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The Galápagos
Threats
Harbour scene with fishermen and brown pelicans on Isabela Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
© WWF-Japan / Pablo CORRAL
Population growth
Over the past 20 years, the Galápagos Islands have seen a 6.2 percent annual population growth, as more and more people migrate to the islands for opportunities in construction, tourism and fisheries.
Introduced species
Plants and animals which are brought to the islands by humans, and introduced to the environment, are referred to as introduced species. In the Galápagos, this is a series problem.
Current efforts by the Galápagos National Park are focused on working aggressively to combat a population of 200,000 goats on Isabella islands who are eating the tortoise habitat. They are also working hard to combat populations of wild cats, dogs, and pigs, as well as the guayava plant.
Illegal fishing
Illegal fishing on the part of the industrial fishing sector is also a problem. While the Galápagos National Park has made great progress in building the capacity and infrastructure to combat illegal fishing, the reserve is enormous and corruption exists. Fishing practices on the part of the artisinal fishermen is also a threat -- in particular overfishing for sea cucumbers and shark finning for Asian markets is a problem.
Pollution
The local population, tourism, and energy practices also contribute to a growing threat of pollution.
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