CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION NEWS BULLETIN
GEF project was a success
In
November, the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) celebrated the successful
completion of its responsibilities in the Global Environment Facility
funded project Control of Invasive Species in the Galapagos Archipelago.
The
project was launched in 2001 with the main objective of empowering
Galapagos institutions to manage invasive species and guard against
future bio-invasions.
CDF played a pivotal
role in the project and was involved in strengthening biosecurity,
developing tools for research and for prioritising conservation
management actions, designing cost effective methods for eradicating
and controlling highly invasive species, and building community
awareness about the impacts of introduced species.
Using
techniques that were developed during the project, Galapagos teams
successfully eradicated 7 invasive species from individual islands and
3 invasive species from the entire archipelago. Besides, considerable
groundwork was carried out to identify major invasive species threats
in Galapagos and to learn more about how these species interact with
native species.
Among the outcomes for
strengthening biosecurity were procedures manuals for inspectors and
technicians, and protocols for fumigation of planes and boats. An early
warning system was also implemented on inhabited islands with
technicians trained to monitor the ports of entry, agriculture zones,
and airplanes for the arrival of high risk pests.
Since
it is critical to involve the local community in invasive species
management, CDF has helped in the development of the Agricultural
Health and SICGAL Committee and Inter-institutional Introduced Species
Committees. Campaigns were run throughout the project to reach wider
audiences; pamphlets, posters and numerous television and radio spots
were produced. Over 12,000 students learned about invasive species
impacts and 30 teachers were trained to teach introduced species
concepts.
Now our challenge is to find
funding to continue these projects and effectively implement an
integrated and permanent system for the Total Control of Invasive
Species in Galapagos.
Congratulations to all
the committed people at CDF involved in making this happen as well as
to our Galapagos partners in this project!
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'Grow me instead': the CDF native gardens project
We have new and wonderful gardens at the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in Puerto Ayora, using only native and endemic plants.
Following
the award of a two year grant from the Nordic Friends of Galapagos, the
Finnish Government and Roma Pizza, we started to landscape and expand
our gardens to encourage others to do the same. Galapagos has a diverse
and beautiful native flora, comprising 500 native species of which 180
are found nowhere else in the world.
The aim
of this project is to provide gardeners in Santa Cruz with native
alternatives to introduced species, thus helping to protect the
biodiversity of this archipelago.
Invasive alien species are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in Galapagos.
About
60% of the 800 introduced plant species were introduced as ornamentals;
some have already become invasive, others are waiting to do so.
Beside
the plants, with posters and information we are providing a more
interesting and informative site for local and foreign visitors who
come to our Research Station.
We have also
been working in our upland nursery in Bellavista, setting up an example
native forest with the help of the Friends of Galapagos in Japan
(Japanese Association for Galapagos - JAGA). The nursery is also
producing plants for people wishing to reforest their farmland.
These
improvements have galvanised the local community into action. We are
working with six schools, including setting up two small nurseries, the
university students are growing plants with us to re-landscape the
entrance of Puerto Ayora, we have created a native garden for the
Municipality, the Capitania is sending staff to grow plants to redo
their gardens, and we have produced 2,000 plants for people in Santa
Cruz.
It is one of our favourite projects -
making a positive difference, working with people to create beautiful
spaces using the native and endemic flora of Galapagos. The next step
is to produce a guide to native plants for gardens.
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Training and knowledge for the guides
In
October we started to support the Galapagos National Park Service's
intensive refresher courses for naturalist guides from both the
National Park and the Marine Reserve. The course is mandatory for
guides to renew their licences.
The course,
which is the first offered in roughly 6 years, enables the guides to
update their knowledge of scientific research as well as local and
national laws and regulations related to preserving the biodiversity of
the Galapagos Islands. It also enables the GNPS to maintain contact
with the Guides.
The weekly three-day course
includes presentations by scientists from the Charles Darwin
Foundation, INGALA, Ministry of Tourism, as well as a round-table
discussion held with the GNPS Director Raquel Molina. Subjects
presented include the latest research in the areas of botany,
invertebrates, vertebrates and marine biology, environmental
interpretation, regulations pertaining to fishing licenses and INGALA,
as well as first aid.
Courses content can
be altered based on group feedback. The Charles Darwin Foundation has
been helping to coordinate and prepare scientists to conduct
presentations.
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