Galápagos Under Threat: Conservation, Climate Change and Hope

Approximately 926 km (575 mi) off the coast of Ecuador lie the Islas Encantadas: the Enchanted Islands.

Better known as the Galápagos Islands, this collection of islands is named after the tortoises that once covered their shores.

Now, fewer in number (reduced to 15,000 from an original 250,000), these giant shelled residents reflect the degradation that the islands are experiencing. 

However, not all hope is lost. As our knowledge and appreciation of these incredible ecosystems has advanced, the Galápagos tortoise and the Galápagos Islands are becoming successful conservation stories. 

What is so special about the Galápagos Islands?

Below is a quote from the renown naturalist Charles Darwin. He is attributing the inspiration of his theory of evolution to the animals of the Galápagos Islands. Indeed, they are described as a ‘laboratory for evolution’, as they have a small number of species in distinct habitats, making them easy to study. 

Explore who Darwin was and how the Galápagos featured in his work here. 

“I have been now ever since my return engaged in a very presumptuous work and which I know no one individual who would not say a very foolish one. 

I was so struck with distribution of Galápagos organisms and with the character of the American fossil mammifers (AKA mammals) […] At last gleams of light have come, and I am almost convinced (quite contrary to opinion I started with) that species are not (it is like confessing a murder) immutable.”- C Darwin, 1844 to Hooker 

Starting with Darwin’s visit in 1835, the islands have continued to be a focal point for scientific research and tourism.

Carrying his legacy are Peter and Rosemary Grant in 1973.  The two scientists lived the dream, moving to a remote island and watching birds. They studied the finches of the Galápagos and how populations responded to environmental conditions (for example, drought). Their observations were the first measurements of evolution in action.  

Made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, the Galápagos Islands are a place that showcases the wonders of the natural world.  

The unique species capture the imagination. They also act as a reminder of the stewardship humans have for our natural world.  

What threats do the Galápagos face? 

The Galápagos biosphere face human-made threats. Invasive species, direct human impacts such as building and pollution, climate change and overfishing all contribute to the decline of the species that make the islands unique.

How do invasive species threaten the Galápagos Islands? 

Humans have explored the world, linking remote places like never before, and  with us, we have brought some hitchhikers. According to the Charles Darwin Foundation, there have been 1,978 introduced species in the Galápagos, and of these, 1,898 have become established on the islands.  

Some were intentional: early pirates left goats and pigs on the islands as a food source they could come back to. Later, ornamental plants were brought for gardens, and cats and dogs for companionship.  

Others were stowaways. Rats and fire ants are two examples that managed to catch a ride into this haven, via ships or in delivered goods.  

This has made life harder for the residents. The Galápagos tortoises now have to compete with herds of goats for the vegetation they eat and hatchlings can be attacked by fire ants, cats and rats. Blackberry bushes out-compete native plants, killing off more food for the tortoise. Spanish cedars (a mid-sized tree) grow in thick stands making it challenging for the tortoises to gain access.  

Their world is changing faster than they can keep up with.  

What direct human impacts affect the Galápagos? 

More people live on and visit the Galápagos islands than ever before. The population has grown by 300% since 1990 and in the first half of 2024 alone the Galápagos accepted 142,473 visitors. 

As humans settle, we use land for agriculture and residence, reducing the land available for resident animals. This phenomenon is called land-use-change and is one of the biggest threats to global biodiversity today.  

How is pollution impacting the Galápagos Islands?  

The islands waste collection grew 66% over the last decade to 28.6 tonnes per day, which needs shipping back to the mainland.  

But it is the waste that isn’t collected that causes more of an issue. According to Plastic Pollution Free Galápagos, over 8 tonnes of plastic is removed from the beaches each year, and 38 species have been entangled in or ingested plastic. Much of this plastic pollution this comes from the mainland, following the same route as the residents’ ancestors.  

How is climate change impacting the Galápagos Islands? 

The Galápagos thrives because of the Ocean surrounding it. Fed by nutrient-rich currents from the deep, the Ocean is full of life.  

However, climate change is slowing Ocean circulation, increasing the acidity and lowering oxygen levels of the water, reducing the amount of food supporting life on these islands. It also interferes with El Nino.  

What is the El Nino event?  

El Nino is a naturally occurring event, characterised by changes in Ocean upwelling and climate.  

Climate change is predicted to vary the strength and frequency of this event. Species on the Galápagos islands have adapted in incredible ways to deal with El Nino. For example, marine iguanas can shrink; reabsorbing bone mass, to deal with the scarcity of food.  

Climate change has major influence over the way our planet functions, coupled with the loss of population and resilience caused by other factors, populations will be stressed more than before.  

How does overfishing impact the Galápagos? 

The waters of the Galápagos are exceptionally rich and contain some of the highest densities of reef fish anywhere in the world.  

Largely, high densities of sharks (lots of sharks usually means a healthy Ocean). It is also a key spot for the largest fish in the Ocean, the whale shark – with 700 adult females passing through every year, most of them pregnant.  

We suspect this could be the location whale sharks come to give birth – hidden around the Galápagos could be the nursery for baby whale sharks!! 

Fishing has destroyed the majority of the coral reefs in this archipelago (an extensive group of islands), and sharks are targeted for their fins.  Hammerhead populations have seen a 50% decline since 2000. 13 of 28 species tracked over the last 20 years have declined sharply. 

In 2020, the tag of a whale shark called Hope suddenly logged fast movement above the surface of the water, indicating she had been caught by a fishing vessel. In 2017, a fishing boat containing the fins of 6,620 individual sharks was seized.  

The fish lover in us doesn’t like this. Losing sharks and habitats can disrupt the ecosystem, meaning less fish for feeding people. Most people like people, so most people also won’t like this.  

What is being done to protect and restore the Galápagos Islands? 

But the Galápagos is proving we can make a difference.  

As a focal point for nature and evolution, it is only fitting that the Galápagos Islands are also a focal point of conservation efforts.  

Tourism is utilised to support the islands, with an entry fee of $200 per person. 40% of this goes directly to conservation efforts, ensuring the attraction of the islands is preserved by those attracted to it.  

Conservation efforts in the Galápagos: 

Conservation efforts use camera traps, satellite tags and intense gardening to give the natives a hand.  

The Galápagos Conservation Trust is spearheading an incredible citizen science project, Barcode Galápagos, aiming to describe the genetic profile of all species in the Galápagos. Employing local people, the venture will enable identification of new invasive species, tracking of the health of the Galápagos and tracking of illegal pet or shark fins. 

In light of the impacts of overfishing, Ecuador has protected 198,000 square km in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, including a 30,000km² area where any fishing is prohibited. Research is being used to guide fishing practices. The aims are to reduce by-catch (the accidental trapping of unwanted marine creatures by commercial fishing nets) and waste. This ensures sustainable fishing practice, producing more fish with less effort. 

For our Galápagos tortoises, new conservation efforts aim to eradicate the invasive species threatening them, and even bring back species that were driven to extinction. 

Genetic analysis of surviving tortoises on the islands has found traces of Floreana tortoises, a species declared extinct in the 1850s. Through selective breeding programs, the Floreana Giant Tortoise could soon be roaming the islands again. 

Project Co-Galápagos targets a growing global issue – dependence on tourism and how to make it more environmentally friendly.  Co-Galápagos aims to be the global example of developing local communities in symbiosis (what a great word) with nature.

What does symbiosis mean? Symbiosis the interaction of different organisms living in close physical association, but in benefit to them both. 

How does the Galápagos help us protect our world? 

Our abilities to understand the natural world have increased since Charles Darwin first sketched a marine iguana. We know and understand so much more about the Galápagos Islands, and the world, than we once did.  

This enables us to better protect it. The Galápagos are a unique environment due to their isolation, distinct habitats and rich biodiversity. They give us a microcosm of our planet. Charles Darwin realised this, and the islands gave him a chance to better understand the world by observing them.

Now, our world is changing, and again the Galapagos is the perfect place to understand the effects of those changes. 

The Galápagos Islands have provided inspiration in our understanding of the natural world, they are giving us the chance to understand how best to protect it.