ECUADOR: CONSERVATIONISTS SAY HUMANS PRESENT MORE OF A THREAT TO FAUNA AND FLORA DESPITE RECENT OIL SPILL IN GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Record ID: 647349

  • Title: ECUADOR: CONSERVATIONISTS SAY HUMANS PRESENT MORE OF A THREAT TO FAUNA AND FLORA DESPITE RECENT OIL SPILL IN GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
  • Date: 30th January 2001
  • Summary: GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR (JANUARY 27, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. GV TOWN / ZOOM INTO SHIP THAT HAS GROUNDED 0.11 GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR (JANUARY 28, 2001) (REUTERS) 2. SLV SMALL BOAT LEAVING PORT; SLV PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET; MV SEALS PLAYING ON BOAT; SLV RESIDENTS UNLOADING SUPPLIES FROM BOAT (7 SHOTS) 0.58 3. MV SANITATION WORKERS COLLECTING GARBAGE; MV PAN GARBAGE ON GROUND (3 SHOTS) 1.15 GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR (JANUARY 27, 2001) (REUTERS) 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GALAPAGOS 'SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND MAYOR, HERNAN VILEMA, SAYING "Until (19)97 when the 'Galapagos Special Law' came into effect, which began controlling the arrival of people here to Galapagos, anyone could come here freely to live, to carry out economic and productive activities, and so the population index had grown, it was very high, one of the highest nation-wide." 1.37 5. SLV BOATS IN WATER 1.41 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) VILEMA, SAYING "At that time there were about two thousand inhabitants, today we are approaching six thousand and that has created problems, for example, used water is not being treated, it is discarded crude. We are also having problems with the elimination of solid waste, that is a problem. We have a good collection but we have problems with their elimination. The place where these are deposited, when it rains, they eventually filter into the ground and contaminate the population. 2.09 7. LV PAN LAKE FORMED ON VOLCANO CRATER; SLV ROCK AND LAKE; SLV WAVE AND SURFERS; MV SEALS PLAYING AND SUNBATHING; BABY SEAL CLIMBING ON MOTHERS BACK (7 SHOTS) 3.14 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CONSERVATIONIST AND GALAPAGOS RESIDENT, GODFREY MERLIN, SAYING "We are responsible, the human race is responsible for this problem. We can look at the boat and say, blame somebody for the wreck, blame somebody for not acting quickly enough or whatever. But the reality is that we are making huge demands on the Galapagos Islands and these demands demand huge quantities of fuel. We have taxis, we have airplanes, we have tour boats, we have electricity 24-hours a day, and our demands are extremely high and we must accept that if we have these demands we are going to bring fuels and mathematically sooner or later it will be a disaster. And we have to recognize these basic issues, I think, for the future and understand that our demands on the islands have to be controlled in such a way that we reduce these kinds of transportation to an absolute minimum." 4.15 9. MV SEVEN SEALS LYING ON SAND 4.18 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th February 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Reuters ID: LVAALIKD2NDSG6GK9WSZHI8U8ZEJ
  • Story Text: While the recent oil spill in the Galapagos' Islands
    brought the world's attention to the threat posed to the
    area's unique species, conservationists have said human
    habitation presents a greater and more constant threat to the
    islands' fauna and flora.

    In mid-January, Ecuadorian ship, "Jessica" ran
    aground off the Galapagos Islands' shore, leaking the bulk of
    its 240,000 gallon (908,496 litres) fuel cargo into the
    archipelago's pristine waters.

    But while the recent oil spill threatened that region's
    unique fauna and sea life, conservationists have said human
    presence and urban development pose a greater threat to the
    Galapagos' unique eco-system.

    In 1994, it was estimated that more than 20,000 people
    inhabited the whole archipelago, with some islands bearing
    more of the the burdens of civilisation than others.

    Some of the islands in the archipelago were inhabited by
    indigenous people, until 1535, when Spanish Archbishop Fray
    Thomas de Berlanga discovered them.

    Since then, the Galapagos has been the host to visitors and
    residents from all over the world.

    According to Hernan Vilema, Mayor of Galapagos' San
    Cristobal Island, until the 1997 Galapagos Special Law,
    curtailing the number of people who could take up residence on
    the islands, "anyone could come here freely to live, to carry
    out economic and productive activities, and so the population
    index had grown, it was very high, one of the highest
    nation-wide."
    And many of the islands enjoy infrastructures, such as
    potable water, electricity and garbage collection, these are
    somewhat deficient and pose an environmental threat.

    Vilema used solid waste as one of the examples of
    human-created environmental hazards.

    Instead of being properly treated, solid wastes are simply
    collected and discarded at an isolated open field, where time
    and the elements eventually disperse them back on the ground.

    "Used water is not being treated, it is discarded crude.

    We are also having problems with the elimination of solid
    waste, that is a problem. We have a good collection but we
    have problems with their elimination. The Place where these
    are deposited, when it rains, they eventually filter into the
    ground and contaminate the population," said Vilema.

    The 1997 Special Law has served to cut down on the numbers
    of people taking residence on the island, but at the same
    time, these have become a prime destination for surfers and
    tourists seeking the islands' crystalline waters and a glimpse
    at unique and endangered species.

    Conservationist and Galapagos resident, Godfrey Merlin
    believes, "the human race is responsible for this problem".

    "We can look at the boat and say, blame somebody for the
    wreck, blame somebody for not acting quickly enough or
    whatever. But the reality is that we are making huge demands
    on the Galapagos Islands and these demands demand huge
    quantities of fuel. We have taxis, we have airplanes, we have
    tour boats, we have electricity 24-hours a day, and our
    demands are extremely high," he said.

    For the moment, the environmental damage caused by the
    "Jessica's" spill to the Galapagos' eco-system is contained,
    however, the environmentalists believe it is just a matter of
    time before another and perhaps more devastating spill wipes
    away the Galapagos' natural treasures.




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