Source: Charles Darwin Foundation

The "Corals of Galapagos" project team ran a workshop on "How to protect the remaining coral reefs in the northern Islands of Darwin, Wolf and Marchena", on Santa Cruz in January 2007. Marine experts, including scientists from the Charles Darwin Research Station, representatives of Conservation International and the Galapagos National Park joined stakeholder groups, including Galapagos dive guides and fishers, to discuss the importance of the coral reefs of the marine reserve and a plan to create anchorages to reduce the impacts of fishing and tourism on these fragile reefs.

Marine Ecosystems Project Leader Stuart Banks said, "The workshop's goal is to provide information to groups with a decision-making role in the marine reserve participatory management system and encourage them to stay involved in the implementation of their own decisions - ultimately ensuring sustainable use of the resources and protection of the corals by the very people who benefit from a healthy ecosystem."

The Galapagos coral communities were heavily impacted by the strong El Niño events of 1982-3 and 1997-8 resulting in an alarming reduction of more than 97% of the previously known coralline habitat.

Corals modify significantly the direction and speed of ocean currents as well as being highly productive habitats for many species. In Galapagos they are also focal points for various human activities within the marine reserve. Galapagos is a world-renowned diving spot and also relies on coral to provide habitat and protection for many valuable fishery species. CDF's research will monitor the state of the coral community around the anchorages, providing information about the composition, distribution and condition of corals and their associated communities.

Both the dive tourism and the fishing sectors showed great interest in participating in the installation of buoys in strategic sites near Darwin, Wolf and Marchena islands in the next months. These anchorages, which are specially designed to minimize environmental impact, avoid the damage caused by frequent use of anchors. This project has been possible thanks to financial support from the British Government's Darwin Initiative.

Hopefully, the enthusiasm and shared concern shown during the workshop will be another step towards guaranteeing a safe future for the unique marine ecosystems of Galapagos.

Source: Galapagos National Park

Floreana, with 173 square kilometres of area, is the smallest island and the one with the smallest population but also one of the most altered given it was the first island to be colonised and to have a permanent population.

These first human settlers brought with them domestic animals which, due to a fluctuating human population, soon reproduced and invaded virtually all the island, degrading its ecosystems as these invasive species competed with the native and endemic species for food, killed their young and eggs, eroded the soil and reduced vegetation cover. These invasive species are responsible for the extinction of one species (Sicyos villosa). The giant tortoises of Floreana were also hunted by humans who used them as food.

Last December, the Galapagos National Park started an ambitious project with the objective of restoring the ecology of Floreana in the medium to long term. The first part of "Project Floreana" is to eradicate some introduced vertebrates such as goats and donkeys so as to stop the degradation of the vegetation and allow some of the native and endemic plant species to recover e.g. Lecocarpus pinnatifidus, Scalesia affinis, Scalesia villosa, Cordia leucophyctis, Tiquilia fusca, Opuntia megasperma var. megasperma, Croton scouleri, Linux cratericota y Limpia salicifolia.

Thanks to the experience gained by the team during Project Isabela, 98% of the donkeys and goats were eradicated in 22 days. The remaining 2% will follow soon. It is expected that in 3 years the benefits to the ecosystem (including the local community) will be seen. Due to the elimination of invasive species, the endemic flora and fauna is expected to increase and repopulate those areas previously destroyed.

Sixteen Galapagos based tourist boats recently participated in a Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) led study to find out how ship lights might contribute to the dispersal of insects in the archipelago. The study by Lazaro Roque and other CDF entomologists found solutions that will reduce the spread of introduced species to and between the Galapagos Islands.

Although a trip to Galapagos allows visitors the privilege of experiencing nature at its most remarkable, tourism is not without costs to the environment. The boats and planes that arrive daily bring with them insects and other invertebrates that threaten Galapagos ecosystems. Once here, alien species are frequently dispersed between islands by human activity or under their own power.

Results of the study revealed that the large number of external and internal lights used by the boats attracts nocturnal insects, especially moths, and that these species follow the ships to other islands. A total of 171 species were collected during the study. A quarter of these species are introduced to Galapagos and over half of are considered a threat to the biodiversity of pristine islands, such as Fernandina.

"The chances of transporting insects on boats are even higher in the rainy season, which is associated with greater insect activity" commented Roque, whose team found that during a 3 hour period in the dry season, an average of 150 insects were attracted to a boat with 18 external lights. Contrast that with the same amount of time in the rainy season when over three times the number of insects was collected (466).

Simple solutions suggested for the local fleet are the use of light bulbs with colors that are less attractive to insects and turning off lights four hours before a ship's departure, both effective methods to avoid insects alighting on the boats. Said Roque "We have identified cost efficient options that the Galapagos tourist sector can employ to reduce the unnatural spread of species." CDF has also recommended that tour itineraries be reviewed so that pristine islands are not visited immediately after sites with higher numbers of invasive species.

The transportation of insects from other parts of the world to Galapagos via tourist boats is even more worrying. The routes taken by these boats form a dangerous link between Galapagos and other countries. This creates new pathways for invasive species which are not found on mainland Ecuador and thus currently not at risk of being introduced by commercial airlines or cargo boats that already visit Galapagos on a regular basis.

In 2006 CDF entomologists carried out a survey for the Galapagos National Park to evaluate the risks associated with international cruise liners visiting the islands. During a four hour collecting session aboard the cruise liner M/V Discovery researchers found 43 individuals of six moth species that had been attracted to the ship's lights and traveled on board the ship to Galapagos. Four of the moths are not found in Galapagos and all potentially pose a serious threat to Galapagos species. Caution suggests that international cruise ships be considered likely vectors of invasive species.

It makes good business sense for the tourism sector to lead the way in preventing the spread of introduced species. Tourism is one of the most important sources of revenue for Ecuador and for Galapagos. The financial and ecological cost of invasive species spreading throughout the islands' fragile ecosystems is far higher than taking early preventative steps to reduce the movement of insects to and around the islands. Working together to find solutions will help ensure that this astonishing and extraordinary community of animals, plants, and people will remain the best preserved oceanic archipelago on the planet.