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Francesco Bandarin, Heritage director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) arrived in Ecuador last week to take a firsthand look at the country and appraise the current situation that´s putting the future of the Galapagos Islands in harm´s way.

"The visit seeks to strike the attention of the Ecuadorian authorities and the international community on the significance of the archipelago for today´s mankind," said Gustavo Lopez Ospina, UNESCO representative in the South American nation.

Mr. Ospina believe there are urgent social and environmental problems affecting the Galapagos Islands that must be tackled right away.

In three days of working meetings with different sectors that huddled in Quito, Mr. Bandarin will try to gather information on a number of complaints linked to the depredation of the Galapagos´ marine reserve, especially by the practice of unshackled tourism and fishing in the area.

Mr. Lopez told news organizations that Director Bandarin´s visit will help determine whether the archipelago must be labeled Endangered World Heritage, even though that´s not the primary goal of his mission in Ecuador. "Problems are not so grave there and can be worked out. But there must be a sense of responsibility in all sectors," he said.

Mr. Lopez went on to explain many countries around the world are giving the Galapagos a helping and healing hand through donations that amounted to $70 million last year alone.

By: Caribeinside