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Imperiled Ecosystems: Galápagos Scrub

Abstract:

The Galápagos Islands are an extraordinary location for endemism, and the local biota are threatened by a range of anthropogenic pressures, including invasive species, climate change, economic development, and tourism. The Islands are considered in critical/endangered status by WWF, and Conservation International places the Islands in the Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena hotspot region. We describe the terrestrial ecosystem types in the archipelago (e.g., mangrove, deciduous scrub, upland forest), the major threats to those ecosystems and their plant and animal denizens (e.g., tourism, climate change), and end with a discussion of several initiatives currently underway to address those threats. These initiatives include a range of biocontrol projects and efforts to control tourism.