Severe drought on the Galápagos Islands threatens agriculture and biodiversity

The Ecuadorian government and local authorities have activated the Contingency Operations Committee (COE) to assess the situation and develop contingency plans. Measures include efficient water management, the search for alternative sources of fresh water and support for affected farmers and livestock breeders. 

The President of the Galápagos Government Council, Edwin Altamiano, has met with local authorities to find solutions. The dry season mainly affects the inhabitants of the archipelago. 

The municipality of San Cristobal has launched a program to distribute free fresh water to residents, and on the island of Isabela, the Consejo de Gobierno de Galápagos is coordinating similar measures. According to Martin Espinoza, District Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the drought has affected 70% of the pastures in certain areas of the archipelago. The water shortage has reduced the harvest of coffee, bananas and pineapples, jeopardizing food security and the local economy, which depends heavily on agriculture and tourism. 

To mitigate the effects of the drought, the COE has asked the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inamhi) to prepare a report on the water deficit. Consideration is also being given to declaring a state of emergency in order to speed up the necessary measures. 

The extent to which endemic species such as Darwin's finches or the iconic giant tortoises are threatened in their natural habitats by the drought must be further examined. However, the current situation on the Galápagos Islands clearly shows the ecological problems that exist and how important sustainable management of the islands is. It remains to be seen how the inhabitants of the archipelago will cope with this new challenge.