© GC Member, Melissa Cruz
What is harming the
Marine Iguanas?
Galapagos Conservancy provided initial emergency
funding for this rapid response effort to identify the cause
of these deaths in order to develop future strategies to
protect marine iguana populations throughout the entire
Archipelago. This work involves increased monitoring of
marine iguana colonies and laboratory testing by experts
in reptile pathology, microbiology, and toxicology to
identify the cause of these deaths.
Marine iguanas are the only sea-going lizard in the
world, living on land but grazing on algae in the ocean.
Such losses are of particular concern considering marine
iguanas are also susceptible to predation by introduced
rats and feral cats, as well as the impact on their food
source by more frequent and intense El Niño weather
events caused by climate change. Marine iguanas are
currently listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species.
Investigation of Marine Iguana Deaths
(2014 and Ongoing)
A Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) team
is still trying to determine the cause of unusually high
mortality of marine iguanas in late 2013. In addition to the
GNPD, the team includes experts from the Charles Darwin
Foundation, Houston Zoo, University of Florida College of
Veterinary Medicine, and Northwest ZooPath.
THE EMERGING
ISSUES TEAM
Johannah Barry,
President of Galapagos
Conservancy, leads
the Emerging Issues
Initiative, with input from
key staff and a network
of international experts.
Dr. Linda Cayot,
Galapagos
Conservancy’s
Science Advisor,
has more than two
decades of experience
on the ground in
Galapagos working
on key biodiversity
conservation issues.
Richard Knab,
Galapagos
Conservancy’s Director
of Strategic Partnerships,
works closely with
Galapagos education
and community leaders,
paving the way toward a
sustainable society.
EMERGING ISSUES
INITIATIVE
2014-2018
Kicker Rock. © Peter Donshik
T
© GC Member, Joan Russie
GALAPAGOS
CONSERVANCY
is a leader in the global
collaborative effort to
balance both conservation
and a thriving community
in one of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems. We value
innovative science and conservation management that seek to
protect the unique flora and fauna of Galapagos, while striving
to add knowledge to the world’s understanding of this complex
world of strange and wonderful creatures. We envision a healthy
and engaged society within Galapagos that actively cares for and
respects the natural world in which they live.
he increasing pressure from the arrival and dispersal of invasive species, the expansion of tourism, and
a growing human population — combined with natural events such as volcanic eruptions and weather
patterns associated with El Niño and La Niña — create constantly shifting parameters for Galapagos
conservation. Some of these changes will impact the natural balance of plants and animals, while others may
have a greater impact on efforts to achieve a sustainable society in the islands.
Research and management tend to focus on priority problems and often lack the flexibility or financing to
respond to new issues that may first be noticed by simple observation. In a standard science setting, there is
little room for the anecdotal — but in Galapagos, where external pressures mount daily against millennia of
isolation and evolution, detrimental changes often happen quickly and quietly.
Look, Listen, and Act.
GALAPAGOS CONSERVANCY
is getting ahead of the problem.
Recognizing that conditions continually change in
Galapagos, Galapagos Conservancy established a
program to ensure the timely identification and evaluation
of emerging conservation issues. Through this initiative,
we will help to focus management and research on new or
potential problems — and, most importantly, take action
with targeted responses before their impact becomes
extensive and/or irreversible.
Preserve. Protect. Restore.
Questions or comments?
Contact Dana Kaasik at [email protected] or 703-383-0077.
GALAPAGOS CONSERVANCY
11150 Fairfax Boulevard, Suite 408 w Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
[email protected] w www.galapagos.org
Blue-footed Boobies dive for fish, but it appears that the lack of
certain fish species may be impacting their ability to reproduce.
© Torrey Trust
Over the next five years, we seek to invest more than
$935,000 to develop and expand this important program.
We believe that the longterm conservation of the
Galapagos Islands requires that information, observations,
reflections, and concerns be incorporated into ongoing
discussions and debate.
© Andy Teucher
TAKING ACTION BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
GC WILL INVEST $935,000 OVER 5 YEARS
Among Galapagos Conservancy’s special strengths is our flexibility, which allows us to respond quickly
and effectively to emergencies and to tap into a diverse group of experts at a moment’s notice.
We are dedicated to helping find solutions to the emerging conservation challenges that face Galapagos.
© Michael Perlmutter
Where have all the
Boobies gone?
Blue-footed Booby Population Study
(2011 and ongoing)
Anecdotal information from naturalist guides and other
local observers suggested a possible decline in the bluefooted booby population. Galapagos Conservancy recruited
and funded Dr. David Anderson, a long-term Galapagos
researcher studying boobies and albatross, to conduct an
investigation to determine the
validity of the observations.
Dr. Anderson’s data are
compelling. He has verified a
significant population decline
among blue-footed boobies and
identified the probable cause — a
reduction in the sardine population,
which makes up a large part of the
booby diet. This study has provided
decision-makers with important,
scientifically-based information
Dr. David Anderson is a
professor at Wake Forest
that will contribute to better
University and has studied
understanding the decline in the
Galapagos seabirds for
blue-footed booby population of
several decades.
Galapagos.
Biennial Symposium on Emerging Issues
Galapagos Conservancy plans to bring together experts from
Galapagos and around the world every two years to identify new
and emerging issues with the potential to affect conservation
and the transition to a sustainable society. The resulting
discussions will identify those issues that, if not addressed
through research and/or management, may have negative
longterm effects on the archipelago.
Within a symposium setting, Galapagos stakeholders
(governmental and non-governmental institutions;
representatives of education, tourism, and business sectors;
and municipal leaders, naturalist guides, scientists, concerned
citizens, elders, and others) will meet with a handful of external
experts in island conservation, management, and sustainability.
Fields of knowledge may change year to year but will include:
scientific disciplines, tourism, education, governance,
socioeconomics, health, urban planning, process facilitation,
and natural resource management. Each symposium will result
in a publication with new priority projects defined.
Total funding needed: $200,000
$100,000 needed every two years beginning in 2015
Follow-up Research
The rapid decline of a bird population, the arrival of an
aggressive species of ant, or the potential spread of a disease
that could affect the overall health of the local community are
all examples of emerging issues. Once these issues have been
identified, research is often needed to determine the cause and
extent of the problem and to provide recommendations
for actions.
Galapagos Conservancy will support research to examine
emerging issues identified as high priority to provide a scientific
basis for policy and management decisions. To be effective,
decision-making must occur as early in the process as possible
to ensure that impacts are minimized. There is also a financial
incentive to act early since prevention is often less costly and
more efficient than subsequent control or mitigation measures.
Research on emerging conservation issues will also help alert
our partner organizations to problems not contemplated in their
annual planning.
Total funding needed: $500,000
$100,000 per year for five years beginning in 2014
© Mark Wilson
Now you see them ...
Now you don’t.
Bringing People Together to Discuss Problems and Solutions
The Decline of Vermilion Flycatchers
Galapagos penguins at sunset. © Jack Baldelli
Climate Change Implications for
Galapagos
Changes to our planet’s climate caused by human activities
appear to be ocurring more rapidly than have been observed
in many thousands of years. In the Galapagos Islands (famous
for being the cradle of the theory of evolution), the unique flora
and fauna may not be able to adapt quickly enough. Decisionmakers in all sectors, from natural resource managers to those
responsible for human welfare, urgently need scientificallybased information about the potential impacts of global climate
change on Galapagos.
A one-year expert-in-residence is needed to evaluate
climate change implications and to adapt global-scale oceanic
and atmospheric processes to the Eastern Tropical Pacific Zone,
within which the Galapagos Islands are located. This expert will
provide a scientific foundation to evaluate which climate change
scenario(s) is most realistic in order to determine links between
global-scale predictions and on-the-ground natural processes in
Galapagos. We will also support the establishment of a network
of climate monitoring stations throughout Galapagos.
Over the last few years, many observers noted the
gradual disappearance of vermilion flycatchers on the
islands that are inhabited by humans. As with the bluefooted boobies, anecdotal reports indicating a rapid decline
stimulated Galapagos Conservancy to provide a small
grant to Godfrey Merlen, a local naturalist and long-time
Galapagos resident, to review the bird’s current status. Comparing Merlen’s
observations with historical records
confirmed that these brilliant red
birds are virtually extinct or close to
extinction on three of the inhabited
islands. The results of this work,
along with work on other declining
land bird species, provided impetus
for the development of a Land Bird
Conservation Plan. Galapagos
Conservancy is funding the lead
Godrey Merlen, a British
scientists at the Charles Darwin
Naturalist, has lived in
Research Station who will carry
Galapagos for more than
40 years and has seen the out the plan, working to ensure
islands undergo a dramatic the recovery of endangered and
transformation.
vulnerable populations throughout
the islands.
Total funding needed (1-year only): $110,000
Rapid Response Fund
At Galapagos Conservancy, we know that situations can occur
outside of planned investments and may require immediate
action. The flexibility of our organization allows us to respond
quickly and effectively to emergency funding requests. Our
rapid response fund will respond to ecological emergencies in
need of immediate attention in order to reduce the negative
impact on Galapagos ecosystems, or in situations where a quick
infusion of resources will significantly increase or improve our
work and that of our partners.
Total funding needed: $125,000
$25,000 per year for five years beginning in 2014
© Judy Molinaro