existence Pets in biodiversity paradisesWhere endemic or at least wild species live is not always a positive thing in terms of ecological balance. Something similar is happening in the Galapagos Islands, where the Franz Weber Foundation and the autonomous government have launched a campaign to raise awareness among the public about how to properly care for their pets and how to care for pets at the same time. prevent them from interfering with wildlife. ‘Responsible coexistence’ is the title of a handbook distributed to the population. ensure the welfare of both pets and wild animals.
The people of San Cristóbal, the capital of the Galapagos, were the first to receive these user manuals through an educational campaign that included posters and other means of distribution. The guide responds to the goal of sharing with the community the rules of coexistence established in local regulations in order to protect the endemic species of the Galapagos, which are constantly affected by human activities.
In particular, the Galapagos capital’s Responsible Coexistence guide is inspired by these examples: Urban fauna regulation approved at the end of 2021. Through this educational resource, everyone can quickly and pictorially find sanctions for non-compliance for family pets, preventive health recommendations, the benefits and importance of pet neutering, urban legends, the relationship between animal violence and social violence, and nutritional recommendations.
Although the preparation of the guide and its contents were coordinated by the Franz Weber Foundation and the Decentralized Autonomous Government of San Cristóbal, in reality there are many professionals involved in the writing of this work. During its development veterinary surgeons, local bodies such as the Biosafety Authority, the National Park and the Government Council were consulted as well as non-governmental organizations collaborating at the local level.
“This work is a reflection of the experience we have accumulated working with the local community, knowing the internal dynamics and the most hidden needs,” said Jorge Vázquez, representative of the Franz Weber Foundation and coordinator of the project. Their work involved integrating “contributions from various sectors, such as veterinary professionals from the community, technical staff from other agencies such as the National Park, the Biosafety Agency and the Government Council”.
“The result is a highly educational brochure that people of all ages can understand.” Transfer and adapt to the realities of other parts of the world, including the Spanish archipelago: Canary Islands and Balearic Islands“, Add. These Spanish islands are also experiencing problems due to the arrival of invasive fauna and flora that affect native species.
The aim of those who prepared the project is for this guide to reach all the homes of the families that make up the population of the island. So in a few weeks they want to reach 1,956 properties (or properties) registered on the island.
During the campaign, educational posters will be distributed in crowded areas, billboards will be hung in municipal post offices, and videos with messages for the community will be created. The content of the guide can be downloaded for free from the website www.convivegalapagos.org and will soon include a section encouraging the adoption of dogs and cats in need of a home on San Cristóbal Island. “You can create a community where you can volunteer,” Vázquez emphasizes.
“These campaigns are vital to improve the dynamics in the neighborhoods,” says San Cristóbal mayor Rolando Caiza, insisting that “if society eventually implements the regulation, it will also help improve the experience of tourists.” protecting endemic species”.
‘Convive the Galapagos’ will be a permanent campaign to promote the care of species in the region as well as the responsible care of families with their animals.
Following the success of this campaign, the Franz Weber Foundation wants to bring the discussion to Spain with a robust and well-crafted tool. For example, the Canary Islands have a large area of land considered a Biosphere Reserve, and to a lesser extent the same occurs in the Balearic Islands.
………….
Contact address of the environmental department:[email protected]