Notes from October 20, 2004
Minimizing Impact
- Renewable resources
- power
- water
- floating water purification facilities
- Recycle/eliminate/minimize/reuse
- waste
- burn waste for fuel
- cons: creation of air pollution
- recycling plants
- opening plants on islands would disturb ecosystem and create
pollution
- sewage
- Self containment
- isolation - fencing in/using other method to separate ideal
village from ecosystem
- minimize environmental footprint
- sacrificing one island to keep the others pristine
- Baltra
- previously used as an air base by the US
- currently occupied by an air port
- similar ecosystem to larger island because it split off
from the larger island due to seismic activity?
- floating cities
- would not interfere with the ecosystem of the islands
- however, has limited capability for growth
- waste disposal is difficult since waste cannot be strewn
into the ocean
- Location must be optimized
- Limiting populations
- population limits on Galapagos residents is effective, but
limits on tourists are not
- cost of living in Galapagos is low--> subsidized by the
Ecuadorean government (possibly due to money from tourism)
- this increases immigration to the Galapagos
- more people on the islands mean greater environmental impact
- may be necessary to remove incentive to move to the Galapagos
(possibly taxation?)
- beware of political backlash
- people do not generally like change even if it is for the
better
- Livestock problems
- grazing cattle, goats and pigs encroach on land that is the
habitat of native Galapagos plants and animals
- understand need for livestock and attempt to solve problem by
addressing these needs
- Use effectively "inert" building materials
- also incorporate recycled building materials
- Incorporate indigenous people in the decision making process
- allow them to have a voice so they feel like helped bring about
the change so there is not such a backlash against decisions
- educate natives about importance of preserving environment and
conserving resources