The Galapagos Islands famed for their vast flora and fauna are on the brink of a collapse if effective measures are not taken.
The island is a part of Ecuador, in northwestern South America. It is home to a variety of species, including giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas, are also inhabit about 20,000 people who work in fishing and tourism.
The island once an inspiration for Charles Darwin on his theory of Evolution is on the verge of a virtual collapse. The beautiful flora and fauna that are dependent on each other for a vast number of reasons are at a grave risk from a population boom, over fishing, and from the lakhs of tourists who travel each year to see the incredible animals that live there.
UNESCO claims that the island is facing severe danger from the vast number of people that visit the amazing island. Tourism that had once become boon is now fast changing to boom.
Even the President of Ecuador, Raffael Correa has expressed his deep concern for the degrading environment at the Galapagos and has even signed a decree to suspend tourism and preserve the islands’ natural treasures. The President announced that the Galapagos Islands, the country’s top tourist draw and home to dozens of endangered species, are suffering an environmental and social crisis, and have been declared a national priority of action. Mr. Correa said,
We are pushing for a series of actions to overcome the huge institutional, environmental and social crises in the islands, brought about by years of neglect by previous governments.
The Galapagos is one of the world’s most unique ecosystems and continues to be one of the most important laboratories for evolution studies, the way once shown by Darwin. The isolation of the islands made their ecology unique, allowing animals to adapt without external influences. But as human evasion of the island became immense, the local fauna population was unable to resist such burgeoning pressure. Not only this, even the introduction of a few exotic species of flora and fauna such as black rats, dogs, goats, cockroaches and cats has only added to the struggle of the indigenous species.
The Enchanted island that was declared a World Heritage Site in 1971 can soon find itself in the list of Sites “in danger.” Appropriate actions must be taken to protect the island from fast becoming an endangered site. Not only this, effective measures have to be involved in guarding the endangered inhabitants of the island. No doubt there are many more Galapagos in danger, reason being man. Man has become a killer for his own environment. It is up to man to save the milieu extern surrounding him before it devours him.
Via:Development Crossing