The Galapagos Islands Essay Example

of the endemic vegetation. Some of the plant life introduced to the islands is inhibiting the native plant life to grow due to the shading they create. This shading prevents the sun from getting to the native plant life causing them to slowly become extinct. The growing human population has also caused many diseases to appear on the islands.

Avian malaria, West Nile Fever, and bird flu are some of the major illnesses causing problems for the native life forms on the island. [pic] So many may ask ‘why is conserving the Galapagos Islands so important and how is the conservation taking place? ’ There are three major reasons for the conservation of Galapagos. (Galapagos Conservancy, 2008) First, the Galapagos has often been called “a living laboratory of evolution” because of its scientific value. According to Galapagos. org, “95% of its pre-human biodiversity remains intact, and there is no other island ecosystem that can come close to that significant achievement”.

Secondly, the archipelago brings in approximately $350MM annually to Ecuador as a tourism site. And lastly, the Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s last ‘wild’ places. There are currently many conservation projects in effect to help protect the Galapagos Islands. For starters, the Galapagos Conservancy is the only US organization which focuses ONLY on the Galapagos. There are multiple other organizations throughout the world helping, but only the Galapagos Conservancy is dedicated to just saving the Galapagos.

The World Wildlife

Foundation (WWF) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) are two organizations which support the wildlife found on the Galapagos Islands. On the WWF website, those who are interested in donating money to the islands

can purchase multiple items specifically targeted for the Galapagos such as stuffed animals like the Galapagos Penguin or Tortoise, T-shirts, bags, and much more. Another project, which has been in effect since 1968, is the fact that 97% of the land area on the islands was designated as National Park and Marine Reserve. This prevents any hunting or killing of the wildlife and plant life over all of the islands.

Yet another step in trying to save the Galapagos are the multiple sanctuaries for the native life forms on the islands, such as a Wildlife Sanctuary and International Whale Sanctuary. The Galapagos Islands are one of earth’s many wonders.

Not only did the islands give Darwin the insight on natural selection, but the Galapagos is also home to an amazing list of wondrous life forms. Besides the finches, tortoises and diverse plant life, the islands are home to unique creatures such as the Galapagos penguins, sea lions, hammerhead sharks, and so many more. Each of the creatures on the islands have adapted in so many ways in order to survive