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THE SANTA CRUZ GARDENS’ CONCEPT Santa Cruz Gardens more than anything else is a concept that calls for high social and environmental responsibility as a way for it to earn the right to exist in the Galapagos. This is not greenwashing but a real, heartfelt challenge imposed on Santa Cruz Gardens and its participants. We seek to be accountable against the triple bottom line. Santa Cruz Gardens wants to be part of the solution and not of the problem. Even though this may sound cliché, we strive to identify what constitute the most important threats to the long term survival of Galapagos’ unique ecosystems and then make an effort to deal with them accordingly. Not one operation, be this the tourism sector, NGOs, scientific, public and other can alone deal with the problems that affect the Galapagos efficiently. It has to be a joint effort that completes the circle. We don’t believe in fatalistic predictions that act as subtle motivators towards self-fulfilling prophecies but rather on a positive and realistic approach. We believe the Galapagos are more a case for optimism than the other way around. If every individual, entity and stakeholder in the Galapagos were to observe the highest possible standards, the risks and threats to the long term survival of the Galapagos’ fragile ecosystem could be kept sufficiently at bay. Santa Cruz Gardens is a subdivision that allows its participants the opportunity to have a summer home in the Galapagos. These homes, when not in partial use by the owners, can then be rented on a temporary basis and these people will then strive to produce a positive impact in the local economy. Santa Cruz Gardens will seek to engage local, permanent resident, service providers helping improve their economies while actively working with them towards better standards, thus creating an incentive for conservation. The idea is to have the community steer Santa Cruz Gardens in many ways, allowing them an important and direct benefit from its existence. This concept is a process that will improve over time. In any case, we can state that we’ve strived to be responsible at every step of the way. Santa Cruz Gardens is a concept that’s already 5 years in the making. During this time we can surely say, for example, that no one involved with us has migrated to the Galapagos. Furthermore, we have engaged a permanent resident of the Galapagos who is currently obtaining a post graduate degree in human ecology, supporting him in this endeavor while trusting that his new skills can be put to good use in Santa Cruz Gardens and the Galapagos. As we mentioned, being part of the solution and not of the problem requires that we understand what constitute the biggest threats to the Galapagos. It is our understanding that these threats are:
The introduction of foreign invasive species constitutes, by far, the greatest threat to the long term sustainability of the Galapagos; for, having evolved in an isolated environment, Galapagos’ animals and plants are ill-fitted to compete with aggressive invasive species. While education is essential to help prevent further contamination by foreign species, it’s not nearly enough. There must be an effort to control the many introduction vectors that currently exist in the Islands. Not only from the outside to the Galapagos but also from island to island. Santa Cruz Gardens understands that while it may not have a direct impact in the introduction of foreign species, it may have an indirect one; for example, through the import of materials and goods into the Galapagos which can carry concealed foreign species. This is why it’s important that all processes have due control. We support the implementation of a Galapagos-exclusive dock in continental Ecuador from where all Galapagos bound vessels must depart after quarantine inspection and other controls. These boats must meet technical criteria so as to reduce the probability of contamination once in the Galapagos: from revised ballast systems to double hulls, to fumigation and cleaning to a crew that understand the high responsibility endowed upon them. We welcome the new screening process at the airports where the large suitcases are scanned for biological traces. However, we believe that the control is still lax with regard to carry-on items. A quick visual inspection may not suffice to, for example, detect small insects, or seeds. It is by far more efficient to seek and implement increasingly better ways to avoid the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos than attempting to restore the habitat once they’ve entered. We believe that education is important and control is key. And not only control but sanctions too. There must be steep fines for those proven responsible of introducing whether knowingly or not prohibited plant and animal species to the Galapagos. While we have yet to research the subject, we are particularly worried about diseases that may be brought to the islands; for example, avian flu. This is why prevention is so important. We have seen that many Galapagos residents tend to take the Galapagos for granted after a while. We are not saying this pejoratively, please, but rather objectively. Even more education and controls are needed because of this. It should be emphasized that the population’s wellbeing is very directly tied to the effective conservation of the islands. Restoration is of extreme importance in the Galapagos as many islands have been corrupted by decades of voluntary and involuntary introduction of foreign invasive plant and animal species. While there are many success stories worth noting regarding restoration efforts, restoration must continue to be a permanent, well funded endeavor. Better education and controls seem to be needed. For example, we’ve spoken with rural pig farmers who have confided to us that once in a while pigs run astray. We figure that these astray pigs end up a pest to the Galapagos ecosystem, especially if they are to reproduce in the wild. The same can be said for people who have cats and dogs as pets. We simply believe there should be a great control of these animals which are not natural to the Galapagos. These animals reproduce making population of these “invasive” species grow. Some of these animals may run astray and reproduce in the wild too, imposing a further burden on the Galapagos and on the restoration efforts conducted by the CDRS and other worthy institutions. Santa Cruz Gardens is also committed with restoration efforts. We will seek to identify all invasive animal and plant species present in our site and will work closely with local authorities for advice on the measures to be taken. We are not for cutting trees even if they are not native unless upon the advise of authorities who know better. Santa Cruz Gardens will support restoration efforts in several other ways, including financially. Santa Cruz Gardens ’ participants are not allowed any pets in the Galapagos and are not allowed new non native plants on their properties either, even if tolerated in the Galapagos. Migration puts a direct and an indirect burden on the Galapagos for as the population grows the demands, pressures and risks the ecosystem faces increase. The fact that the Galapagos have sustained what is perhaps the highest population growth rate in all of Ecuador is alarming. Specially when we observe that most of this migration is merely speculative and does not necessarily serve a higher purpose. Persons who migrate to Galapagos are fellow Ecuadorians or foreigners who have, of course, every right to dream and to strive for a better quality of life. However, the Islands’ fragility is not compatible with this sort of speculation. That is why migration to Galapagos should be more effectively controlled, and its actual population should be made smaller. Migration should be as limited as possible; it should be organic and should obey to the highest purposes and standards. Many factors contribute to migration. Galapagos has sustained a high population growth rate over the past several years. Most of the migrants have done so out of sheer speculation and do not necessarily have the skills that would make their insertion in the sustainable pipeline easier. Let’s face it, there are far too many factors that contribute to high levels of migration to the Galapagos, from the promise of the ultimate paradise-island frontier to better wages. Many activities contribute to migration regardless if they themselves have the highest social and environmental standards. The solution is not going after these responsible activities but controlling migration in a much more efficient way. If you help the local economy you may be fostering migration. If you better educate the locals you are also fostering migration. Even each group of scientists that visit the islands adds a drop in the migration bucket. This is why there must be a proper program to effectively control migration in the Galapagos not only preventing speculative migration to the islands but also “repatriating” many of the migrants who’ve already settled there. In this regard perhaps the private sector from the continent can help opening up jobs or posts that can be occupied by Galapagos migrants who voluntarily leave the islands. Santa Cruz Gardens is aware that as it improves the local economy it also creates incentive for migration. However, we have sought to work exclusively with Galapagos permanent residents who are well aware of our concept which calls for high standards. Furthermore, all participants in Santa Cruz Gardens who are not residents of the Galapagos have committed through a public notarized document not to migrate nor directly foster migration to the islands. We understand that this is not ultimately sufficient this is why it’s very important for Santa Cruz Gardens that local authorities control migration in a much more effective way. Santa Cruz Gardens makes itself available to local authorities and NGOs to help in this. This support we offer can come in many ways. Migration also puts a burden on local resources. Santa Cruz Gardens has sought to be resource efficient by mandating that all houses constructed there be fully solar powered. There is also put an upward limit on the size of the homes that can be constructed. Santa Cruz Gardens will also have a completely clean and efficient septic system connected to each house that will avoid any contamination by black waters. Also, we’ve established buffer zones between our project and the Galapagos National Park. There are activities whose nature is compatible with the Galapagos and there are others whose nature just isn’t. Industrial fishing is perhaps one of the best examples of an activity that is completely incompatible in the Galapagos, this is why it’s banned in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. With regards to sea cucumber over-exploitation in the Galapagos, we see a dramatic example of why it is extremely important to keep openly incompatible activities away from Galapagos, because if they are allowed and take root, it becomes very difficult and socially expensive to eliminate them. There must be better efforts to keep industrial fishing off the Galapagos Marine Reserve and for this increased controls and more bite to the laws are needed. Of course, Galapagos’ residents (including fishermen) deserve living conditions commensurable to the islands’ significance. Therefore, it is important to motivate compatible activities that, in addition to providing a legitimate source of income to sustain and qualitatively develop the population, authentically contribute to conservation, schooling and motivation. These sectors must be given viable alternatives. It is important to make the transition from concept to reality; of course setting very high standards that are simultaneously a challenge and a necessary condition. Human presence in the Galapagos comes hand in hand with the risk of contamination. This contamination comes in many ways. From filtrations from septic holes to floating debris in bays and mangroves; from air and noise pollution to the risk of oil spills. It is very important, so as to keep the risk of contamination at bay, that high standards be enacted and controlled; that systems be devised and taught to the community to help them lead cleaner activities. Santa Cruz Gardens subjects itself to high standards in this regard. It will use solar powered energy for all its homes, thus avoiding the use of electricity from the grid for such purposes; electricity that is generated by diesel-burning engines. Furthermore, Santa Cruz Gardens will be the first subdivision in the Galapagos to have a septic treatment system that is both efficient and clean, as it produces no contaminants. The Galapagos Special Law of 1998 was a landmark law for the protection of the Galapagos Archipelago. For this law to be most effective, however, it requires a series of regulations in several areas. Also, the Galapagos require a very technical approach to its management and control and not be a political bounty as so oftentimes happens in Ecuador. There should be more park rangers, and more funds for the effective patrol of the marine reserve be sought. As final thoughts, I consider that any individual in the Galapagos or any company or activity on the Islands must seek to earn the right to be there through the exercise of a high degree of sensitivity, the application of the highest and strictest standards, a continuous education process and permanent improvement; achieved through control, monitoring and accountability; and through making conservation a participative, feel-good challenge more than an imposition. Every person who may have a relationship to Galapagos, either as a temporary resident a tourist, a businessman, a public sector worker, an ecologist, or in any other way, has to earn the right to live or to perform his or her activities on the Islands, by truly deserving such authentic privilege. This state of awareness and incentive must be created and must be complemented by a series of clear and pragmatic regulations that must be abided not only in form but also and more importantly in substance. The 1998 Special Law of Galapagos was a very important step, but there are still a large number of regulations that must be drawn-up, and without which the Law’s applicability is restricted. In relation to all the foregoing, I ask myself the following (among others):
Nature is a treasure and we must make our greatest efforts to preserve it and restore it; this is everyone’s duty.
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