Evaluation of the biotic and abiotic factors that affect the restoration of Opuntia echios var. echios on Plaza Sur Island, with Plaza Norte Island as an ecological reference PC-38-22

How is the ecological restoration of the emblematic species Opuntia echios var. echios carried out in Plaza Sur?

Plaza Sur, despite being one of the smallest islands in the archipelago, has become an emblematic tourist destination due to its extraordinary flora and fauna. Among its main attractions are the land iguanas and the Opuntia cacti. Unfortunately, the population Opuntia echios var. echios has been affected due to a combination of several factors, including introduced rodents, pressure from herbivores such as native iguanas, and extreme weather events such as El Niño and La Niña. In addition, a little studied factor is the properties of the soil and its effect on the population of O. echios. This is why GV2050 initiated restoration efforts in 2013, obtaining valuable results on the effectiveness of using water-saving technologies for the restoration of O. echios. Currently, the project focuses on the ecological restoration of Plaza Sur Island, through the restoration of the population of Opuntia echios var. echios using Plaza Norte Island as a reference ecosystem.

Plaza Norte Island Ecosystem.

Watch video history of Opuntia virtual reality its history in the islands:

What tools does the Galapagos Verde 2050 program use for the ecological restoration of O. echios in Plaza Sur?

One of the important limitations in the Galapagos Islands is the availability of fresh water, which is why 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 worldwide for their effectiveness: Groasis Waterboxx®, Cocoon, Growboxx®, Hydrogel and Biochar.

Groasis Waterboxx® technology.

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 technology.

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

Information about the use

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 the restoration projects of Opuntia echios var. echios on South Plaza Island, divided by the different phases of ecological restoration within the GV2050 program.

Phase 1: It began in May 2015 and was successfully completed in December 2017. The project was carried out in three locations, West Cerro Colorado, Center and Los Lobos, planting a total of 655 specimens during that period.

Phase 2: It began in January 2018 and will run until December 2027. So far, 833 new individuals have been planted at the study sites.

Phase 3: The last and most extensive phase of the program will continue with the restoration of Opuntia echios var. echios in Plaza Sur, until reaching populations similar to Plaza Norte.