Are the Galapagos islands a typical example of a threatened biodiversity hotspot? What is this nature of the threats and how is their management effective?
A biodiversity hotspot is an area or region with a significant range of species, which are threatened with distruction. There are 25 hotspots placed worldwide, mainly based in the tropics, near the equator or in coastal areas. According to Myers, a hotspot analiser, a region must contain at least 0.5% species as endemics (unique to that area) and has to have lost at least 70% of it's primary vegetation. Succession is the proccess of growth in plants, from small primary vegetation to large trees in secondary vegetation.
Due to the high profile of biodiversity hotspots, they have recieve criticism from papers such as Kareiva and Marvier for not adequatly representing and protecting the areas of declining biodiversity. Some companies that work with the hotspots are; The World Wildlife Fund, Alliance for Zero Extinction, The National Geographic Society and Conservation International all have a say in how biodiversity hotspots are managed.
The Galapagos Islands are one of the 25 hotspots are the world, situated off the west coast of America. These islands are part of the Equadorian province. The Ecuadorian government technically restricts access to the islands so that if you want to get there as a tourist you should go through a registered agent. That said, there are numerous operators who visit the islands without any permits. The Galapagos Islands were made a World Heritage site in 1978, as were the waters between them. Government of Ecuador is unable to effectively police tourism, illegal immigration, fishing or anything else of concern on the islands. Rapid growth in tourism due to the expanding demand for marine products like sea cucumbers and lobster, has led to a rise in migration and with these activities have come an increased amount of feral species, both plant and animal.
Because the islands are so small and many of the species are native to only one island, a high proportion (at least 60%) of vertebrate species are already endangered and 25% of plants are extinct.
Because the islands are so small and many of the species are native to only one island, a high proportion (at least 60%) of vertebrate species are already endangered and 25% of plants are extinct.
Conservation efforts are of being made, but the local authorities are unable to keep up with the arrival of new species from unregulated planes and and boats arriving daily.
The Government of Equador are trying to encourage conservation by enabling people to volunteer to help using media like internet and adverts to get international help.
CRACYP is a Equadorian conservation organisation. Their Galapagos Islands conservation project focuses on supporting the control of selected introduced species in the Galapagos Islands, as well as the sustainable development of the local communities through organic agriculture.
Many Galapagos reptiles are at risk of extinction. For example; the giant tortoise and the marine iguana, which is the only sea-going lizard alive. This is loss of species is very typical of biodiversity hotspots and which make the Galapagos Islands an official biodiversity hotspot.
While there are a great number of issues and problems facing the fragile environment of the Galapagos, there are success stories and potential solutions as well. The introduced eradication program, though slow going, has eliminated feral goats from several small islands. Dogs are now absent from the island of Isabela. The efforts to reintroduce and repopulate species such as elephantine tortoise have increased their numbers dramatically. Environmental education efforts on the Islands help their inhabitants understand the larger picture and need for conservation, and responsible tourism and enforced park guidelines help preserve the Galapagos for the future. But there are seemingly endless needs for the park's preservation, and always limited funding.
The Galapagos Islands are the most incredible living museum of evolutionary changes.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, I find the giantism of the islands that link to the evolution of the giant tortoise extremely fasinating.
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