Preparing for takeoff!

By: Tatiana Gelaf

In less than two weeks, we, a group of thirty students, will be heading out by plane to the islands where Charles Darwin himself first formulated his Theory of Evolution: The Galapagos. These islands, which lie 1000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador, are rich with unique and diverse plant and animal life; each separate island is an ecosystem in and of itself, containing hundreds of species found nowhere else on Earth. Much of this land is also home to native and non-native peoples who have built their cultures and livelihoods around these magnificent islands. Up until recent history, these inhabitants have been able to thrive together. Today, however, various industries, such as those of tourism and fishing, pose threats to wildlife and indigenous peoples.  

As we approach our departure, we keep in mind that, apart from being a culturally and scientifically educational experience, this trip will allow us to explore the conflicts of interest between several “stakeholders”- groups with varying, and sometimes conflicting, economic, political, or environmental interests- on the islands. These stakeholders include fisherman, tour guides, tourists, indigenous inhabitants, and the incredibly unique flora and fauna of the region.

After spending one week traveling among the various islands of the Galapagos and on the mainland of Ecuador getting to know and understand these various stakeholders, we will meet with Ecuadorian students in a summit to discuss ways to successfully promote the well-being and sustainability of each one. In preparation for this summit, the Dover-Sherborn students have been collaborating with an organization called Ecologic© to develop the problem-solving skills necessary to tackle this conflict.

Ecologic© works with various indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America to preserve not only their livelihoods, but also their surrounding ecosystems, which will provide them with sustainable resources for many years to come. Last week, Ecologic© representatives David Kramer and Gina Rindfleisch visited DSHS and talked to us about their personal experiences with one such native group from Belize. They discussed the various stakeholders of the region, along with the challenges that each one faces individually. After doing so, they created a simulation of a meeting that might occur among these stakeholders, in which each stakeholder was represented by a group of students. We then had to decide which challenge of the region posed the greatest threat to the people whom we were representing, and then share our concern with the other groups. We were ultimately forced to determine which individual issue was having the most damaging effect for all of us, and which problem should thus receive the attention and resources of the community as a whole.

Through this simulation, David and Gina helped show us that the situation in the Galapagos Islands, just as that in Belize, is multi-faceted. Its resolution requires the collaboration, understanding, and compromise of various groups which all have much to lose. Most importantly, the Ecologic© representatives helped demonstrate that every stakeholder has the right to thrive and live comfortably and happily.

Leading up to and throughout our stay in the Galapagos, we will continue to consider how we can make a bright, sustainable future a reality for all people, flora, and fauna of the Galapagos Islands.