Archipelago-Wide Island Restoration in the Galápagos Islands: Reducing Costs of Invasive Mammal Eradication Programs and Reinvasion Risk

Eradicating invasive species from entire archipelagos, not just individual islands, significantly reduces the risk of reinvasion and lowers costs. This approach is demonstrated by the Galápagos Islands' efforts to remove feral goats, which involved removing over 140,000 goats from more than 500,000 hectares at a cost of US$10.5 million. The study highlights that bureaucratic processes, financing, political will, and stakeholder approval are now the primary challenges rather than island size. Complementing this technical approach with long-term social strategies focused on education and governance can further mitigate reinvasion risks and enhance biodiversity benefits.

Carrion, V., Donlan, C. J., Campbell, K. J., Lavoie, C., & Cruz, F. (2011). Archipelago-Wide Island Restoration in the Galápagos Islands: Reducing Costs of Invasive Mammal Eradication Programs and Reinvasion Risk. PLoS ONE, 6(5), e18835. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018835