The recruitment and application of scientific information in coastal and marine resources management : analogs to the Galapagos Islands

Abstract

This report discusses the recruitment and use of scientific information for coastal resources management in archipelagos, the Cape Verde Islands and the Republic of the Seychelles, that share certain features with the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. Three international coastal resources management programs -- the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB), the Eastern Caribbean Natural Areas Management Program (ECNAMP), and the UNEP Regional Seas Programs -- are also examined for relevance to the Galapagos case. For each archipelago, the report presents a brief national profile, summarizes major resource issues, describes the roles scientists have played in coastal management, assesses the outcomes of scientific involvement, and outlines possible barriers to the use of information. The scientific community has had a limited presence in Cape Verde, except in the fisheries sector where fish landings and export values have climbed in response to technical assistance and innovation. There has been very little progress on species protection, designation of natural areas, or integration of environmental concerns in development sectors. The Seychelles have many features in common with the Galapagos. Integration of scientific information there has been strongest in species protection, special area designation, and preparation of resource inventories. A mutual exchange of information between the Seychelles and Ecuador may benefit both countries. The three international programs vary in their geographic scope, formality, and precision. ECNAMP has made impressive contributions to site planning, but is not likely to be a promising model for archipelago-wide management. The Southeast Pacific Regional Seas Program, a general and voluntary consortium of nations under UNEP sponsorship, may present a useful framework in which to cooperate with Ecuador's neighbors. The MAB program has sponsored designation of dozens of biosphere reserves worldwide and specific projects emphasizing tourism/endemic species interaction. MAB may provide a useful network for information exchange.