Why in news?
UNESCO’s 2025 World Heritage Outlook rated the conservation outlook for the Galapagos Islands as of “significant concern,” citing invasive species, increasing tourism and climate change as major threats. In May 2026 researchers and conservationists urged stronger action to protect this unique archipelago, which inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Background
The Galapagos Archipelago comprises 19 large volcanic islands and more than 100 small islets located about 1,000 km west of Ecuador. Formed over a geological hotspot, the islands are geologically young. They were accidentally discovered in 1535 and later visited by naturalist Charles Darwin in 1835, whose observations of giant tortoises, marine iguanas and finches laid the foundation for the theory of natural selection. In 1959 Ecuador declared 97 % of the land area a national park, and UNESCO inscribed the archipelago as a World Heritage Site in 1978.
Geography and biodiversity
- Island formation: The islands rise from the Nazca tectonic plate and continue to be shaped by volcanic activity. The largest island, Isabela, hosts the 5,600‑ft (1,707 m) Wolf Volcano and covers more than half the archipelago’s land area.
- Unique species: Due to their isolation, the islands harbour species found nowhere else: giant tortoises, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas and the only penguin living at the equator. Darwin’s finches show remarkable variation in beak size and diet.
- Human presence: Four islands are inhabited by about 28,000 people. Eco‑tourism is a major economic activity, with 329,475 visitors recorded in 2023.
Major threats
- Invasive species: More than 1,575 introduced species have been recorded, including pigs, rats and plants; at least 59 are highly invasive. They prey on or compete with native fauna and flora, disrupting fragile ecological networks.
- Tourism pressure: Growing visitor numbers bring waste, pollution and demand for infrastructure. Inadequate management can damage habitats and strain water resources.
- Illegal fishing and pollution: Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens marine species such as sharks and sea cucumbers. Plastic pollution also harms marine life.
- Climate change: Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification affect coral reefs and plankton, while increasingly frequent El Niño events cause droughts and disrupt food chains.
Significance
The Galapagos Islands are a natural laboratory where evolution can be observed in action. Safeguarding them ensures the survival of unique species and preserves a living testament to biological diversity. To reduce threats, authorities are strengthening biosecurity inspections, limiting visitor numbers, removing invasive species and involving local communities in conservation. Global efforts to curb climate change and plastic pollution will also be crucial.
