WASHINGTON--World Wildlife Fund Wednesday announced an emergency contribution of $100,000 to help fund clean-up efforts on the Galapagos Islands in the wake of last week's oil spill.
The conservation organization, which funds conservation programs on the islands and works closely with research and park service staff there, also announced it was setting up a special Galapagos Emergency Response Center to monitor the clean-up and help mobilize the financial and technical resources necessary to mitigate the long-term damage.
"The most urgent priority now is to ensure that no corners are cut in saving one of the world's most unique and fragile ecosystems," said Kathryn S. Fuller, President of WWF-US. "The government of Ecuador plainly does not have the resources to do this by itself. Starting with the money we are committing today, WWF will seek to help mobilize the technical, financial and scientific resources necessary to ensure that this clean up is state-of-the-art."
The latest reports from Ecuadorian officials and WWF staff on site indicated that the Ecuadorian tanker Jessica, which ran aground off San Cristobal last week, has now spilled its entire cargo of 240,000 gallons of diesel and bunker fuel into the waters surrounding the islands that inspired Charles Darwin's groundbreaking insights on evolution. While prevailing winds appeared to be driving most of the oil out to open sea, experts warned that the danger was not over because the winds could shift again.
Even if the islands escape further damage, the impact on their delicate ecosystem has already been enormous, with estimates of the initial clean up costs ranging as high as $5 million.
"WWF also remains extremely concerned about the long-term consequences to the Galapagos' unique forms of wildlife and their habitats. Careful monitoring and rehabilitative work will have to continue long after the immediate clean up," Fuller said.
Working with World Wildlife Fund experts on the islands, the operations center set up by WWF will closely monitor clean up efforts to help identify needs and to assist the government of Ecuador in obtaining international support to restore the ecology and rehabilitate the wildlife of the Galapagos.
"The Galapagos are not just a part of Ecuador. They are a part of the world's natural patrimony. The international community must pull together to ensure that we have the technical, scientific and financial resources available to both mitigate this disaster and to set up safeguards to prevent this kind of thing from ever happening again," said William Eichbaum, WWF vice president for endangered spaces.
Further details about the response center will be announced shortly. In the meantime, those wishing to contribute to WWF's Galapagos relief effort may do so by calling toll-free to 1-800-207-7346.
Further information may also be found at WWF's special Galapagos emergency website at: www.worldwildlife.org/galapagos-crisis/
Contact: Michael Ross, michael.ross@wwfus.org, 202-778-9565