CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION NEWS BULLETIN
GEF project was a success
In November, the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) celebrated the successful completion of its responsibilities in the Global Environment Facility funded project Control of Invasive Species in the Galapagos Archipelago.
The project was launched in 2001 with the main objective of empowering Galapagos institutions to manage invasive species and guard against future bio-invasions.
CDF played a pivotal role in the project and was involved in strengthening biosecurity, developing tools for research and for prioritising conservation management actions, designing cost effective methods for eradicating and controlling highly invasive species, and building community awareness about the impacts of introduced species.
Using techniques that were developed during the project, Galapagos teams successfully eradicated 7 invasive species from individual islands and 3 invasive species from the entire archipelago. Besides, considerable groundwork was carried out to identify major invasive species threats in Galapagos and to learn more about how these species interact with native species.
Among the outcomes for strengthening biosecurity were procedures manuals for inspectors and technicians, and protocols for fumigation of planes and boats. An early warning system was also implemented on inhabited islands with technicians trained to monitor the ports of entry, agriculture zones, and airplanes for the arrival of high risk pests.
Since it is critical to involve the local community in invasive species management, CDF has helped in the development of the Agricultural Health and SICGAL Committee and Inter-institutional Introduced Species Committees. Campaigns were run throughout the project to reach wider audiences; pamphlets, posters and numerous television and radio spots were produced. Over 12,000 students learned about invasive species impacts and 30 teachers were trained to teach introduced species concepts.
Now our challenge is to find funding to continue these projects and effectively implement an integrated and permanent system for the Total Control of Invasive Species in Galapagos.
Congratulations to all the committed people at CDF involved in making this happen as well as to our Galapagos partners in this project!
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'Grow me instead': the CDF native gardens project
We have new and wonderful gardens at the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in Puerto Ayora, using only native and endemic plants.
Following the award of a two year grant from the Nordic Friends of Galapagos, the Finnish Government and Roma Pizza, we started to landscape and expand our gardens to encourage others to do the same. Galapagos has a diverse and beautiful native flora, comprising 500 native species of which 180 are found nowhere else in the world.
The aim of this project is to provide gardeners in Santa Cruz with native alternatives to introduced species, thus helping to protect the biodiversity of this archipelago.
Invasive alien species are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in Galapagos.
About 60% of the 800 introduced plant species were introduced as ornamentals; some have already become invasive, others are waiting to do so.
Beside the plants, with posters and information we are providing a more interesting and informative site for local and foreign visitors who come to our Research Station.
We have also been working in our upland nursery in Bellavista, setting up an example native forest with the help of the Friends of Galapagos in Japan (Japanese Association for Galapagos - JAGA). The nursery is also producing plants for people wishing to reforest their farmland.
These improvements have galvanised the local community into action. We are working with six schools, including setting up two small nurseries, the university students are growing plants with us to re-landscape the entrance of Puerto Ayora, we have created a native garden for the Municipality, the Capitania is sending staff to grow plants to redo their gardens, and we have produced 2,000 plants for people in Santa Cruz.
It is one of our favourite projects - making a positive difference, working with people to create beautiful spaces using the native and endemic flora of Galapagos. The next step is to produce a guide to native plants for gardens.
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Training and knowledge for the guides
In October we started to support the Galapagos National Park Service's intensive refresher courses for naturalist guides from both the National Park and the Marine Reserve. The course is mandatory for guides to renew their licences.
The course, which is the first offered in roughly 6 years, enables the guides to update their knowledge of scientific research as well as local and national laws and regulations related to preserving the biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands. It also enables the GNPS to maintain contact with the Guides.
The weekly three-day course includes presentations by scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation, INGALA, Ministry of Tourism, as well as a round-table discussion held with the GNPS Director Raquel Molina. Subjects presented include the latest research in the areas of botany, invertebrates, vertebrates and marine biology, environmental interpretation, regulations pertaining to fishing licenses and INGALA, as well as first aid.
Courses content can be altered based on group feedback. The Charles Darwin Foundation has been helping to coordinate and prepare scientists to conduct presentations.
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