Update from the Technical Director of Project Isabela

December 2002

Dear Friends,

As the year is coming to an end and festivities begin to fill our thoughts, I would like to take a few minutes of your time to inform you of our year's work. Prior to that I'd like to pass on our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and more successful New Year on behalf of the Isabela Project Team.

We have continued our efforts in training and capacity building while at the same time carrying on the activities focused to eradicate the goats from Northern Isabela as well as from Santiago Island. So far, we have accomplished the following:

• A full year of improvements with the training of Hunters.
• Several training events dedicated to enhance the hunter's abilities and skills to perform with excellence while doing their day-to-day routine.
• Changes and improvements in the strategy for hunting on Santiago to be used later on Isabela.
• Initiated the eradication of introduced plants on Santiago.
• Improvements on the dog kennels as well as with the training, breeding and handling of the dogs.
• Developed and carried on the activities stipulated in the GEF Project, with the aim to start the aerial hunting on June 2003 on Isabela. This includes the following:
  1. Terms of Reference for the bidding process to hire a helicopter company;
  2. Terms of Reference to build the base camp;
  3. Selecting and ordering field equipment for next year's campaign;
  4. Terms of Reference for the fuel boat and the logistic boat;
  5. Reporting and participation on the evaluation and planning for next years operational plan.
• With the Isabela Project Coordinator leaving, coordination of the Project fell in the hands of the Technical component, increasing responsibilities for that part of the team.
• Other activities include the participation on several occasions in forums to talk about Galapagos, the Project and related themes within the islands, Ecuador and in other countries.
• Technical assistance to other areas of the Galapagos National Park and in other islands.
• Communications with all the supporters via reports and proposals.
• Communications with the international experts to keep them informed about the Project and it's developments.
• Coordination with the UN-GEF-UNDP office to carry on the Project.
• Administration of the Project including reporting, proposal writing and supervision of all aspects related to funds, and especially the lack of them!

In brief, we are very happy with the year's activities and results. On Santiago, more than 40,000 goats have been removed and the island is showing some signs of recovering from the overgrazing effects of all those goats.

Thank you to all our supporters and we hope that in the coming year, that support will be increased dramatically!

Felipe Cruz
Technical Director
Isabela Project

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