Ecuador declares Galapagos Islands an endangered area

dpa German Press Agency Published: Wednesday April 11, 2007

Quito- Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa declared the
country's Galapagos archipelago - the inspiration for Charles
Darwin's thoughts on evolution because of its distinctive wildlife -
an ecologically-endangered area, according to media reports
Wednesday.
Correa was anticipating the work of a UNESCO mission which is
currently in the islands - with their unique flora and fauna - to
evaluate whether the Galapagos should be incorporated into the list
of threatened natural areas in the world.

Nature on this archipelago, some 1,000 kilometres off South
America's Pacific coast, is at risk from pollution, tourism and the
arrival of foreign animal and plant species.

In comments on Tuesday, Correa stressed that Ecuador "does
not need decisions from any international institution whatsoever" to
accept its responsibility for the Galapagos.

"What we are unveiling is a longstanding problem in the
archipelago, and it was high time to face it with responsibility,
seriousness and courage," said Correa, who was inaugurated in
January.

Measures to protect the ecologically-endangered area include
restrictions to air traffic, tourism and migration to the islands.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

Comment Here