Restoring Native Nature in the Galapagos Islands: Part 2

In their first presentation on this topic, Josy and Paula discussed why islands are such important biodiversity hotspots, how the isolated location of the Galapagos archipelago nurtured many endemic species found nowhere else, why invasive species pose such a threat, and what the non-profit Island Conservation (IC) is doing to eradicate them. In today’s follow-up, the focus is on Floreana, the largest island on IC’s global project list that is a target of multiple species eradication efforts, including eliminating rodents. Find out why IC chose Floreana, and how it goes about its mission: What’s at stake? How is the eradication project planned and implemented, and how is the native ecosystem and its inhabitants restored and protected? How long does it take? Does the presence of humans help or hinder the task? What are the challenges and rewards? You’ll come away with an in-depth understanding of a crucial approach to conservation: how to sustain native species through a proactive project of restoration – in essence, how we humans can fix up what we’ve messed up!


Originally presented October 30, 2020