IUCN Criticizes World Heritage Committee Decision

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee voted on Wednesday to remove the Galapagos Islands from its World Heritage in Danger List.  But the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criticized the decision, saying there was “still work to be done”.

“The situation in the Galapagos remains critical,” said Tim Badman, Head of IUCN’s World Heritage Programme.  “IUCN’s recommendation for the Galapagos was that it should not be removed from the Danger List as there is work still to be done.”

He said that he recognized “the major efforts of the Ecuadorian government” but stated that “threats from tourism, invasive species and overfishing are still factors, and the situation in the Galapagos remains critical. We will need continued strong commitment from the Ecuadorian government over the coming years to resolve these issues.”

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Matt Kareus

Matt is the Executive Director of IGTOA.

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