Archived News

The World Heritage Committee, meeting in its 34th Session in Brasilia, Brazil this week has removed the Galapagos Islands World Heritage Site from its List of World Heritage in Danger (click here).  The Galapagos Islands were inscribed on the Commission's list of World Heritage Sites in 1978 (click here).

 "The Galapagos Islands, which have been called a unique "living museum and showcase of evolution" were inscribed on the Danger List in 2007 because of threats posed by invasive species, unbridled tourism and over-fishing.  The Committee found that significant progress had been made by Ecuador in addressing these problems.  It welcomed the Government's continuing efforts to strengthen conservation measures, especially in dealing with introduced species".

The Galapagos Islands are practically the sole breeding site of the Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata (click here for the ACAP Species Assessment).

The List of World Heritage in Danger aims to raise international support for the conservation of World Heritage Properties.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 July 2010