Ecological restoration in Baltra Island: development of a method of restoration of arid ecosystems applicable on a large scale PC-22-22

What does the Galapagos Verde 2050 program do to restore key native and endemic species in Baltra?

Baltra is one of the islands in the archipelago that has suffered the most degradation due to its use as an air base for the US Army during World War II. Today, most of the original vegetation has disappeared and the island is marked by abandoned infrastructure, metal remains, and debris. Baltra is also the first place that tourists see when they arrive at the Galapagos Ecological Airport, located on this island. This is why GV2050 began efforts to reestablish the flora on this island starting in 2013, obtaining valuable results on the effectiveness of the use of water-saving technologies. In 2021, the relatively undegraded North Seymour Island was used as a reference ecosystem to generate restoration targets for Baltra. For this, Vegetation of woody species and cacti in North Seymour was assessed, resulting in a list of 15 priority species and target densities for Baltra. With the information collected, this project hopes to contribute to the conservation of Baltra through the development of a restoration method for arid ecosystems applicable on a large scale in sites with different uses.

Ecological restoration in Baltra. Cacti growing amidst human impact. Photo: Joshua Sail

What tools does the Green Galapagos 2050 program use for the ecological restoration of key species on Baltra Island?

One of the important limitations in the Galapagos Islands is the availability of fresh water, so it is necessary to optimize its use using water-saving technologies. The GV2050 program uses the following water-saving technologies that are widely used and proven in other parts of the world for their effectiveness: Groasis Waterboxx®, Cocoon, Growboxx®, Hydrogel and Biochar.

Groasis Waterboxx®. It is a technology that collects rainwater, storing it to provide it through a constant supply of water to the plant, allowing it to develop better.
Information on the use of this technology
Cocoon biodegradable boxes. With functions similar to Groasis Waterboxx®, but made of biodegradable material that does not need to be removed at the end of its use.
The video shows how Cocoon technology is used in other ecological restoration projects 
Growboxx®. Also developed by Groasis, made of biodegradable material, it has a hole in the center where the plant to be restored is planted and four holes in the lid where seeds can be germinated hydroponically.
More information on how this technology is used 
Hydrogel. They are gels of polymeric materials that allow the retention of water in the soil to benefit the vegetation present on the site.
The benefits of hydrogel as a water saving technology

Water saving technologies used in the GV2050 program. a) Groasis Waterboxx®, b) Cocoon, c) Groasis Growboxx®, d) Hydrogel powder

In what phases is the project timeline divided?

General map of the study sites where large-scale ecological restoration projects are developed in Baltra,
divided by the different phases of ecological restoration within the GV2050 program.

• Phase 1: It began in July 2013 and was successfully completed in July 2017. Approximately 3,300 plants of 11 different species were planted in six locations on the island.

More information about Phase 1 in Baltra: 

• Phase 2: It began in August 2017 and will run until August 2027. So far 5,200 plants have been planted and one additional species and site have been added.
• Phase 3: The last and most extensive phase of the program (2027-2050) will continue with the restoration of the selected species in Baltra until an ecosystem similar to that of North Seymour is obtained.