Darwin's Species Will Continue to Evolve: Galapagos Islands No Longer Endangered

The Galapagos Tortoise is one of the best known species on the famous Galapagos islands woff the coast of Ecuador. The region is now removed from the UN’s endangered species list.

The Galapagos Islands have been essential to our understanding of the evolution of species and the origins of the animal planet. This exotic locale was the backbone for scientific progress as it relates to the environment, but for years it was threatened and placed on the endangered species list. For a while, it looked as though the Galapagos Islands would have marked only the origins of Darwin’s species, since they wouldn’t have much of a future. Fortunately, things are looking up and the animal residents won’t just be ancient history.

Typically, one species makes the endangered species list and it’s unusual that a whole region would be threatened enough to be listed as endangered. This classification was granted to the Galapagos Islands in 2007 when immigration, tourism and invasive species in the area caused substantial environmental degradation. These islands, which are off the coast of Ecuador have been the focus of major efforts which have clearly proven effective!

The fact that the wildlife on the Galapagos Islands exists within one of the best known destinations in the world thanks to Darwin has probably lent momentum to the cause. Surely, the world will be anxiously watching in hopes that things will continue to improve; the removal from the United Nation’s endangered list is only the first step!

Photo Credit: James Seith Photography via flickr

6 thoughts on “Darwin's Species Will Continue to Evolve: Galapagos Islands No Longer Endangered”

  1. Beth Graddon-Hodgson

    Yes, Ecuador seems to have claimed to be allocating resources and money towards the efforts and apparently, to the UN that is "successful" environmental progress.

    Shh..I was hoping to stir some conversation prior to a follow-up on where things are at!!

    -Beth

  2. irishmarinelife

    ´´the focus of major efforts which have clearly proven effective!´´

    This is wildly inaccurate. Fishing quotas, by-catch of keystone protected species such as sharks, invasive species (most obviously dogs and cats) and human immigration from the continent are all markedly up in the last few years.

    UNESCO's decision to remove Galápagos from the protected list was a vote taken in response to a proposal by a Brazilian delegate at a recent conference. Based on nothing more than reports from the Ecuadorian government that they have been recently making 'increased efforts'.

    The IUCN immediately issued a statement saying this decision was premature and ill advised.

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