Tsunami Appeal 2011

Assessing the impacts on vulnerable Galapagos species following the March tsunami and repairing the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF)'s damaged marine laboratory

GCT is helping to raise £76,650 to assess the impact the tsunami had on the Galapagos' coastal ecosystems and wildlife and to help restore the marine laboratory in which the Islands' research work so depends.  To support this appeal, please click here.

Introduction

On Friday 11 March 2011, the Galapagos coastal reserve and populated port areas were subjected to the largest tsunami event in their recorded history - a consequence of an 8.9 magnitude earthquake originating off the coast of Japan.  The resulting waves when pushed from deep water over the Galapagos platform caused unprecedented levels of overnight coastal flooding and current surge across the Archipelago.  Reaching 1.77m above the already high tide, Academy Bay (Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz island) was among those areas worst affected, although several reports suggest similar impacts in remote bays across the Archipelago.  During the following week the Government of Ecuador declared a state of emergency in relation to the coastal areas of Ecuador and Galapagos affected by the tsunami.

How Galapagos has been affected

The human population was safely evacuated, but there have been no assessments of impacts to coastal ecosystems (e.g. corals, mangroves, lagoons), nor to nesting endemic and IUCN red listed species.

Ecosystems exposed to the wave include sandy beaches used by nesting turtles; rocky coasts and cliffs used as refuges for Sea Lions, Fur Seals, Marine Iguanas, and nesting areas for many sea birds; and patches of mangrove which are important nursery areas for marine species and the only habitat worldwide for the extremely rare Mangrove Finch.  The effects of the tsunami and scouring of extremely strong currents observed on species found on the oceans sea bed is also as yet unknown.

A tsunami can have catastrophic consequences for small, localised animal populations or short lived species, and the timing of this tsunami coincided with peak breeding season for several native animals (e.g. Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Penguins, Flightless Cormorants and Green Sea Turtles).  It is imperative that scientists get out to all coastal nesting areas across the Islands as quickly as possible to determine which populations may have been the most harmed.

CDF's ability to address tsunami impacts and ongoing research for conservation priorities has also been greatly compromised by extensive damage to their marine laboratory.  The sooner scientists can rebuild infrastructure and evaluate impacts on wildlife and ecosystems across the Islands, the sooner they can get back to conserving one of the world's greatest natural treasures.

Work that needs to take place: 

• Reconstruction of the CDF marine laboratory and replacement of key marine sampling and dive equipment destroyed during the tsunami event:  Secure laboratory by fitting doors and windows, restore capacity to carry out scientific dive operations (replace tanks, compressors, etc.), and ensure a functional marine laboratory infrastructure (restore sea water flow to wet lab, repair/replace work benches, storage facilities, etc.).

• Rapid coastal assessment across the Islands.  Undertake rapid coastal evaluation campaign with the Galapagos National Park (GNP) and the Naval Oceanographic Institute, where possible, to gauge impacts in specific sensitive coastal zones across the Archipelago, e.g. mangrove areas, turtle nesting beaches, Marine Iguana nesting areas, penguin and cormorant nesting areas.

•  Alongside the rapid assessment, make use of donated space on tourist boats to carry out assessments of wildlife found at affected visitor sites.

• Prepare data sheet templates and initiate a two-month campaign to collect observations from naturalist guides and boat captains ('citizen science') increasing coverage of short-mid term effects.

• Conduct the yearly comparative subtidal monitoring across 64 long-term monitoring sites and coastal species-specific surveys for 2011 with emphasis on physical disturbance for habitat forming species such as macroalgae and corals.

•  Produce a summary review of the tsunami impact upon the Galapagos Marine Reserve natural resources and present to stakeholders and the local community.  The human dimension is being appraised through Ecuadorian National Risk Management Authority assessments.

 Expected Outcomes: 

• Restored functionality of the CDF marine research facility as the local centre for scientific excellence in applied conservation in protected areas, responding to priority stakeholder concerns.

•  A rapid risk assessment for impacted species, communities, habitats and processes.

• A final review document and workshop discussing tsunami related impacts and concerns upon the Galapagos ecosystem.

Total funding required for this project is £76,750.  To help GCT support this work, please click here to donate via our secure website or write to GCT, 5 Derby Street, London, W1J 7AB.  

Thank you very much for your support.