Galapagos at the Crossroads : Pirates, Biologists, Tourists, and Creationists Battle for Darwin's Cradle of Evolution

As eloquent as it is alarming, Carol Ann Bassett's portrait of today's GalApagos depicts a deadly collision of economics, politics, and the environment that may destroy one of the world's last Edens. For millions, the GalApagos 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 GalApagos 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 GalApagos' 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 GalApagos 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.;Genesis -- Discovery -- The eminently curious Darwin -- Early years -- Puerto Ayora -- Tortugas -- Into the blue -- Life on the edge -- "Judas" goats -- Walking with giants -- Pirates of Villamil -- Neptune's warriors -- The old man and the sea -- Birdland -- God on the rocks -- Puerto Ayora redux -- Into the future. As eloquent as it is alarming, Carol Ann Bassett's portrait of today's Galapagos depicts a deadly collision of economics, politics, and the environment that may destroy one of the world's last Edens. For millions, the Galapagos 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 Galapagos 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 Galapagos' 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 Galapagos 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. -- Publisher description 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 Galapagos 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 Galapagos 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 Galapagos'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 Galapagos 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. The world perceives the Galapagos as a pristine natural environment, famed for its rare species of flora and fauna. This book focuses on a number of modern-day issues that are putting the islands in jeopardy, including poaching, invasive species, increased visitation and federal regulations. -- Publisher description