Trip Report June 1-23-2000

**Technical Assistance to Galápagos National Park**

**Kent Bullard, Channel Islands National Park**

<kent_bullard@nps.gov> **805-658-5745**

# Background-

I was requested by Eliecer Cruz, Director of Galápagos National Park to
travel to GNP to provide technical assistance on:

1.  Improvement of workspace (carpentry, automotive and marine repair
    and maintenance, electrical and others); to recommend needed spaces
    to be constructed in protected areas (environmentally congruent
    architecture), works of environmental cleanup and others.

2.  To report in writing on the design recommendations and execution of
    works in the park and, if possible, to aid in the writing of manuals
    with guidelines on sustainable construction.

3.  To bring pertinent documents related to the subjects, which could be
    used in the development of daily operation of the park.

4.  Provide a debriefing on completed activities, to USAID Ecuador.

# Highlights-

I was able to work with several different staff members from GNP,
without exception I was warmly received and established good working
relationships. The opportunity to travel to Isabela Island and observe
the potential for establishing expanded visitor facilities and
experiences was important in developing my understanding of the
challenges the park faces.

# Recommendations-

In some of the travel guides I read in preparation to traveling I found
several comments regarding the high costs of travel to the islands,
including the park entrance fee. It was very good to see at the Baltra
airport the sign with the explanation of what the entrance fee is being
utilized for. I recommend that a sign be posted at any visitor
improvement project in the park which reminds visitors that the entrance
fee is funding the project.

The Park should continue to support the recycling program for used oils
and trash generated by tourist boats. Edgar Muñoz should be commended
for his efforts in providing leadership for this important program.

The Park should work with the INGALA to develop regularly scheduled
transportation for visitors from Puerto Ayora to Puerto Villamil.
Without reliable means to travel within the islands visitor developments
at Puerto Villamil will continue to be under utilized.

# Attached Project Reports-

Fuel Storage and Maintenance Facility

Kennel Septic System

Isabela Project Facilities

Beach Toilet El Garrapatero

Visitor Facilities Isabela

Remote Power Monitoring Stations

# Reports Pending-

Recycling Waste Program

Remote Power Puerto Baquerizo

# All reports are available on the internet at http://www.nps.gov/chis/galapagos.htm

# Technical Materials provided to the Park-

Working Safely with Solar, Spanish, 24 copies.

Solar Water Pumping, Spanish, 6 copies.

Solar Design and Installation, Spanish, 3 copies.

Photovoltaics in Developing Applications, Spanish, 4 copies.

Maintenance and Service of Photovoltaic Systems, 2 copies.

# Key Contacts-

-   Enrique Barrau, USAID

-   Pablo Barriga, CDRS

-   Rodrigo Bustamante, CDRS

-   FUNDACION GALAPAGOS LUCIA BURNEU

-   Linda Cayot, Charles Darwin Foundation Inc.

-   Rocio Cedeno, USAID

-   Eliecer Cruz, Director of the GNP

-   Felipe Cruz, the Isabela project coordinator GNP & CDRS

-   Joaquine Hernandez, CDRS

-   Michèle Lemay, <michelel@iadb.org> ,Coastal Resource Specialist for
    the Inter-American Development Bank

-   Edgar Muñoz, Chief of Visitor Services GNP

-   Washington Ramos, Jefe del Departamento de Higene Ambiental,
    Municipio de Santa Cruz

-   Dr. Robert Bensted-Smith, Director of CDRS

-   Monica Suquilanda, USAID

-   Wacho Tapia, GNP

**Daily Activities-**

6/1 Depart Ventura for Quito Ecuador, met at the airport by Enrique
Barrau. On the way to the hotel we spoke about project work for the
islands.

6/2 AM Meeting with AID Mission with Enrique and Monica Suquilanda,
Travel to Galápagos, Meet w/ Washington Tapia and Cristobal, the park
Facility Manager.

6/3 Inspection of Fuel Storage and Maintenance Facility GNP, Begin
report.

6/4 Off, Scuba Diving at Santa Fe Island. Meeting with Michèle Lemay,
Coastal Resource Specialist for the Inter-American Development Bank.

6/5 Orientation with Washo Tapia. Inspection of Kennel Facilities,
Meeting with Edgar Munoz GNP on recycling and sustainable practices.

6/6 Meeting with Dr. Robert Bensted-Smith, Director of CDRS; Meeting
with Joaquine Hernandez and Pablo Barriga (CDRS) on energy and waste
management; With Desiray Cruz as translator met with Carlos the park
engineer on septic systems. Dinner meeting w/Kate and Heidi/Howard Snell
CDRS. We had a good discussion on monitoring, ranching in the islands
and other project works.

6/7 AM walkthrough of kennel septic systems, meeting with Felipe Cruz,
the Isabela project coordinator. Measurement of septic field sites and
begin writing report.

6/8 Inspection of visitor facilities proposed for La Playa El
Garrapatero. Selected site for development of toilet facilities and
investigated construction materials available on the island. Further
meeting with Pablo Barriga.

6/9 Investigation of septic information, weather data and cement works,
report development and writing.

6/10 Report development and writing.

6/11 Report development and writing.

6/12 Gave the draft reports to Washo on the fuel system and septic
systems. Went over the septic system with Carlos and reviewed the report
to Cristóbal. Travel to Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island.

6/13 Inspection of visitor facilities, Puerto Villamil, with Juan
Carlos. Poza De Las Salinas, new boardwalk and trail to tortoise rearing
facility.

6/14 Continued review of the lagoon area, Concha de Perla and freshwater
lagoon area

6/15 Final review and photo documentation of Isabela facilities, report
preparation and writing.

6/16 Inspection of boardwalk construction. Depart Puerto Villamil for
Puerto Ayora.

6/17 Report development and writing.

6/18 Report development and writing.

6/19 Coordination for further meetings, data gathering and documentation
for reports. Meeting with Godfrey Merlen on solar energy systems for
fishery monitoring stations.

6/20 Meeting with Dr. Robert Bensted-Smith, Director of CDRS, we
discussed energy conservation at the station and the possibility of
implementing a demonstration solar project at the station. Closeout
meeting with Elizer Cruz, Director of the GNP, I gave him a report on my
project work and a copies of the reports I had completed.

Meeting with Washington Ramos, Jefe del Departamento de Higene
Ambiental, Municipio de Santa Cruz on waste management, recycling and
sustainable projects.

6/21 Last meetings w/GNP staff, Depart Galápagos for Quito.

6/22 Meetings with Fundacion Galapagos and AID Mission.

6/23 Travel Quito to Ventura