Objective 3: The Ideal Village

 

Located 1000km off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos archipelago offers the world a unique view of the natural and exotic.  These islands that spurred Darwin’s revolutionary theory on evolution and natural selection, offer the scientific community a living laboratory, but also offer tourists a host of wonders that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.  Ecuador has the potential to be an economic leader of South America, but political tensions and economic instability have prevented this from occurring.  Amidst all of this confusion, over use threatens the Galapagos’ fragile ecosystem.  Demand for sea cucumbers and fish have left the ocean populations devastated.  Expanding numbers of tourists and immigrants create need for expanding the urban settlements and tourist attractions, thereby imposing on the as-of-yet untouched environs on the islands.  Growing numbers of marine transportation vehicles increase petroleum energy use on and around the islands, which is the leading source of pollution.  This is only a small piece of the great threat facing the Galapagos at this time.

 

MIT Course 12.000, also known as Solving Complex Problems and Mission 2008, has been assigned the challenge of addressing these problems and designing an ideal solution for the preservation of the Galapagos.  As part of the third objective of Mission 2008, we have the specific challenge of creating an “idealized” village for the archipelago. 

 

I.  Introduction

 

In order to approach the designing of an “idealized village,” the first step is defining the ideal for which we strive to reach.  To justify these decisions, a little background information about the structure of the islands may be beneficial. 

 

Although many islands make up the archipelago, the majority of the population of 20,000 live on three islands: Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristobal.  The highest percentage of the population, about 10,000 people, resides in Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz.  The capitol, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristobal has about 5,500, with a total island population near 6,000.  Isabela, although the largest island geographically, has about 2,000 people living mostly in Puerto Vilamil.  Floreanna has a population of about 80 people.  Many of the other islands are uninhabited, though some have tourist sites and many experience illegal camping.  (More on this subject here.)

 

In light of this population set-up, the ideal solution would be to leave the existing villages and towns in place, but to encourage a more ecologically minded running of the towns.  This approach to the problem is justified because the damage already done in the Galapagos cannot be reversed, but the prevention of further devastation can only help.  If the sources of endangering behavior are stopped, then the first step to allowing the ecosystem to rebuild and repair itself can begin.  Our plan can be accomplished through minor regulations and the establishment of eco-friendly processes for municipal projects and daily life. 

 

II. Plan of Action

 

In order to create an ideal village, the people living in the village must be the main concern, second only to the welfare of the ecosystem.  This section will cover the aspects necessary for a town or village to adequately provide for its residents.  Included in each section is a summary of what is the current situation on the islands and what a proposed solution would be to make the process more efficient, safer for the island ecosystem, or both. 

Energy Sources
    Additional information on Energy in the Galapagos

Water - Sources and Wastewater Managament
    Additional information on Wastewater Management

Waste Management

Transportation

Facilities and Services

Education
    Additional information on Education

Economy and Job Market

Enforcement and Regulation Concerns

Visiting Population

Agriculture and Aquaculture

III. Conclusion

In conclusion, the ideal village would minimize impact caused by the human inhabitants while helping to improve their standard of living in order to preserve the Galapagos.  Key methods in accomplishing this are through educating the people in the Galapagos about the consequences of all actions and the importance of their islands, establishing municipal systems for the people in order to lower the impact the islands will sustain over time, and encouraging that regulations be upheld either through clarification or funding to enforcement organizations in order to help the islands run smoothly.  The Galapagos archipelago is a unique and fragile environment that we are trying to save from further harm.  Through the creation of this city structure, the wellbeing of the islands can hopefully be maintained and protected.