The Nature Conservancy
October 2006

First Galapagos Maps Since WWII Era to Combat Invasive Species

The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with local partners, Galapagos National Park and CLIRSEN, an Ecuadorian government institution in charge of the country's cartography, recently updated the maps of the entire Galapagos Archipelago and developed for the first time ever a map of locations of invasive species. These maps are the first official cartography of the Galapagos since the World War II era and are an essential tool for scientists and conservationists. The maps from the 1940s were off by as much as 600 yards. By using satellite images, remote sensors and field testing, the Conservancy developed new three-dimensional cartographic models, as well as maps showing vegetation coverage, land use, and invasive species.
 
But why is such mapping important for conservation?

Invasive species are ranked as the second leading cause of biodiversity loss in the world. In the Galapagos Islands, invasive species are the greatest threat to tortoises, finches, and other endemic species that lose both food and habitat due to invasives. Cartography provides accurate information that allows conservationists to establish adequate conservation policies that allow for better land-use planning to long-term monitoring of invasive species and habitat conditions.
 
In 1976, the quinine, an aggressive tropical plant from the South American continent, occupied 3,200 acres in the Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. In 2002, the plant had displaced native plants on the island and invaded more than 20,000 acres, expanding its coverage 625 percent, or about 8 percent of the island’s surface. The quinine, first introduced for agricultural activity in 1946 due to its medicinal qualities, has been one of the most invasive plants and is responsible for diminishing native plants and animals.
 
The maps will be used by the Ecuadorian government and Galapagos National Park as well as shared with others involved in Galapagos conservation. Read more about the Nature Conservancy's work in the Galapagos Islands.

Contact: comments@galapagos.org