Verein Freunde der Galapagos Inseln Schweiz - Protection of the biological diversity on Santiago and Isabela

Project for the protection of the biological diversity on Santiago and Isabela.

Over 40% of the plant varieties on Galápagos are endemic, that is only found on Galápagos. These families of plants are the basic food for many insects, birds and reptiles, among which are the Galápagos giant tortoises. The survival of many species depends on an intact vegetation. Unfortunately this is threatened by the effects of the human population :

Introduced grazing animals such as wild goats have no natural enemies on Galápagos and strip the land bare.
Introduced insect pests, such as the woolly shield bug, have no natural enemies and cause considerable damage.
Introduced plants, such as blackberries, thrive and push out endemic plants.

In a study carried out between 1997 and 2001 the quantity and distribution of endemic plants on Galápagos was determined. This showed that 19 of the 230 endemic plants were seriously threatened or almost extinct, and 32 were at risk. The 19 seriously threatened plants which must be protected and preserved are the main concern of this project. Their disappearance from Galápagos would mean their disappearance for ever.

Only seven island of the Galápagos Archipelago are sufficiently large and high to have humid upland vegetation. These islands have the largest variety of species. They are, therefore, of great importance for the biodiversity of the Archipelago. Two of these seven islands, Santiago and Isabela, are at the centre of the above project. Among the inhabited islands Santiago has been particularly damaged by wild goats and donkeys. The animals have transformed the once dense vegetation of the uplands into a grass prairie, which resembles a desert in the dry season. Since 1970 about 40 hectares have been enclosed. This zone which is protected from goats and donkeys, is a natural seed-bank, which will be the basis for regenerating the vegetation on Santiago.

Isabela is the largest island of the Archipelago : a huge lava-field divides the island into a North and a South half. North Isabela was never inhabited. Nevertheless, firstly donkeys in 1960, and then goats in 1978, were observed on North Isabela. The goat population is now estimated at several hundred thousand. There is, however, no inventory for the plants as for Santiago. The reason : projects for plant protection are much more difficult to finance than projects for animal protection.

In 2001 the Charles Darwin Research Station and the National Park Authorities began a program to control introduced goats and other plant-eating animals on Isabela and Santiago. The aim of the program is to free Santiago from goats by 2003. A detailed study will be made of how the land areas recover after having been freed from grazing animals and how the original animals and vegetation re-establish themselves.

The aim of the above project is to preserve the original vegetation on Santiago and Isabela. After successful elimination of the goats and donkeys the islands should be returned to their natural state, thus helping to preserve the biodiversity of the islands.

Planned Activities

The selected fenced-in areas on Santiago and North Isabela will be visited and controlled twice yearly during and after the completion of the program.
On each island the plant species will be registered twice yearly and the spread of introduced plants controlled. On Santiago the elimination of exotic plants will begin.
The stock of seriously threatened plants on both islands will be supervised. Reductions in their numbers can then be quickly seen and measures taken to save them.
In order to ensure the long-term survival of the endemic species a management plan based on the scientific results of the project should be set up.

The work should be carried out by Ecuadorian scientists so giving them the opportunity to be trained in environmental protection and plant ecology. The results of the field work will be compiled, evaluated and published.

Support this project to save the biological diversity on Santiago and Isabela. Every contribution helps to preserve the basis for all life on the Archipelago.