ECUADOR RESPONDS TO WORLD HERITAGE COMMISSION
Following the decision by the World Heritage Commission earlier this year to place Galapagos on the 'In Danger' list, the Ecuadorian Government has sent its first response, indicating how it intends to solve some of the problems which caused the islands to be placed on the endangered list.
The report, prepared by the Instituto Nacional Galapagos (INGALA) and the Galapagos National Park, addresses immigration controls, eradication of alien species and educational reform. Patricia Hermann, coordinator of the 'Galapagos 2020 Initiative' of the Ministry of the Environment, indicated that this and other actions under Executive Decree 270 of April 10th 2007, they were putting in motion the measures to solve the problems. The driving force behind the plan is Eliecer Cruz, previously Director of the Galapagos National Park, but now Governor of the Province of Galapagos.
The Ecuadorian Government has set up a Trust Fund to help with the control of invasive species. The fund currently holds $8m US with contributions from the Ecuadorian Government, Conservation International, the UN Fund and the World Environment Fund. It has a target of $15m US. The trust fund will be administered by the Ecuadorian National Environment Fund.
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