厄瓜多總統柯利亞(Rafael Correa)15日聲明，由於多群島國家盛行無政府狀態與缺乏制度化，加拉巴哥群島的環境經營與保育「正陷於危機，且成為國家優先議題」。總統誓言在4月底前會有新的保護政策。
加拉巴哥群島位於熱帶太平洋，約距離南美洲海岸1000公里處，是全球知名生物多樣性的寶庫，蘊藏將近95%人類存在前就有的動植物。島上及附近水域棲息著巨型象龜、陸鬣蜥與海鬣蜥、獨特的雀鳥，以及唯一一種在熱帶海域生活的企鵝。海獅與海狗沿著海岸出沒，而海豚、鯨魚、鯊魚和海龜也很常見。
一個結合各國的非營利組織上週針對加拉巴哥群島進行實情調查研究，16日發表加拉巴哥群島的世界遺址面臨嚴重的威脅，因為外來種入侵、未受控制的觀光等種種因素。
威脅包括農業帶來的害蟲、野豬與野兔會掠食巨型象龜的蛋及幼龜，以及本土植物遭野生山羊群食用而摧毀。原本引進供食用的山羊，將滿山的植物一掃而空，使得島上的巨型象龜缺少食物和避護。
1月就任的柯利亞總統表示：「政府不需要國際組織的敦促，已經決定要採取行動，這個問題是先前政府多年來漠視與忽略的結果，是時候該用責任、熱誠、及勇氣來面對了。」
The conservation and environmental management of the Galapagos Islands ecosystem is "at risk and a national priority" due to the anarchy and lack of institutionalization that prevail in the archipelago, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa declared Sunday. The President pledged new protective measures by the end of April.
The Galapagos Islands, in the equatorial Pacific about 1,000 kilometers (650 miles) from the South American coast, are a globally outstanding repository of biodiversity with up to 95 percent of the original pre-human plants and animals remaining.
The islands and surrounding waters are inhabited by giant tortoises, land and marine iguanas, unique finches, and the only penguin species which lives in tropical waters. Sea lions and fur seals are found around the coasts, while dolphins, whales sharks and sea turtles are common.
After a fact-finding mission to the Galapagos last week, a joint United Nations - nonprofit team today confirmed serious threats to the Galapagos Islands World Heritage site caused by encroachment by invasive species, uncontrolled tourism and other challenges.
Threats include agricultural pests, predation on giant tortoise eggs and young by feral pigs and rats, and destruction of the native vegetation by herds of feral goats. Originally introduced for food, bands of goats have stripped whole mountainsides of vegetation, leaving the islands’ giant tortoises without food or shade.
President Correa, who took office in January, said that the government, "with no need for prompting from international organizations," has decided to act and is "uncovering a latent problem that is the consequence of years of disregard and neglect by previous governments and that it is now high time to face with responsibility, earnestness and courage."
