said that they will not lift the strike until Fabián Valdiviezo personally comes to the island to initiate diplomatic solutions.
Current Update:    The rangers are still on strike, making this the 10th day of the strike. The rangers have threatened drastic measures. Among these are halting the payment of the tax tourists pay to the government when they enter the islands and removing personnel from the Biological Marine Reserve, including those that prevent illegal fishing.
Source: El Comercio Newspaper - Galápagos Under Strike for 6th Day

Commentary:    The current situation in Galápagos is unfortunately, quite typical of Ecuadorian politics. However, it is positive that the park rangers are seeking autonomous control if not of the islands, of the national park. This would provide a fantastic link for a multi-national task force, composed of members of government and scientists, to begin working directly with the national park. Such a solution would still keep Ecuadorian sovereignty over the islands but would allow for a relatively unpolitical management of the Marine and Wildlife reserves.

October 3, 2004

Commentary on Annual Report 2003 published by Fundación Charles Darwin:
Right from the start the report makes a very clear statement. Charles Darwin Foundation president Peter Kramer writes: "CDF is forging alliances with local, national, and international organizations, committed to the conservation of Galápagos." I find this to be extremely positive, as it indicates that already their exists a propensity on the islands to look for outside help and integrate international communities into the running of the islands.
    Though much of the report deals with the elimination of invasive species, there was also a very interesting segment pertaining to the political and administrative aspects of the Charles Darwin Foundation. A heavy emphasis is being placed on education. Books, videos and CDs detailing conservation techniques and awareness were distributed and have resulted in a better understanding of the underlying issues in Galápagos by its inhabitants. Another very positive note was that several surveys taken recently have revealed that the young people of Galápagos (ages 15 to 25 years old) have attitudes that are more enviromentally positive than adults. A consideration that this brings up is that since they will be the future leaders of Galápagos, there will be a higher of level of understanding between the inhabitants and any future organizations involved in the preservation of the islands.
    I also found very interesting the new and exciting implementations of technology on the islands. The creation of an island intranet has permitted scientists and administrative personnel a more facilitated way to write grant proposals and keep track of donors. Implementation of sensors to keep track non-indigenous wildlife was also an interesting topic, but more pertaining to the ecological task force of our group than the political.
    Finally, I found it extremely heartening that CDF has provided enormous support for scientific organizations to come to the islands and film/research. Being the most powerful link to the outside world, institutions such as Smithsonian, National Geographic, BBC and Newton Press provide an essential link in educating people internationally about the Galápagos and could ultimately provide the widespread support needed to create a taskforce semi-autonomous from the Ecuadorian government to aid in running the islands.

October 10, 2004

Synopsis:    The following link contains my brief summary regarding the Special Law of Galápagos. Though it covers the main points regarding this very important law, it by no means covers everything. Those of you who are interested in seeing the whole thing (and who have a fairly good capacity for Spanish) can find the entire legislation at the Ministry of the Environment website.

Commentary:    For those of you who read my summary of the main points of the Special Law of Galápagos, it is a very complex piece of legislation. It provides key insights into the method through which the Ecuadorian government runs the islands. Because Galápagos is not run directly by the Ecuadorian Congress or any provincial bodies, but rather through an already semi-autonomous body (INGALA), my hope is that plans could be developed in which international associations and influences could be made to participate in the several councils that run the islands and the national park, including INGALA. This is a somewhat more feasible option of getting the Ecuadorian government's cooperation in getting other nations of the world involved in the management of Galápagos, because it keeps the islands sovereignty in Ecuador but manages to get outside influences at the very center of the complex decision making that runs the day to day affairs on the Archipelago.