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Galapagos at the Crossroads: Pirates, Biologists, Tourists, and Creationists Battle for Darwin's Cradle of Evolution
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
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About this ebook
As eloquent as it is alarming, Carol Ann Bassett’s portrait of today’s Galápagos depicts a deadly collision of economics, politics, and the environment that may destroy one of the world’s last Edens.
For millions, the Galápagos Islands represent nature at its most unspoiled, an inviolate place famed for its rare flora and fauna. But soon today’s 30,000 human residents could surpass 50,000. Add invasive species, floods of tourists, and unresolved conflicts between Ecuadorian laws and local concerns, and it’s easy to see why the Galápagos were recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list.
Each chapter in this provocative, perceptive book focuses on a specific person or group with a stake in the Galápagos’ natural resources—from tour companies whose activities are often illegal and not always green, to creationist guides who lead tours with no mention of evolution, from fishermen up in arms over lobster quotas, to modern-day pirates who poach endangered marine species.
Bassett presents a perspective as readable as it is sensible. Told with wit, passion, and grace, the Galápagos story serves as a miniature model of Earth itself, a perfect example of how an environment can be destroyed-- and what is being done to preserve these islands before it's too late.
For millions, the Galápagos Islands represent nature at its most unspoiled, an inviolate place famed for its rare flora and fauna. But soon today’s 30,000 human residents could surpass 50,000. Add invasive species, floods of tourists, and unresolved conflicts between Ecuadorian laws and local concerns, and it’s easy to see why the Galápagos were recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list.
Each chapter in this provocative, perceptive book focuses on a specific person or group with a stake in the Galápagos’ natural resources—from tour companies whose activities are often illegal and not always green, to creationist guides who lead tours with no mention of evolution, from fishermen up in arms over lobster quotas, to modern-day pirates who poach endangered marine species.
Bassett presents a perspective as readable as it is sensible. Told with wit, passion, and grace, the Galápagos story serves as a miniature model of Earth itself, a perfect example of how an environment can be destroyed-- and what is being done to preserve these islands before it's too late.
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Reviews for Galapagos at the Crossroads
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
4 ratings1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I just finished this book in preparation for a trip to the Galapagos Islands and I thought it was, overall, great. Ms. Bassett clearly has a love for the islands and works hard at understanding the polemics at play as the islands try to move forward ~ the commercial industries (both illegal and legal), the human interests (both Galapaguenos and the mainland Ecuador folks) and of course, the destruction of the unique ecosystem(s) that is the Galapagos Islands. I felt incredibly more educated going into my trip and will try my best to be the eco-tourist I can be. I learned an enormous amount. I also applaud the author's effort because there is scant writing out there on the islands and what is and has been happening there. We all hear it is the last paradise and unique species abound (and Darwinism like some kind of God - so it was interesting to learn how little time and effort he spent there - and how much of it was cruel to the animals "in the name of science", i.e., let's throw iguanas and try to sink them, also sink tortoises and eat them all), but how little I knew about modern-day life and all of the destruction there boggles my mind. My only complaints are it is absurdly repetitive, although I know this is a method to make things "sink in" and that they did. I also wish there were more resources on how to help out at the end. I realize human habitation and even tourism is trying to be kept to a minimum, but there may be ways to help from across the seas, or to volunteer for NGOs/NFPs that desire help. Anyway, great book, learned a lot and highly recommend it to anyone who cares about the very fragile world of The Galapagos Islands.