The marine reserve around the Galapagos Islands, already one of the largest in the world, is to be expanded by 60,000 sq km.
Ecuador is to expand the marine-protected area around the Galapagos Islands, famed for its exotic wildlife. Conservationists hailed the news of the 60,000 sq km / 23,166 sqm expansion of the one of the largest marine reserves in the world as a great step forward. The area will protect important feeding and migration areas for endangered species like hammerhead sharks and sea turtles, the Lewis Pugh Foundation said. Ecuador's president Guillermo Lasso announced the news at the COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow.
We are pleased that the President of Ecuador announced at #COP26 yesterday that Ecuador has committed to expanding the marine protection around the #Galapagos Islands by 60,000km2 to increase their resilience to #ClimateChange
— Galapagos Conservation Trust (@galapagossip) November 2, 2021
This is a great step in the right direction... 1/2 pic.twitter.com/lArLDPFN1e
The Galapagos Islands area in the Pacific Ocean is considered one of the best places to see wildlife, including giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions and penguins. However, illegal fishing and climate change pose a threat to the animals.
Sarah Darwin, a descendent of Charles Darwin, whose theory of evolution was inspired by the biodiversity he found on the Galapagos, was among those to praise the move. The botanist and ambassador for the Galapagos Conservation Trust, told the BBC that she was "very, very excited that President Lasso is taking the Galapagos so seriously".
