im blogging to correct my previous blog about the galapagos and the environment. yesterday was an eye opening event. went to the interpreation center to read about the history of the galapagos island. if you are in san cristobal, this center is a must. the galapagos islands have had a bloody and interesting history. at the end of the center, is the future goals, with a bit about the environment, water and sustainability. water is definitely in short supply, 1 island (floreana) has no water at all and imports. 4 islands import or have desalination plants. most of the groundwater is contaminated due to of course humans. (how else would it get contaminated?) the galapagos goal is 0 fossil fuel usage by 2017. the problems here are not just water, tourism but almost everything has to be emported.
here are my questions, of which hopefully i will be able to get some answers by the time i leave.
1. if money is an issue, of which it always is, why is the interpretation free? in fact, every center we have visited has been free. even if they asked for a donation, they might be able to hire a guide or a speaker, at any of these centers, who should be able to answer you.
2.) recycle containers are all over, but based upon observation, when they are full, the people will still put bottles and cans in the regular garbage, if the recycle containers are full. it tells me they have not ´bought ´into the whole conservation thing. what i don´t understand, is they pick up trash everyday because they use these very small bins. if they are trying to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, why don´t they use larger bins and pick them up less often?
3.) you would think in a small island with population of 5,000, with signs all over to conserve and protect, why there is so much trash in the gullys and the rocks?
4.) after speaking to several people, it appears that they are not aware of some of the conservation issues, such as water. that could just be on san cristobal, because im sure, it is different in other islands.
5.) if the galapagos islands are trying to be fully sustainable by 2017, where are the going to get the food? 97% of the island is a park. where are they going to grow the food? plus they are trying to eradicate all invasive species of plants and animals. how does that work, if they want to grow their own food?
hopefully, i will be able to get the above questions answered by the time i leave. but despite all of the above, this is a wonderful place. yesterday we were swimming with sea lions. here, sea lions rule, here, they are on every beach, every rock, on the boardwalk, and in backyards. it brought to mind, the issue of the seals vs the city of san diego at la jolla cove. why is it that man and tourists can live together with the sea lions here in the galapagos, yet we in the city of san diego have to go to court to eliminate the seals from 1 little, tiny beach? it has cost the city millions, because a few people cannot live in harmony with nature.
gotta go swim with the turtles again. the boat we were supposed to go on today to swim with hammerhead sharks broke. – que lastima! but there are many sea lions and turtles to swim with.
oh and 1 last note, if you are a surfer- g. islands is a pretty big surf spot. but i do not think american surfers would ever put up the the g. surfers. a wave is everybodies wave- at least that is the way it looks. 15 surfers take off and all 15 get in each others way. i was not the only one that noticed that either. that just life in the g. islands!