Education

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Human values drive conservation.  Aligning these values with conservation is at the core of Free Galapagos' mission.

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The vision that the Galapagos has no human interaction is contrary to history and reality.  The Galápagos Islands have been affected by human interaction for centuries, in fact, Herman Melville wrote his famous The Encantadas in 1856, long before any permanent habitation of the islands.  Today, the island is home to a population of over 30,000 permanent residents and a floating population of approximately 5,000 people.

 

This population and increased budget tourism are creating pressure on the resources of Galapagos and exceeding the load capacity of the islands.  Without immediate remedial actions to change the status quo, Galapagos risks losing its status as a World Heritage Site.

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