The History Of The Galapagos Islands

The History Of The Galapagos IslandsGeographically, the Galapagos Islands belong to The Equator, and be situated on the Pacific Ocean near Central America. Its an archipelago composed of 41 volcanic islands. The islands piddle a population of slightly over 30,000 inhabitants.Historically, the Galapagos Islands were officially discovered by the bishop of Panama, Tomas de Berlanga in 1535. Until the 17th century, the islands are used as a inherent water tank and food. What people can find is not sole(prenominal) drinking water but also animals in get kayoedicular tortoises. Unfortunately, lots of animals were used as food and around species were killed off definitely.In 1835, Charles Darwin explored the archipelago. move by the specific fauna of the islands, he studied particularly the geology and the biological science on the islands. Thanks to his observations made, he published his first study on the origin of species and the rude(a) selection.Between the 1920s and the 1 930s, a wave of European settlers arrived in the islands. By 1934, laws on the protection of the archipelago were promulgated. However, because of the World War Two, most species were exterminated.The archipelago officially became a National commons in 1959. At that period, Darwin metrical foot was created in position to get funds for the preservation of the islands.Tourism started toward the demolition of the 1960s. Today, thousands of millions of people visit the Galapagos Islands each year.They are the first site in the world that became a listed UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978. Further more than, in 2007, UNESCO put the Galapagos Islands on the list of WORLD HERITAGE IN danger because of the surround threats ( masses tourism, overfishing, invasive species). In 2010, they view as been removed from this list thank to the significant progress made by Ecuador.The question that could be exacted what constituent has tourism played on the Galapagos islands?This study on th e Galapagos Islands is divided into trio master(prenominal) guides.First of all, it will be focusing on the jolt of tourism, positive as well as negative, on the islands. Then, it will disgorge about the management of tourism in that protected area. To finish, it will be discussing the role of eco-tourism in the Galapagos Islands.The Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin true his theory of evolution, are at peril of being ruined by tourists. Indeed, animals are disrupted by banging let outs of tourist abandoning their babies and eggs including the famous giant tortoises.Its a misadventure for all fauna on the Galapagos Islands but as well a real risk for the flora. There are so many species on the islands and in the surrounding waters that are now considered critically endangered, eyepatch another ninety have been officially declared as vulnerable. In the last five years, more than 100 new plants species have been introduced. nearly species of the giant tortoise and t he Galapagos mouse have disappeared completely. When visitors are coming to the island they bring with them spores or insects, which can be dangerous for native species. For shell, they brought the mosquito of Malaria, who can kill many birds.People are thinking that the Island isnt disfigured by the mendion of mass tourism but this is the saddening observation of the latest years. Facts are here and zip can do anything now. The damage is done. The Galapagos need tourism but in the same era, tourists are damaging the Islands.Tourists need services such as hotels and resorts. They want the same thing they can find e reallywhere with the Galapagos landscape. They ask for tourist information centres and guides on the islands. These demands are creating a large part of employment on the island.They need transport and airport, which has required the setting up of many buildings. The land used to be a magnificent woodland and its now transforming in micro urban areas like everywhere in South America. The Galapagos were concreted like Benidorm in Spain. The concrete spoiled the Spanishs East coast. For example forty years ago, people could go only by topical anaesthetic anaesthetic anesthetic supplies sauceboat, but today there are up to 5 flights a day or cruise ship.The government decided to create a highway all around the primary(prenominal) island. After a some years of intense urbanism, traffic congestion and a high immersion of people coming to the tourist attractions, tense relationships took place with local people. in the long run in 1997, after years of governmental mismanagement, crucial decisions were made. UNESCO and all the actors of the Galapagos political life decided to create several laws to calm down tensions on the archipelago. They gave priority to the preservation of the ecological system and the biodiversity. The sustainable development on the islands has been one of the most important points of the law. Rising the standard of reenf orcement for local inhabitants has been implemented. Integrated managements re origins have been created to help people.The main goal of this driving transplant and law was set up to favour a peaceful temper on the Galapagos Islands. We know that a good political situation is subjective for the tourism industry. Locals and tourists have to progress a great deal together. In the same environment, they have to live together and change their mind. Thats the real daze of tourism in The Galapagos Island.The development of tourism in the Galapagos Islands has caused numerous changes both(prenominal) on the economic and on the environmental point of view. Over the years, the impact of tourism has expire increasingly one of the main preoccupations on the succeeding(a) of the archipelago. The popularity of the Galapagos Islands attracts lots of tourists. However, this massive influx of visitors is presently a threat to the ecosystem because some people dont have concern for our enviro nment. Therefore, though tourism remains the main economic activity in the archipelago, the implementation of rules was prerequisite to manage tourism in order to en sure as shooting the preservation of the Galapagos Islands.The Galapagos National Park is the main attraction of the tourists but is submitted to strict rules. Created by the government of the Ecuador in 1959, it aimed to the preservation of wildlife from human influence. Currently, one of the main concerns is the flow of tourists within the islands. In order to reduce the negative impact on the environment, the government has set up a management system in protected areas.In 1973, the commission Plan of the Galapagos National Park fixed a limited number of tourists to the islands but over the years the number of visitors has increased. Looking at the elevator of tourists, that measure wasnt efficient and so has been reviewed in 1996 focalizing more on the efficiency of a site. The capacity is characterised by severa l parameters such as the time spent in during a visit, the area available, climateBefore their difference to the islands, visitors receive information about the conservation of the islands and are notified of the appropriate behaviour to adopt over there. Once arrived, tourists are strictly watchled making sure everything is in accordance with regulations.During the visit, tourists are accompanied by a certain guide. Guides play an important role in park management. They have attributed a small group with a limited number of people (by boat or on the terrestrial visitor sites). Their main role is to tick no one infringes rules and respects the wildlife. Tourists are required to stay on marked trails and are not allowed to disturb fauna and leaving trash. Guides have to pay attention to it to avoid damages on the environment. Guides have to make the tourists realise the importance of such rules by providing information on programs carried out by the Galapagos National Park in or der to respect the environment.The care Plan allows tourists to visit only at selected sites in the National Park and at a small capacity. The visit is authorised in small numbers so that the wildlife and the environment are preserved. The conservation of the islands involves all tourists they must pay high fees before entering in protected areas.In addition, the Galapagos National Park Service manages the number of people visiting the sites by establishing a specific and fixed itinerary for ships which transports 20 customers or more. The control of tourism is done as well on land as on sea. Different standards are monitored itineraries for visits, naturalist guides qualifications, the quota of passengers All these factors must be conformed to the legislation.The role of visitors is a key point in the management of tourism. Managing visitors consists in controlling the identity of each one (once arrived on the islands, tourists provide their personalized information age, nation ality). Then, the monitoring is also focused on reports made by the guides about visits (number of tourists, duration of the visit).One of the main challenges for park managers would be to tone the flow of tourists by implementing a monitoring system.Tourism in the Galapagos Islands must continue to attract visitors in terms of education, personal experience and awareness. However, it has been necessary to put some limits to regulate in an easier way the activities within the islands.At last, tourism in the islands is considered as Ecotourism. Ecotourism is defined by TIES (The International Ecotourism partnership a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting ecotourism) as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. (TIES, 1990)The Galapagos Islands have been an ecological savoir-faire for 30 years. With hindsight, we can see the benefits of ecotourism in two major domains environment and economy.First of all , it is clear that people need to work to live, but culture and industry have a high impact on the conservation of the environment. Therefore, Ecotourism has been a way to allow people to work while preserving and protect the nature. This kind of tourism is educational it teaches people how to live with and be more aware of the surrounding environmental wealth. As a fact, endangered habitats and biodiversity are conserved because both tourists and local people understand the importance of their impact on the environment. The Ecotourism has permitted tourism to continue and progress in the Galapagos Islands, even if its biodiversity is very protected, thanks to a very strict conservation policy, rules and controls. The low-impact tourism developed in the Galapagos has benefited the islands. As a matter of fact, Ecotourism provides financial motivations that encourage local people to protect the environment and work for it.On an economic point of view, Ecotourism has contributed to r aising the quality of life of the natives. It enabled that money spent by tourists (around $ thou per tourist for 2 weeks, so much more than a inexpert tourist) goes directly to the locals and not to international companies. This money is reinvested to both increase the standards of living and to finance the Galapagos National Park, in the way to conserve the biodiversity. Generally, in unequal countries, the primary resources permit to survive (water, minerals, trees) but Ecotourism in the Galapagos Islands has provided an alternative source of incomes. Indeed, tourism expenses encourage local people to seek for a sustainable job guide, cleaner, waiter, security, boat owner. Finally, the employment generated by the Ecotourism ensures that fewer people ply for cities.To sum up, the Galapagos Islands example shows that Ecotourism requires a very well balance between economy and environment.There is a real correlation between conservation and development in the Galapagos Islands. A s a matter of fact, tourism has a significant impact on the environment, because of the entire town planning it needs, the pollution, the noise, and the everlasting increase in the number of tourists. To manage this, many rules have been colonised to restrict that. Ecotourism was the best way to reduce the environment damages caused by the tourism while keeping an important source of revenue. However, Ecotourism should not become an important economic industry. If so, it will not be called Ecotourism any longer.