Groundbreaking Ecological Restoration Initiative Begins on Floreana Island, Galapagos

The methodology involves the homogeneous dispersion of baits using two helicopters that cover predetermined transects at low altitudes, accurately dispersing the control product. The first bait application will take 10 days and cover 100% of the 17,000-hectare island of Floreana. Three planned applications are intended to achieve the process's effectiveness.

During the twelve-year planning period, the Floreana community, consisting of 160 inhabitants, actively collaborated in the project's development. Infrastructure enhancements were undertaken to bolster agricultural and livestock activities. This included the construction of 7 stables, 9 pigsties, and 16 chicken coops, aimed at facilitating the management of production animals. In addition, 15 warehouses were adapted for food storage, ensuring a food supply for these animals during the three-month confinement period necessitated by the bait application. The National Environmental Authority also implemented a mitigation plan as a precautionary measure, specifically designed to safeguard five species of finches and the short-eared owl, all of which are endemic to the Galápagos Islands.

This project includes the implementation of eight risk mitigation plans, which have been developed in collaboration with the community. This includes the protection of freshwater sources, which will receive special management, and during the application process, a desalination plant will be used to provide for the population. Additionally, pet management has been considered, with spaces constructed within urban areas to shelter domestic dogs and cats.

"The Floreana Ecological Restoration Project represents the most significant endeavor in the history of the Galapagos National Park. Its success symbolizes a global conservation milestone that exemplifies the synergy between conservation and sustainable development, serving as an inspiring model for protected areas worldwide," emphasized José Antonio Dávalos, the Minister of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition.

The controlled bait application is scheduled to continue until mid-December 2023. The reintroduction of the first locally extinct species, the giant tortoise, is planned for early 2024. Subsequently, as the ecosystem regenerates, the project will reintroduce the other eleven identified species for reintroduction, including Floreana Racer, Floreana Mockingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Gray Warbler Finches, Large Ground Finches, Vegetarian Finches, Sharp-beaked Ground Finches, Barn Owls, Galapagos Rail, Lava Gulls, and Galapagos Hawks. This phased process is expected to span at least seven years, according to Danny Rueda Córdova, the director of the Galapagos National Park.

Eliécer Cruz, director of the Galapagos Program at the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation, the project's executing organization, highlighted, "We are at this crucial phase of the Floreana Project today because of the community's many years of continued dedication to ecological restoration as a priority. This project will be a shining example of achieving a win-win situation between the community and conservation."

"Every action has a reaction, and it has been well established that removing invasive species from islands paves the way for ecosystem recovery," says Chad Hanson, deputy vice president conservation at Island Conservation, a key partner in the project. "The vision is for Floreana Island to not only recover but that the community, wildlife, as well as the immediate marine environment thrive as a result of this wholistic intervention. As the restoration project moves from imagination to implementation, we're excited to demonstrate what can be achieved by a community committed to their island home's well-being."

The Floreana Ecological Restoration Project is directed by the Ministry of Environment, through the Galapagos National Park Directorate, in collaboration with the Agency for Biosecurity for Galapagos. It is executed in collaboration with the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation and Island Conservation, and receives support from various national and international, public and private organizations, including the Floreana Parish Council, the Municipality of San Cristobal, the Galapagos Government Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, among others.

About Floreana

Floreana was one of the first islands in the Galapagos archipelago to be colonized, with the earliest human settlements dating back to 1832. Colonization introduced invasive species that, over the past two centuries, have led to the collapse of populations of endemic species, which are now locally extinct. Consequently, this has impacted tourism, agriculture, livestock, and human health, hindering sustainable development and progress in this small community. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Floreana Island has the highest concentration of threatened species in the archipelago, at 55%.