FRANCISCO LASO, M.SC.

- UNC CHAPEL HILL

FOOD SECURITY, ECOTOURISM,

& CONSERVATION IN THE
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
INTRODUCTION

GALAPAGOS CONVEYS IMAGES OF

Photo: F. Laso
INTRODUCTION

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE GALAPAGOS!

Photo: F. Laso
INTRODUCTION

PEOPLE REQUIRE LOTS OF FOOD

Photo: F. Laso
INTRODUCTION

GALAPAGOS HAS AN UNSUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM

Source: El Telgrafo
INTRODUCTION

PROTECTED & HUMAN-USE AREAS ARE MANAGED SEPARATELY

Location map of Galapagos, showing the broad climatic zones (light: arid, medium:
transition, dark: humid) and human use areas. Figure from Guzou, et al. (2010).
INTRODUCTION

AGRICULTURE AND CONSERVATION IN THE GALAPAGOS ARE CONNECTED

39 informal semi-structured interviews on two islands
(June-July 2016)

Interviewees San Cristobal Santa Cruz Total

Government
5 2 7
Authorities
Scientific Experts 3 6 9

Producers 12 8 20

Restaurant owners 0 3 3

Total 20 19 39
TEXT

STRENGTHS

Photos: F. Laso
INTRODUCTION

AGRICULTURE AND CONSERVATION IN THE GALAPAGOS ARE CONNECTED

Manually coded
interviews in NVivo
by theme.

Literature review and

material culture
(official documents,
reports, maps etc.).

Photo: F. Laso
 CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS

PERCEPTION OF CHALLENGES TO AGRICULTURE VARIES BY STAKEHOLDER TYPE

Perceived challenges to agriculture in the Galapagos
changes based on stakeholder type
50
Expert Restaurant Producer Authority
Mentions during interviews

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
 CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS

PERCEPTION OF CHALLENGES TO AGRICULTURE VARIES BY STAKEHOLDER TYPE

Perceived challenges to agriculture in the Galapagos
changes based on stakeholder type
50
Expert Restaurant Producer Authority
Mentions during interviews

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
STUDY SITE

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ HAVE SEVERAL PURPOSES

Land Use/Land
Cover

Data: MAGAP 2015

Land Use/Land
Cover

Data: MAGAP 2015

Land Use/Land
Cover

Data: MAGAP 2015

CHALLENGE:

WATER
MOST AGRICULTURAL PARCELS RELY ON RAINWATER

Data: MAGAP 2015

CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - WATER

IRRIGATION BY HAND IS MOST COMMON

Photo: F. Laso
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - WATER

GALAPAGOS IS OFTEN IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS

CGREG, 2016
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - WATER

RESERVOIRS CAN TRANSFORM LIVES

Photo: F. Laso
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - WATER

RESERVOIRS CAN TRANSFORM HABITATS

Photo: F. Laso
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - WATER

WATER ATTRACTS CHARISMATIC MEGAFAUNA

Photos: F. Laso
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - TOURISM

GIANT TORTOISES ATTRACT TOURISTS TO FARMS

Photo: F. Laso
 CHALLENGE:

THE TOURIST
INDUSTRY
Photo: F. Laso
INTRODUCTION

AGRICULTURE USED TO BE IMPORTANT

Village of El Progreso in San Cristobal island. (1920) Photo: Robert Odegard

INTRODUCTION

TODAY FARMS HAVE BEEN LARGELY ABANDONED

Photo: F. Laso
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - TOURISM

MOST FARMERS ARE 50+ YRS OLD

MALE
FEMALE TOTAL: 568 (75%)
TOTAL: 187 (25%) Male
AVERAGE: 54 YRS
AVERAGE: 52 YRS

MAGAP 2015
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - TOURISM

AGRO-TOURISM CAN BE AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF INCOME

Photo: F. Laso
CHALLENGE:

PESTS
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - PESTS

FARMERS REPORT AN INCREASE OF PESTS THROUGH TIME

Photo: F. Laso Photo: F. Laso

CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - PESTS

RATS ARE A PROBLEM FOR FARMERS & PROTECTED SPECIES

Photo: F. Laso
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - PESTS

PROTECTED SPECIES CAN BE PESTS TOO!

Photo: F. Laso Photo: F. Laso

CHALLENGE:

INVASIVE
SPECIES
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - INVASIVE SPECIES

INVASIVE PLANTS TAKE OVER ABANDONED FARMS

Data: TNC & IGM, 2006

CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - INVASIVE SPECIES

INVASIVE PLANTS TAKE OVER PROTECTED AREAS

Photo: F. Laso
CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - INVASIVE SPECIES

TORTOISES ARE ATTRACTED BY INVASIVE GUAVA

Photo: F. Laso Photo: F. Laso

CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - INVASIVE SPECIES

TORTOISES SPREAD GUAVA ALONG THEIR MIGRATION ROUTES

Data: Tortoise Movement Project

CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS - INVASIVE SPECIES

HUMAN BARRIERS PREVENT TORTOISE MIGRATION

Photo: F. Laso
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS

Photo: F. Laso
CONCLUSIONS

Photo: F. Laso
TEXT

Photo: F. Laso
CONCLUSIONS

PRODUCTIVE AND PROTECTED AREAS NEED TO BE CO-MANAGED

Agriculture and conservation are intrinsically linked.

Abandoned lands lead to invasive species.

Farmers play vital role in assuring migration routes of giant tortoises

Diffusion of best practices for water and pest management pays off.

Agriculture and tourism are compatible

Change our conception of what needs to be conserved & managed

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dr. Steve Walsh, Participatory Research Seed Grant,
Galapagos Science Center, Center for Galapagos Studies,
Ecology Project International, Galapagos National Park
WORKS CITED
Blake, S., Yackulic, C. B., Wikelski, M., Gibbs, J. P., Deem, S., & Villamar, F. (2014). La migracin de las
tortugas gigantes de Galpagos requiere de esfuerzos de conservacin a escala de paisaje. In
Informe Galapagos 2013-2014 (pp. 144150). Puerto Ayora, Galapagos.: GNPD, GCREG, CDF, GC.
CGREG. (2015). Censo de Unidades de Produccin Agropecuaria de Galpagos 2014 (UPA). Consejo
de Gobierno del Rgimen Especial de Galpagos (CGREG). Puerto Ayora, Galapagos. Retrieved
from http://sinagap.agricultura.gob.ec/censo-unidades-produccion-agropecuaria-galapagos-2014
Guzou, A., Trueman, M., Buddenhagen, C. E., Chamorro, S., Guerrero, A. M., Pozo, P., & Atkinson, R.
(2010). An extensive alien plant inventory from the inhabited areas of galapagos. PLoS ONE, 5(4),
18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010276
MAGAP,. & MAE, (2014). Plan de Bioagricultura para Galpagos Una oportunidad para el buen vivir
insular - Resumen Ejecutivo.
Walsh, S. J., & Mena, C. F. (2013). Perspectives for the Study of the Galapagos Islands: Complex
Systems and Human Environment Interactions. In Science and Conservation in the Galapagos
Islands (p. 243). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5794-7
QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK WELCOME

CONTACT: LASO@LIVE.UNC.EDU
MANY CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF ABANDONING AGRICULTURE

Walsh and Mena, 2013