The Galapagos Islands Essay Example for Free

The Galapagos Islands EssayThe Galapagos Islands were first inscribed as a World Heritage site in endangerment in 1978. This was extended in 2001 and they were again inscribed in June 2007. The islands ar found on the Pacific Ocean, 1000 kilometer from the South American continent, they be in Ecuador. They are 19 islands which lie on equator so their oceansons vary very little. They look at been cal direct a unique living museum and showcase of organic evolution. (www. whc. unesco/org/en/danger). The islands were formed by seismic and volcanic activities which are still ongoing processes. These together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual sensual life such as the land iguana, giant tortoise and many types of finch. The finch inspired Darwins theory of evolution following his visit in 1835. The islands are referred to as an archipelago as they are very isolated from the warm continent and the islands themselves are separated from on e a nonher. This separation and differences in humors favors evolutionary change. As a result, populations that are related follow separate evolution tracks leading to emergence of various species and even further diversification.The species so formed become very susceptible to changes in the environment. ( www. darwinfoundation. org) The uniqueness of the island lies in its marine and land ecosystems, and forepart of flora and fauna endemic to the islands and in most cases found nowhere else in the world. The marine ecosystem is tranquil of both cold and warm water current systems, marine landscapes bajos- these are underwater mountains formed by volcanic activity they rise almost to the oceans surface.Some of the coastal animals found in the Galapagos marine moderate are sea lions, fur seals, albatrosses, several species of booby, frigate bird species, sea turtles marine iguana, penguins and flightless cormorants. (www. darwin. foundation. org) The land habitats of the Galapag os are mainly determined by their phytology which is in unfreeze determined by the local climate. The vegetation of the field of honor is strongly zoned by altitude. The land ecosystem has such animal species as land iguanas, land snails, sieve rats among others. The Galapagos contain a total of 560 native species of flora,180 are endemic (www. darwinfoundation. org).Some of the coif species include scalesia, genus Opuntia cacti and the Galapagos rock-pursane and other lesser known species. Human intrusions threatening the area Threats to this hub of diversity are mainly in the form of fishing and tourism by human. In the 1990s, fishing led to a big dec in some of the marine species such as sea-cucumbers and sharks. Then, the fishermen would fish the sharks scarcely for their fins and the remainder of the sharks body would go to waste. Fishing is the second most important economic activity in the surface area and marine resources were overused by such practices as illegal fishing and over fishing.The dangers presented by the Galapagos fisheries are- i) Large external vessels fishing around the Galapagos pelagic zones and inside the Galapagos Marine Re coif (GMR) which is illegal. Long-lining and use of large seines are neo high-technology methods with devastating effects of depleting marine species. (www. darwinfoundation. org) ii) There has also been a rapid influx of poor fishermen from the mainland of Ecuador who serve the interests of mainland fishing companies and middlemen bargainers.The fishermen are provided with capital in the form of a loan by the fishing companies to buy boats and equipment. The fishermen then sell the catch to the companies the catch is later sold in the international market oddly the Asian market. The influx has led to the human explosion existence experienced in the islands and also the in-migration brings with it encroaching(a) species which compete with the natural species of the islands decrease their survival chances. ( www-darwinsfoundation. org) Tourism is the leading economic activity in the Galapagos Islands.Tourism has grown economically at 14% per year and this has lead to the Galapagos experiencing drastic, friendly, economic, cultural and bionomical changes. (www. galapagos. org) The dangers that immigration poses include increase pollution, overuse of resources and eventually a charge in climate and introduction of invasive species. A change in climate impart lead to loss of some of the species in the island. encroaching(a) species refers to alien plants, diseases, insects and other organisms that plurality bring inadvertently to the islands. There are now 1,321 introduced species, compared to 112 identified in 1990.These include 748 species of introduced plants compared to 500 species of native plants and at least 490 species of introduced insects. The risk of the arrival of pathogens such as the westmost Nile virus, insect pests, and new predators is now high- Dengue-carr ying mosquitoes and some avian diseases are new arrivals in the islands. (www. galapagos. org,2007) Existing protective breed areas The Galapagos Islands extradite several protection areas. The Galapagos National Park (GNP) is one of this. 97% of the area covered by islands was designated as a national honey oil in 1959.The lands not included were the settlement areas. Later in 1967, a park service Galapagos National Park service (GNPS) was set up to oversee centering and administration of the park. The GNP is made up of 13 large islands, 17 small islands and 40 rocks. (www. galapagos. org/). The park authorities educate the visitors and enforce the laws and regulations of the park. The GNPS also oversees the management and administration of the Galapagos Marine halt (GMR) which was set up in 1998, another protection area. The GMRs function is to protect the waters surrounding the archipelago.3000 species of marine plant and animals are found in the GMR. The necessity of the G MR became apparent when in the 1990s fishing activities around the archipelago increased and almost had devastating effects on the marine species due to the high demand of both sea cucumbers and sharks fins. The GNPS also approves itineraries. This ensures that no one place is too frequently visited. This serves to distribute tourism to all the islands, decreasing chances of harm to the environment. The GNPS works together with the Charles Darwin Foundation, now known as the Galapagos Conservancy.The foundation provides the scientific and technical know-how demand in maintenance of the natural biodiversity and ecosystems of the islands. Other protected areas include Sangay National Park, Limoncocha Reserve, and Antisana Ecological Reserve which has the Antisana venthole that is 5758 meters high. The reserve was created in 1993. The Cuxabeno Forest Reserve is another protected area, for two thirds of the year the forest is subaquatic in water and when it is not, it is made up of d ry futbol fields (www. ecuador. com/,2007). It was established in 1979. Part of the 6000 square Kilometer rain forest makes up part of the Amazon Rain forest.There are autochthonal people found in this forest whose contribution to reservation is through jungle tours and eco-tourism. Existing efforts in Galapagos to protect and preserve the area include- i) Registration of fishermen to fishermens cooperatives. This has en up to(p)d the monitoring of fishermens activities and from this an estimate of how such(prenominal) fishing is going on can be got. Also, it makes it easier to track illegal fishing. ii) Establishment of the Galapagos Marine Reserve in March 1998. In this area, all fishing is banned. The area covered by the GMR was expanded TO cover 40 miles around the whole archipelago.These are also zones of protection around the islands. All these are patrolled by GNPs park rangers. The sea shepherd conservation society assists with carrying out patrols in the service. iii) Ap proving the designation of the Galapagos Archipelago as Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) by the Marine Environment Protection Committee(MEPC). PSSA is defined by the International Marine Organization (IMO) as an area that needs special protection through accomplish by IMO because of its significance for recognized ecological socio economic or scientific reasons and because it may be under fire(predicate) to damage by international shipping activities.(IMO,2001www. dorwinfoundation. org) iv) Introduction of residence controls which decrease immigration and in turn lower the flow of alien species. The aim is to curb population growth. The controls are however difficult to tool because it is difficult to determine genuine residents and those who come and go but have permanent residence elsewhere. (www. law. emory. edu/ ) v) rearing of residents, tourists and Galapagos policy makers on how beneficial sound conservation, practices, polity and sustainable economic activities are for example determination alternative viable economic activities for the local fishermen.vi) The success of Project Isabela. This project has seen a large area being freed of feral goats and pigs. Subsequently there has been an increase in Galapagoss rails. Areas that had been previously degraded have now become resting areas for petrels and re- origination of vegetation like tree-terns and endemic scalesia has occurred. Also native invertebrates thought to be dead are now being identified (www. darwinfoundation. org, 2007) vii) Successful breeding programs for tortoise run by the Charles Darwin Foundation and GPNS has led to repopulation of some islands with their native reptile species.The giant tortoise was becoming extinct due to hunting by humans and other animals. (www. galapagos. org) viii) Inclusion of various sectors in the management board of the Galapagos National Park service has been subservient in bringing about an attitude of conservation and preservation. At first the local people matt-up that the government was only concerned about plant and animal life. The multisectoral approach involves key players in fishing, tourism and conservation sectors and also the local person. (www. galapagos.online/) Including the local people has helped to enhance the concept of conversation because the local people no longer feel neglected. Should human intrusion go unchecked, the loss exit be great. precaution of the rich biodiversity of the islands is achievable of the ecosystem can support sustainable economic use where the local people, conservationist and players in tourism and fishing industry feel their needs have been put into consideration. An example of how the biodiversity can disoriented is seen in the fact that the present tortoise population is very small.Poaching, destruction of habitats and the presence of invasive species are the main dangers to the tortoise population. (www. galapagos. org, 2007). Though the near extinction of the giant t ortoise caught the attention of people and the process was reversed the giant tortoise is not out of the woods yet, and the work of repatriation needs support. In the process of poaching the tortoise, various invasive species which trampled on the tortoises habitat were limited and multiplied faster than the tortoise would, leading to destruction of the tortoise habit.The mangrove finch is another species being driven towards extinction. Again the greatest threat to be mangrove forests and the finches is the exploding human presence in the Galapagos. (http//www. galapagos. org/about. html). change magnitude activity among humans increases the risk of disease further especially avian pox, black rats, cats, fire ants the bloodsucking fly philornis. All threaten the mangrove finch as well as vulnerable species in Galapagos (http//www. galapagos. org/about. html. ) For the mangrove finch to be saved there has to be study of the mangrove finch and its habitat.Activities that would requi re support in the mangrove finch conservation project include ? Creating potential captive breeding facilities for the mangrove finch. ? Resting degraded mangrove finch ecosystem, including establishment of new mangrove forest plots. ? Releasing the captive-bred birds to sites on Isabela and Fernandina islands where the mangrove finch once thrived. For the future generations to be able to see and be part of the abundant biodiversity in the Galapagos islands the necessary funds and a coalition of lead are needed to successfully conserve and preserve the world heritage site.Otherwise, we risk losing not just an area rich in natural biodiversity but a site of origin of human philosophical system and in the process part of the human race. Because of ecological interdependence, there can be no climate changes that will affect animals and plants only, whatever adverse effects will affect flora and fauna will also affect the human race. This means that no part of the ecosystem will be sp ared the price of not doing all that is necessary to protect and preserve the balance of nature. ConclusionIslands are generally smaller than Continental areas but are basically more or less the same with similar social, economic and ecologic changes happening. This then means that islands can and should serve as a model to the rest of the world for these changes (www. darwinsoundation. org). In coming up with solutions to the Galapagos problems we are more or less coming up with a ideal to solve problems that will occur in other continents of the world, but if we cannot resolve the issues then it means that we will also fail in achieving a society where there is a balance of nature and social economic sustainability in the rest of the world.ReferencesCharles Darwin foundation, Galapagos Risk Ground Breaking Analysis Produced retrieved July 6 from http//www. org/en/depository library/pubs/2007/galapagos Galapagos Conservancy, Breaking News Galapagos in Danger Retrieved July 6 from http//www. galapagos. org/about. html. Protected areas Retrieved July 7 from httpwww. ecuador. com/protected-areas UNESCO, Galapagos islands, Retrieved July 7 from http//whc. unesco. org/en/danger UNESCO World Heritage in Danger List July 7 from http//whc. unesco. org/en/danger/ .