Tourism in the Galapagos Islands is booming dramatically. All credit goes to its unique ecosystem. But, unfortunately, it is this increase in tourists, which is robbing the pristine island of its natural life’s security.
Concerned over the foreseen devastation, over-tourism can bring in; a United Nations envoy suggests the Ecuador to step up efforts, if it wants to keep its resources protected.
With the region’s population growing, illegal fishing of sharks and sea cucumbers have already increased threats to the island’s wildlife security. The 24,000 islanders, who earn a living from fishing, are hugely banking on growing tourism industry as their livelihood. This is disrupting the lives of the centenarian tortoises and blue-footed boobies living alongside these islanders.
To add to the already tormented island, thousands of mainland workers’ flock to the islands in recent years in desperate seek for better paying jobs.
But, what is the solution?
To eliminate the threats to the security of the island’s biodiversity conservation, the government has planned to enforce stricter immigration control. In April, President Rafael Correa, declaring the pristine islands at risk, informed of Ecuador’s plan to consider suspending some tourism permits.
During a Quito visit, UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura said,
It is crucial for us to eliminate these threats to secure the conservation of biodiversity … The government has to show its efforts to confront those threats.
Will the present scenario lead UNESCO decide in favor of declaring the World Heritage site “in danger?”
It is only by this, the island can be preserved of its unique ecosystem, or its ecologically rich resources would soon go to the hands of big gunners.
Photo: Reuters