| Named a World Heritage by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
and recently more fully recognized by being included in a protected,
40-mile Marine Reserve under the Special Law of the Galapagos,
these remarkable Pacific islands – also known as Darwin's
"Enchanted Isles" - need to be protected for present
and future generations, a process that IGTOA is actively involved
in on a day-to-day basis.
Known for the incredible variety of approachable sea birds,
marine animals and the tortoises for whom the islands are named,
the Galapagos Islands have been a magnet for adventurers, scientists
and tourists since they were described by Frey Tomas de Berlanga
in the 1500s! In the early years after discovery, some avian
species were hunted to extinction, tortoises were captured and
held on ships to be slaughtered for food supply and those who
tried to settle the islands and could not survive its isolation
were forced to release goats, dogs and cats. The
descendants of these once domesticated species decimate tortoise
habitat, eggs and hatchlings, iguanas, bird nests and more to
this day.
Tourism has burgeoned as well in the past 30 or so years. A
large number of ships of all sizes and types now ply the islands,
which support local towns and as a result, land-based tourism
programs are growing. 97% of the Galapagos Islands is National
Park land and is managed by the Galapagos National Park service.
The Charles Darwin Research Station is located in the thriving
town of Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz, where the
Ecuadorian Navy also maintains a small base. All
local businesses belong to the Galapagos Chamber of Commerce.
Management problems faced by these entities include illegal
fishing (including shark-finning), transmission of non-endemic
weeds, seeds, insects etc. from the mainland and from island-to-island,
trash management and ship safety.
IGTOA has formed strong and productive relationships and partnerships
with the Ecuadorian offices of government ministries (Environment
and Tourism), mainland cruise ship representatives, environmental
organizations such as Fundacion Natura (WWF) the Galapagos National
Park, the local Chamber of Commerce and the Darwin Foundation
and Research Center.
IGTOA members donate quarterly from their profits depending
on their volume of business or according to their ship capacity
in the case of ship owners. Members may earmark their donations
to the Conservation fund or to the Professional Standards fund.
The organization receives yearly grant requests and votes on
funding at the annual meeting. Past funding decisions have included:
Scholarships for local students in science and tourism
Funds to eradicate non-endemic weeds and frogs
Electronic communication devices for conservation workers
Funding of a volunteer to serve tourists at the DarwinVan
Straelin Interpretive Center
Solar panels for a tortoise hatchery
Training funds for instructors in marine safety procedures
Funds to support a U.S. Coast Guard/DIGMER ship inspector
training course
In cooperation with the Galapagos Chamber of Commerce (known
locally as CAPTURGAL), a voluntary program maintains a file
of copies of marine certification on all ships. These facts
are available to the public on the website.
Every second year, IGTOA holds its annual meeting in Ecuador
and the islands. In addition to inviting government ministers
and timely speakers, there is ample opportunity provided for
members to inspect tourist-carrying ships in person.
Links on the IGTOA website
connect the public to reputable tour operators, all dedicated
to serving the needs of the Galapagos, local hotel and tourism
services information, the history of the Galapagos Islands,
references to books, a link to the Charles Darwin Research Center,
a Message Board on which anyone can ask questions and get knowledgeable
answers, and much more.
IGTOA fields both questions and complaints and seeks to aid
resolutions of disputes responsibly. IGTOA represents complainants
to the appropriate Ecuadorian ministry, where indicated, though
processes in Ecuador have not proven to be as effective as they
are in the United States.
Judie Muggia is the executive director of the International
Galápagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA)
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