CONSERVATION STATUS REPORT OF THE GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO Prepared for: UNESCO NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE This document about the conservation status of the Galapagos Archipelago was prepared by the Ecuadorian Environment Ministry through the Galapagos National Park Directorate Daniel Ortega Pacheco, Phd Minister of Environment Walter Bustos, Ms Acting Director of the Galapagos National Park Directorate January 2016 With technical input from: Danny Rueda: Galapagos National Park Directorate Jorge Carrión: Galapagos National Park Directorate Sandra Gamboa: Galapagos National Park Directorate Eddy Araujo: Galapagos National Park Directorate Lorena Sánchez: Galapagos National Park Directorate Mónica Ramos: Galapagos Biosecurity Agency Martin Espinosa: Galapagos Biosecurity Agency Fabián Bolaños: Undersecretary of Ports and Maritime and Fluvial Transport Wilson Coronado: Undersecretary of Ports and Maritime and Fluvial Transport Andrea Romero: Regional Coordinator, Ecuadorian Tourism Ministry Juan C Izurieta: GALAPAGOS Tourism Monitoring System, Ecuadorian Tourism Ministry Carlos Carrión: Galapagos Invasive Species Trust Fund Enrique Buitrón: Galapagos Invasive Species Trust Fund Walter Bustos: General revision and editing Africa Berdonces: General revision and editing Acknowledgements: Ecuadorian Environment Ministry Galapagos National Park Directorate Technical Secretary of the Galapagos Government Council Santa Cruz Island Municipality San Cristobal Island Municipality Isabela Island Municipality Floreana Parrish Undersecretary of Ports and Maritime and Fluvial Transport Galapagos Invasive Species Trust Fund Galapagos Biosecurity Agency 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 6 1.- INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 7 2.- BIOSECURITY .................................................................................................. 8 2.1.- Cargo transport system to Galapagos: ......................................................... 8 2.1.1.- Cargo vessels capacity ............................................................................. 9 2.1.2.- Cargo harbour in the city of Guayaquil ................................................ 10 2.2.- Environmental standards for vessel operation in the GMR ..................... 14 2.2.1.- Resolution No. 050-2013 ....................................................................... 15 2.2.2.- Environmental check list ......................................................................... 15 2.2.3.- Resolutions of the Galapagos Biosecurity Agency ............................ 17 2.3.- Strengthening of the Galapagos Biosecurity Agency ............................... 18 2.3.1.- Creation of the la Galapagos Biosecurity Agency ............................. 18 2.3.2.- Strengthening process for the Galapagos Biosecurity Agency ........ 20 2.3.2.1.- Organic statute for organizational management ......................... 20 2.3.2.3.- Equipment and infrastructure ......................................................... 21 2.3.3.- Eradication of invasive species ............................................................. 22 2.3.4.- Galapagos Invasive Species Trust Fund, FEIG ................................. 23 3.- TOURISM ........................................................................................................ 26 3.1.- An update of the ecotourism model ............................................................. 26 3.2.- Tourist accommodation supply management plan .................................... 28 3.3.- Environmental licenses for tourism vessels ............................................... 29 3.4.- Destination re-engineering ............................................................................ 30 3.4.1.- Ecotourism Project on Floreana Island ................................................ 30 3.4.2.- Agro-ecotourism on Santa Cruz Island ................................................ 31 3.5.- Tourism growth analysis ................................................................................ 32 3.6.- Search for responsible visitors or tourists ................................................... 34 3.7.- Galapagos Tourism Monitoring System, GTMS ........................................ 36 3.8.- Strengthening of the Galapagos Livelihood Fishery ................................. 38 3.9.- Hotel infrastructure and intersection with the protected areas: ............... 40 4.- GOVERNANCE ............................................................................................... 42 4.1. Galapagos Law ...................................................................................... 42 4.2.- Galapagos Sustainable Development and Land Use Plan ................... 49 4.3.- Management plan for the Protected Areas of Galapagos ..................... 53 3 4.4.- Zoning system of the protected areas................................................... 55 5. SOLID WASTE ................................................................................................ 59 5.1 Final disposal of solid waste ................................................................... 59 6. ANNEXES ........................................................................................................ 63 Annex No. 1: SIPEIP Registry: cargo harbor in Guayaquil Annex No. 2: Blueprint of the cargo harbor in Guayaquil Annex No. 3: Resolution No. 050 from the DGNP Annex No. 4: Environmental checklist for vessels Annex No. 5: Resolution D-ABG-013-011-2013 ABG Annex No. 6: Resolution D-ABG-013-012-2013 ABG Annex No. 7: Resolution D-ABG-014-012-2013 ABG Annex No. 8: Hull and deck check list, ABG Annex No. 9: Executive Decree for the creation of the ABG Annex No. 10: Agreement DGNP - CECFLOR Annex No. 11: Resolution 030- CGREG-04-IX-2015 CGREG Annex No. 12: Ministerial Decree No. 162 4 Tables: Table 1: Cargo vessels transporting goods from Guayaquil to Galapagos Table 2: Basic equipment for the operation of the harbor in Guayaquil Table 3: Environmental inspections performed to vessels in Galapagos Table 4: Vessel inspections performed by the ABG. Year 2015 Table 5: Institutional services of the ABG Table 6: Invasive species eradicated by the DGNP Table 7: Accommodation establishments operating in Galapagos. November 2015 Table 8: Types of environmental permits for the Galapagos tourism vessels operating within the GMR Table 9: Environmental permits issued for the operation of vessels in the GMR Table 10: Livelihood fishing strengthening chronogram Table 11: Hotel projects authorized by the CGREG Table 12: Strategic objectives and local policies of the Galapagos Plan 2015 – 2020 Table 13: Objectives and Programs of the Management Plan for the Protected Areas of Galapagos for the Good Living Table 14: Advances made in the zoning process of the protected areas of Galapagos Table 15: State of the solid waste dumps in Galapagos Figures: Figure 1: The ship “Manizales” transporting cargo in containers Figure 2: Design of the marine cargo terminal for Galapagos Figure 3: Blueprint of the administrative building Figure 4: Facade of the cargo loading/unloading and storage shed Figure 5: Facade of the main administrative building. Figure 6: Galapagos Biosecurity Agency’s organigram Figure 7: Galapagos Sustainable Tourism Summit Figure 8: Main tourism indicators for Galapagos. Year 2014 Figure 9: Tourist growth trend in Galapagos Figure 10: Galapagos Annual Growth Rate trend Figure 11: Online site for the Galapagos Tourism Monitoring System Figure 12: Galapagos Sustainable Development and Land Use Plan Figure 13: Strategic objectives and local policies of the Galapagos Plan 2015 – 2020 Figure 14: Organic structure of the DGNP Figure 15: Landfills and recycling centers for solid waste on the Galapagos Islands 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ecuadorian Government has succeeded with their conservation efforts for the Galapagos World Heritage Site in 2014-15, taking into consideration national planning and the Committee’s recommendations. The new Galapagos Special Law is an important highlight which outlines the structure of the Special Regimen and limits rights and activities that may threaten the health of the island ecosystems through a legal framework set by the Galapagos Government Council. On Biosecurity: There is an ex-ante and ex-post system to control invasive species in Galapagos. The institutional strengthening can be observed through the creation of the Galapagos Invasive Species Trust Fund (FEIG, in Spanish) and of the Galapagos Biosecurity Agency, an institution with it’s own resources, autonomous administration and based in Galapagos. The Agency addresses the problem of pests in the ports and airports on mainland Ecuador. Additionally, the cargo fleet has been renewed and now operates with modern facilities providing for better cargo storage and improved quarantine control facilities. There are new environmental guidelines for marine traffic going to the Islands. The blueprints and designs have been defined for a new harbor for vessels going to Galapagos that includes a quarantine system. On Tourism: An analysis of tourism growth indicates a slight trend towards a reduction. This is the result of the Special Regime that applies in Galapagos and the initiatives of the Galapagos Government Council to control tourism growth and to manage its activities – which includes (i) a veto for mega hotel projects and a ban on