Galapagos Report: Social science for policy and planning

Naturalist Martin Loyola-photo by Lori Ulrich Over the past two decades, it has become increasingly clear that there is a need to broaden research to incorporate an understanding of the economic, social and cultural changes occurring in the island. Landmark publications such as Indicadores Regionales (Jose Rodriguez, 1992) and the important series of Galapagos Reports, published by World Wildlife Fund and Fundación Natura (1998-2002) have provided partial data to policymakers over the years, but this work has not kept pace with the rapid changes that are occurring in Galapagos.

In 2006, with the support of Galapagos Conservancy and its university partners in the United States, the CDF reinitiated work with the Galapagos National Institute (INGALA) and the Galapagos National Park to produce the Galapagos Report 2006-2007. This report is a compilation of economic, environmental, and social data and analyses which will quantify and illuminate a range of factors now affecting the islands. Galapagos Conservancy and its partners need your support to develop the Galapagos Report on an annual basis.

Key findings in the 2006-2007 Galapagos Report

The 2006-2007 Galapagos Report begins to draw out the connections between tourism growth, population growth, increasing affluence, energy use, invasive species, and over harvest. Understanding these often complex relationships is critical for developing policy and implementing changes that result in sustainability and conservation. Some of the main conclusions of the report are:

During the past 15 years, management efforts in Galapagos have focused on fisheries and finding economic alternatives for fishermen facing over harvests and declining resources. The reality is that fishing is only a minor component (less than 4%) of the overall economy of Galapagos.
Over the same period, the economic impact of Galapagos tourism has grown at an annual rate of 14% to an estimated $420 million per year, with about $60 million of this amount (15%) entering the Galapagos economy. Tourism now represents an estimated 65% of the archipelago’s economy.
Through larger ships, more time at sea, and increased land based activities, tourism continues to grow, despite a freeze on the number of cruise ships. Over the past 15 years, the number of beds on boats has increased by 72%, the number of hotels by 97%, the capacity of hotels by 90% and the number of boat days on the water by 45%.
The environmental impact of the rise in the number of residents and visitors in Galapagos is significant. Since 1990, the number of registered introduced species has grown from just over 100 to over 1,300. 52% of the endemic and native terrestrial species in Galapagos are considered vulnerable, in danger or in serious danger. 60% of the archipelago’s 180 endemic plan species are categorized as under threat.
Since 2001, the number of commercial flights to Galapagos has doubled, with a 59% increase in the number of passengers and a 94% increase in cargo. The increase in air traffic and the opening of new commercial routes and direct flights to Isabela has significantly increased the risks of the introduction of non-native species.
A strong Inspection and Quarantine System is critical for minimizing new introductions of non-native species. However, during the period 2001-2006 there has been a 20% reduction in the number of inspectors while the number of inspections has increased by 100%.
Over the past eight years, the number of vehicles in Galapagos has more than doubled to 378. Over the past five years, consumption of diesel and gasoline has increased by 30% and 45%, respectively.

The Galapagos Report 2008-2010: Information and analysis for better policy and planning
The Galapagos Reports that will be developed over the next three years will be built upon the Human Ecosystem Model, which has served as an effective decision making tool for policy makers, conservation managers and scientists in diverse rural and urban settings around the world. This approach will provide us with a system-based framework to ask hard questions about the nature and interaction of Galapagos’ critical resources and social system—questions that must be answered in order to develop and implement sound policy and effective conservation.
In the area of critical resources we need to know more about:

Trends related to key fisheries, native biodiversity and introduced species
Energy and water use in the archipelago and alternatives to current practices
Capital available for private and public investment and the various impacts of different investments
The complexion of the local labor force and current and projected needs of the private sector
Public perceptions on priority topics such as migration, tourism, conservation, education and family planning

In terms of the social system in Galapagos, we need to look at:

The complex governance structure, including the mandates, authority and interaction of national, regional and local institutions
The socio-economic and cultural impact of current and alternative tourism models
The regulatory framework for tourism, including concession systems, visitor fees and regulations which influence the number of tourists
The impacts of current and proposed secondary and related economic activities on legal and illegal migration, local income and benefits, demands on public services, and the environment.
The economic and social costs associated with government subsidies in the archipelago
The role of “Galapagos identity” in sustainability and means of building a culture of conservation
Opportunities for implementing the broad educational reform mandated in the Galapagos Special Law
The capacity of civil society to complement the work of public institutions

A central part of this work will be ensuring that the data and analysis contained in the Galapagos Report is embraced by national, regional and local decision makers, Galapagos residents, and the international conservation community.

Funding the Galapagos Report

Attracting the funding and expertise necessary to undertake this work will not be easy. Despite President Correa’s call for an immediate invasive species control plan and parallel migration and education reforms, there is an unsettling delay in the ability of government and multilateral donors to step up and provide necessary resources for the objective, unbiased research and analysis that must occur in the short term. Galapagos Conservancy is at the forefront of efforts to raise funds and identify US collaborators to help undertake this work. We will do so while continuing to support the core biological research and conservation programs that are so critical to the health and integrity of the archipelago.

Please support Galapagos Conservancy and the social science research contained in the Galapagos Report. Our success depends on our members’ involvement.

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