A recent study has revealed an alarming decline in marine turtle populations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. This research, based on over 35,000 dives conducted at Cocos Island, Costa Rica, over a period of 26 years, provides deep insights into the vulnerability of turtles to environmental pressures and predators.
Una investigación reciente ha revelado una alarmante disminución en las poblaciones de tortugas marinas en el Pacífico Oriental Tropical. Este estudio, que se basó en más de 35,000 inmersiones realizadas en la Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, durante 26 años, proporciona una visión profunda de la vulnerabilidad de las tortugas frente a las presiones ambientales y los depredadores.
Marine vertebrates, particularly green sea turtles, are especially vulnerable to plastic pollution through ingestion or entanglement. This study investigated wild juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from two Ecuadorian national parks (Galápagos and Machalilla) to assess the prevalence of plastic pollution in their feces and its potential impact on various health metrics.
Plastic Pollution and Animal Health in Juvenile Green Turtles in Ecuador Read More »
Los vertebrados marinos, especialmente las tortugas verdes, son particularmente vulnerables a la contaminación por plásticos, ya sea por ingestión o enredos. Este estudio investigó a tortugas verdes juveniles (Chelonia mydas) en dos parques nacionales de Ecuador (Galápagos y Machalilla) para evaluar la prevalencia de contaminación por plásticos en sus heces y su impacto potencial en diversas métricas de salud.
Contaminación por plásticos y salud animal en tortugas verdes juveniles en Ecuador Read More »
In a joint effort to promote sustainability and improve water resource management, Plastigama Wavin, the Ecuador Water Security Coalition, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) with its Galápagos campus, and the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) implemented the “AquaCell 400 Technology Installation Project” in September. This technology is used for rainwater harvesting, treating the collected water to make it potable and safe for consumption.
En un esfuerzo conjunto para promover la sostenibilidad y la mejora en la gestión del recurso hídrico, Plastigama Wavin, la Coalición por la Seguridad Hídrica del Ecuador, la Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) con su sede en las Islas Galápagos y el Galapagos Science Center (GSC), ejecutaron en el mes de septiembre el proyecto “Implementación de tecnologías AquaCell 400” cuya utilidad es la cosecha de agua lluvia que atraviesa por un tratamiento que la deja como agua potable y lista para un consumo seguro.
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In 2022, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the broader UNC & USFQ Galapagos Initiative will celebrate its 10th Anniversary. We are proud to announce the World Summit on Island Sustainability scheduled to be held on June 26–30, 2022 at the Galapagos Science Center and the Community Convention Center on San Cristobal Island.
The content of the World Summit will be distributed globally through social media and results documented through papers published in a book written as part of the Galapagos Book Series by Springer Nature and edited by Steve Walsh (UNC) & Carlos Mena (USFQ) as well as Jill Stewart (UNC) and Juan Pablo Muñoz (GSC/USC). The book will be inclusive and accessible by the broader island community including scientists, managers, residents, tourists, and government and non-government organizations.
While the most obvious goal of organizing the World Summit on Island Sustainability is to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the GSC and the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, other goals will be addressed through special opportunities created as part of our operational planning of the World Summit.
For instance, we seek to elevate and highlight the Galapagos in the island conservation discourse, seeking to interact with other island networks in more obvious and conspicuous ways to benefit the Galapagos Islands, the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, and the world. We will seize the opportunity to further develop the I2N2 – International Islands Network-of-Networks. Further, we wish to highlight and emphasize multiple visions of a sustainable future for the Galapagos Islands and we cannot do this alone. Therefore, engaging the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, the Government Council of Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park, and local Galapagos authorities, including government and non-government organizations and local citizen groups, is imperative.
Borrowing from Hawaii’s and Guam’s Green Growth Program and the Global Island Partnership, we wish to examine existing global programs that emphasize island sustainability and their incorporation into life, policies, and circumstances in the Galapagos Islands. We will also seek to enhance our connections with the institutional members of our International Galapagos Science Consortium and expand the Consortium through the recruitment of other member institutions. We will also work to benefit islands and their local communities by working with citizen groups as well as important NGOs who seek to improve the natural conditions in the Galapagos and diminish the impact of the human dimension on the future of Galapagos’ ecosystems.
Lastly, we will use the World Summit to benefit UNC & USFQ and our constituencies through a strong and vibrant communication plan about the World Summit, creating corporate relationships as sponsors, identifying funding goals through donors, and benefiting our study abroad program for student engagement in the Galapagos Islands. We plan to develop and issue a Galapagos Sustainability Communique after the World Summit that includes the vision and insights of all its participants for a sustainable Galapagos with applicability to global island settings.
We are eager to hear your perspective and have you join us at the World Summit on Island Sustainability!