Project brief identifiers

Proximate Threat 1: Introduced Species:

1. 
   Inadequate measures for prevention of introduction and dispersion of aggressive invasives including:
   

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  Only partial implementation of the recently designed and approved quarantine system due to deficits in equipment, insufficient staff capacity for implementing new procedures and low public awareness of proposed measures
  
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  Poor co-ordination between the different institutions designated with implementing the quarantine system
  
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  Inadequate techniques for detecting different types of invasives and forms of introduction e.g. packaging, different goods and means of transport
  
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  Insufficient norms and procedures to control the flow of goods, animals, plants and people between and within islands, particularly across park boundaries.
  

2. 
   The capacity for control and eradication of existing invasives is insufficient in relation to the scale of the problem, for example,
   

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  Technical and operational capacities in the GNP and CDF are below those required to eradicate mega-populations of aggressive invasives, such as goats. These mega-campaigns require high level and consistent funding, well-developed long-term planning capacities, highly trained experts in specific techniques, well-developed co-ordination mechanisms and high levels of awareness in local populations to better accept the large amounts of resource allocation to actions that produce apparently unclear and indirect benefits to communities.
  

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  There are no known methodologies for controlling and eradicating many invasives—particularly in some plant and invertebrate groups. Methodologies that do exist have not all been field- tested and adapted to local conditions and restoration measures for specific habitats following successful controls and eradication campaigns are insufficiently developed.
  

3. 
   Insufficient Funding: Although the SLG provides for the return of tourism revenue to control measures, this does not provide sufficient amounts for a system that will provide full protection to global biodiversity values. Deficits occur in 3 areas: planning and research, more comprehensive quarantine measures; emergency campaigns and the capital costs of replicating demonstrations.
   

4. 
   Poor control of introduced species in agricultural and livestock areas. Limited awareness and access to effective practices has led to agricultural lands becoming sites of propagation and dispersion of invasive species. The increasing number of abandoned plots (stemming from under-capitalised operations, difficult growing conditions and weak marketing frameworks) exacerbates this problem as abandoned land becomes overrun with invasive plants.
   

5. 
   Insufficient solid waste disposal systems. Present methods of collecting, transporting and disposing solid waste do not incorporate control measures and facilitate the propagation and dispersion of certain introduced species
   

6. 
   Inadequate community awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation and the role of invasive control measures in this effort. While this awareness is growing it is not fully reflected in practices of the resident population.
   

7. 
   Sectoral planning, particularly in the urban, transport and productive areas, does not sufficiently address the issue of invasive species dispersion within and between islands. In the past, emphasis has been placed on the control of new introductions to the archipelago and not dispersal within it that is of particular importance to biodiversity as the evolutionary processes and endemic species in Galapagos depend on isolation between islands as well as with the continent.
   

8. 
   Repeated climatic variations, particularly El Niño, cause sudden fluctuations in environmental conditions that can favour some invasives and increase introductions to the archipelago or to previously free islands within it. The Smooth-billed Ani, for example, spread from Santa Cruz, in the El Niño 1982/83, when excessive rainfall, vegetation growth and abundance of invertebrate food sparked a population explosion. During the same Niño, black rats (Rattus rattus) reached North Seymour Island from neighbouring Baltra and mice (Mus musculus) established themselves on South Plaza
   

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  Consolidate the prevention system by co-ordinating the implementation of prevention and detection measures and by enhancing the capacity of key institutions in the continent and the main ports of entry to and between islands to execute controls. (Baseline will maintain present level of SICGAL with revenue from tourism/SGL and Output 1 will expand inspection to stem invasion between and within islands and to cover more invasive species)
  
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  Develop measures for the permanent monitoring, evaluation and improvement of the prevention actions as new information becomes available (Activity 1.1., 2.10,, 5.1 and 5.2; baseline SICGAL implementation)
  

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  Strengthen the technical and operational capacity of GNS and CDF for planning and implementing eradication of mega-populations (Output 3 activity 3.1.)
  
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  Develop and test methods for the controlling, eradicating or mitigating the impacts of key invasive species based on information from research programmes (Activities 2.2 & 3.2 and baseline research programmes of CDF that provide biological data on some species)
  
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  Develop methods for planning, prioritising and implementing appropriate control interventions for aggressive invasives under different conditions (Output 2)
  
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  Increase the awareness of local residents on the costs and benefits of invasive species control and design measures for facilitating participation in control programmes (Output 5)
  

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  Improve current funding mechanisms for the IS research programme in CDF and delivery of control measures. Baseline: tourism revenue will provide GNPS core-costs, projects specific income and current fund raising will provide a percentage of funding for CDF; Output 4 will restructure & capitalise CDF endowment to cover IS research and planning and replicating control campaigns.
  
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  The likelihood of securing large capital inputs for future large scale eradications, will be improved, pursuant to successful demonstration of the technical viability of eradication, a reduction in the institutional learning curve, and generation of comprehensive cost data on eradication.
  

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  Develop an agricultural and livestock management strategy that accommodates conservation objectives, incorporates incentives for invasive species control and outlines measures to enhance the re-incorporation of abandoned land into the GNP (Output 6)
  
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  Increase the awareness and knowledge of local agriculturists and livestock owners on invasive species control measures and alternative practices (Baseline Project Canadian Fund)
  

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  Improve solid waste disposal practices, incorporating invasive control measures and increase community participation by developing specific measures for domestic collection and public monitoring systems (Baseline Project EMG-IDB will develop and improve waste disposal practices in inhabited islands. Output 6 will develop sectoral polices and guides that incorporate IS control)
  

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  Increase local support for control of introduced species by raising awareness of the costs and benefits of these measures and strengthening community mobilisation, participation in, and commitment to, prevention, control, eradication and mitigation actions (Output 5 will develop a IS control specific awareness campaign and set up public participation mechanisms. These will fit into the CDF, GNP general conservation awareness campaigns supported through baseline and participation mechanisms)
  

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  Strengthen the application of measures that control the dispersal of invasives between and within islands, particularly at park boundaries, and incorporate norms (Output 1)
  
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  Develop criteria and guidelines to be incorporated into sectoral planning to minimise the risk and impact of introduced species to biodiversity and to support biodiversity conservation in general (Output 6)
  

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  Strengthen the current research programme to provide information to determine the effect of climatic events on invasive species populations and allow the corresponding adjustments to priorities for control measure (Output 3)
  

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  Develop an early warning system to detect new introductions and permit emergency eradication campaigns before populations become fully established (Outputs 1 & 5)
  

Proximate Threat 2: Contamination of land and marine ecosystems

1. 
   Insufficient basic sanitation systems for the increasing resident human population is resulting in the discharge of untreated effluents into bays near human settlements and infiltration to ground water through poorly constructed septic tanks. Solid waste disposal sites further contribute to contamination of ground water as well and provide fertile grounds for the propagation and dispersal of invasive species (see previous threat)
   

2. 
   Poor control of agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides, fungicides and fertilisers, and biological products used in livestock production, such as vaccinations, is increasing the level of contaminants in cultivated areas and disrupting the fragile ecosystems and habitats that characterise the islands.
   

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  Improve solid and liquid waste disposal systems in Galapagos, and enhance invasive control measures including the development of sectoral guidelines that regulate waste from the continent and incentives that limit the production and stimulate the adequate management of domestic and industrial waste. (Baseline Project EMG-IDB will develop and implement solid and liquid disposal systems. Output 6 will develop sectoral polices, guides and incentives.)
  
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  Strengthen the capacity of agricultural and livestock producers to implement sustainable agriculture practices (baseline activity Canadian Fund).
  

Some traditional livelihoods and commercial enterprises still employ practices that are increasingly causing habitat degradation in cultivated areas and depleting certain species with high commercial value, for example matazarno trees.

1. 
   Illegal hunting and logging activities within park boundaries has largely been eliminated by successful action of the GNPS, however, small scale exploitation of some hard wood species for construction still continues
   

2. 
   Incomplete compliance of tourism ventures to recommended invasive species control measures leads to increased dispersal of species between islands. Also the heavy dependence of these ventures on goods imported from the mainland increases the risk of new introductions
   

3. 
   Agricultural production is poorly developed, with the resultant high dependence on food and inputs from the continent and increase in the risk of invasive species
   

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  Strengthen control over illegal logging through increased monitoring of park boundaries (baseline GNPS-SLG). Improve the control of natural resource exploitation in the construction sector by developing regulatory mechanisms and guidelines for this sector (Output 6 activity 6.1)
  

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  Strengthen the application of norms for invasive species control in the tourism industry, developing clearer guidelines and participatory regulatory mechanisms (Activities 6.2-6.4)
  
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  Improve local operators’ capacity for sustainable tourism ventures (IDB-EMG and AECI)
  

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  Develop a sustainable agricultural and livestock production strategy that reduces the risk of species introduction and dispersal (Output 6: activity 6.4)
  

Human occupation of the Galapagos has been relatively short, but, over recent decades, demographic changes have been dramatic. This has caused some direct but localised pressure on biodiversity through habitat degradation at sites where human settlements have developed. However, in overall terms this effect on biodiversity is extremely low compared to the significance that human population increase has as a root cause of the proximate threats to biodiversity. This is of particular importance to the threat of introduced species (threat 1). As the increase in the population is largely due to immigration, an increasing number of residents do not have a longstanding commitment to the conservation on the islands or a full comprehension of the uniqueness of this archipelago. Furthermore, they bring practices and habits from the continent that have contra conservation implications.

1. 
   Immigration rates from the continent have been high (approx. 6%) for the last two decades as:
   

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  In some sectors salaries are higher in Galapagos than the mainland
  

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  Although the real cost of public services are higher than in the continent this is not reflected in the prices and tariffs charged in the islands
  
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  Ineffective control of immigration
  
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  Economic crisis in the mainland with growing unemployment
  

2. 
   Weak urban development planning, absence of clear population policies including construction and infrastructure guidelines appropriate for the fragile island ecosystems, have led to poor use of space and degradation of habitats in and around human settlements.
   

3. 
   Poor community support in implementation of immigration control
   

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  Review the price and salary polices to enhance compatibility with the mainland levels and real cost of services and thus remove apparent economic incentives to immigration (baseline activities –INGALA Strategic Plan)
  
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  Fully implement recent legislation controlling immigration from the continent by strengthening the capacity of INGALA for application of SGL (Baseline SGL will cover recurrent costs of INGALA’s new mandate and Output 6 will develop policies for population management.
  

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  Strengthen the capacity of INGALA for regional planning and develop guidelines to regulate sector development. Define a population and land-use-zoning policy that incorporates the use of environmental impact assessments to regulate activities related to urban growth and infrastructure. (IDB-EMG will provide some baseline funding for land-use zoning and Output 6 will strengthen INGALA sectoral policies including population policies (Activities 6.1/ 6.8)
  

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  Increase the awareness in the resident population of the impact of illegal immigration on conservation values and develop participatory control mechanisms(Output 5)