• Executive summary - key points

1. Galapagos at risk
2. Galapagos is undergoing constant change
3. Changing tourism markets
4. Changing tour operators
5. Local benefits
6. Financing in Galapagos
7. Fishing and differences among the Islands
8. New local operators in tourism
9. Impacts of tourism
10. Leadership and governance
11. Subsidies and incentives in Galapagos
12. Conclusion

• References

１．Galapagos at risk

The risk of losing the extraordinary biodiversity of Galapagos can be viewed from three principal perspectives:

1. this is the world's last oceanic archipelago that still retains 95% of its original biodiversity and thus represents the global "gold standard" for biological and ecosystem integrity;
2. the archipelago is unique and its biodiversity has substantially influenced the history of science and human philosophy through Charles Darwin's work; and
3. the biodiversity of Galapagos is the basis for the local economy and is an important contributor to the Ecuadorian economy.

Continuing the present direction of development in Galapagos will lead to the failure of tourism and its associated businesses. This failure will cause the loss of an important economic resource for both Galapagos residents and for the nation of Ecuador. The introduction of invasive species, pollution and the over-harvest of natural resources are symptoms of an unsustainable economic model. The ecological damage that will result from this model has irreversible consequences and will result in the loss of an irreplaceable global treasure.

Like other archipelagos, Galapagos is fragile. Its biological diversity is highly susceptible to invasive species, over-harvest of its natural resources, pollution, natural and anthropogenic disasters and climate change. To date, Galapagos' biological diversity has been kept relatively well-conserved. The situation is arguably better than a century ago when scientists focused on specimen collection rather than ecological restoration. However, the long-term future of the biodiversity of the archipelago will depend on the decisions taken regarding sustainable development in the short term.

Sustainable development in Galapagos is complicated by the same factors that affect the development of islands all over the world. The majority of the world's islands are resource-poor, have few marketable products, and have high transportation costs to external markets. Production costs in islands are high because of the absence of economies of scale, and because most raw materials must be brought from the mainland. In addition, islands usually face a shortage of trained human resources because the resident population size is usually small and training is costly.

These limitations to sustainable development also affect the capacities of local authorities that must supply the resident population with public services like water, education and health. The provision of these services in islands also suffers from the lack of economies of scale, the lack of trained human resources, and the high costs of raw materials. In short, life on islands tends to be difficult and more expensive than life on continental land masses.

The socioeconomic and ecological characteristics of islands and the global importance of Galapagos conservation mean that the archipelago requires a special model for development.

To date, development in Galapagos has been based on a "frontier mentality" with a focus on market-driven development and minimal consideration to equity and long-term sustainable development. This is reflected in businesses that have experienced periods of rapid growth and prosperity followed by collapse. Such was the case with the exploitation of fur seals and the Galapagos-based whaling industry, as well as contemporary examples in fisheries. We now see a similar pattern with the development of tourism.

There has been a lot of discussion about the causes of the current situation in Galapagos. In general, debates are based on assumptions and perceptions instead of solid information. The following opinions are prevalent in discussions about Galapagos:

1. foreign interests are taking control of tourism;
2. tourism does not provide local benefits;
3. the Galapagos National Park Service and the Galapagos National Institute (INGALA) have failed as institutions;
4. the international community has spent considerable resources on conservation, with minimal impact;
5. instability in the national government in Quito generated the crisis;
6. the Government does not think about the people but only in the plants and animals; and
7. political leadership in Galapagos is at the root of current problems.

To date, the discussion has focused on interpretations and the specific perspectives of stakeholders, instead of holistic technical analysis. In this document, we summarize several studies of Galapagos, including analyses of biodiversity (Bensted Smith 2002), conflict (MacDonald 1997; Heylings and Cruz 1998; Bonilla 2007), tourism (Epler 1993; MacFarland 2001; Blanton 2006; Epler 2007), the Galapagos economy (Taylor, Dyer et al. 2003; Taylor, Hardner et al. 2006; Taylor, Stewart et al. 2006), and migration (Kerr, Cardenas et al. 2004).

Disagreements in Galapagos seem to result more from differences in perspectives rather than from real differences. Many recognize that Galapagos is experiencing a crisis involving governance, institutions, the education system, the economy and delicate ecology of the islands. Many stakeholders believe that the direction of development in Galapagos is wrong and they are worried by the exponential rate of change. There is also general agreement that the driving underlying force of change in Galapagos is the growth in tourism.

It is critical to recognize the urgent need to focus on the underlying causes of the problems in Galapagos and on implementing solutions through leadership, holistic analysis, and true collaboration among different interest groups. Failure to address the causes will result in more complex problems with no real hope of long-term solutions.

The President of Ecuador has indicated that Galapagos is at risk and that it is a national priority for conservation. The United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) have also expressed their concerns about conservation in Galapagos and its future. The President's declaration and UNESCO's inclusion of Galapagos on its List of World Heritage in Danger offers the best and last opportunity to assure the future of the conservation of Galapagos, through building a sustainable society.