GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, Ecuador (11 Apr 2007) -- Ecuador declared the world-famous Galapagos Islands at risk today and warned that visitor permits and flights to the islands could be suspended. The government also said it will enforce rigorous population restrictions to prevent further environmental harm to the islands. "We are pushing for a series of actions to overcome the huge institutional, environmental and social crisis in the islands," President Rafael Correa said after signing an emergency decree to help the archipelago. Mr Correa did not provide any details about the possible restrictions, but said the country would consider suspending some tourism permits. He today ordered his government ministers to meet within 15 days to come up with proposals. Currently the Galapagos islands receive 60,000 visitors a year, many of whom come to visit the world-famous giant tortoises.Five of the 13 islands are inhabited and all but three per cent of the islands are a national park. A growing population, illegal fishing of sharks and sea cucumbers, and internal bickering at the national park have taken a toll, while the number of cruise ships has grown and even a hotel opened last year. Three years ago plans were also put forward for a monorail system around the islands. "The government needs to be stricter on what is allowed there as pressure on Galapagos grows," said Martin Wikelski, a biologist at Princeton University. "It is one of the world's most unique ecosystems... and continues to be one of the most important laboratories for evolution studies." The volcanic islands, located 625 miles (1,000 km) west of Ecuador's coast, inspired British naturalist Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Centenarian tortoises and blue-footed boobies live alongside the 18,000 islanders who earn a living from fishing and a growing tourism industry. About 15,000 people are believed to live illegally in the islands, government officials said. | 
