4. The Socioeconomic Paradox of Galapagos

We present empirical statistical information to examine the paradox of sustainability in the Galapagos Islands. Sustainability is an integrated concept that addresses the satisfaction of human needs and welfare, without compromising the fate of future generations (World Commission on Environment and Development. Report of the eighth and final meeting of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Tokyo, Japan, 1987). We label this situation the Galapagos Paradox, due to the many conflicts that exist between today’s social and ecological conditions and the implications for future generations that will likely arise through the poor management of the expanding human population in the Galapagos Islands and the direct and indirect consequences of the human imprint on the islands’ fragile ecosystem. Our primary aim is to address the Galapagos Paradox—a place of human comfort and ecological fragility that necessitates the stringent management of social and ecological interactions for the sustainability of the Galapagos for the enjoyment of future generations.