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UNESCO Travel: Galapagos Islands "In Danger"

Meanwhile on the opposite side of the world...

We may think of it as one of the world's best, but the Galapagos National Park is in trouble. A boom in tourism to the islands--145,000 visitors dropped by in 2006 compared to 40,000 in 1990--is putting the delicate ecosystem at risk. That recently earned it a special spot on UNESCO's World Heritage list: as a site "in danger."

What does that mean? Non-native species are being introduced to the islands, big ships are detracting from the natural splendor and sport fishing is having an impact on wildlife below the water. And as more and more people come to the islands, there's a better chance that visitors will overwhelm the delicate balance that makes the islands special.

The president of the Galapagos Conservancy, which supports preservation projects in the islands, says her group isn't trying to discourage tourism but rather promote the area in a responsible way:

We have found that when tourists actually visit the Galapagos, they leave caring about it and wanting to support all conservation efforts.

Related Stories:
· Can Darwin's Lab Survive Success? [NYT]
· World's Best National Parks: Galapagos Islands [Jaunted]
· Green Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Lilac Breasted Roller]