Introduced species enter the Galapagos Islands or the surrounding marine reserve with the help, voluntarily or involuntarily, of humans. Invasive species are those introduced species that have a demonstrated negative impact on the ecosystems of Galapagos.
The GNPS and the CDF have been leaders both in making people aware of the problem and in developing and executing a complete strategy against invasive species. The strategy has two components - preventing the introduction and dispersion of introduced species and treating the problems caused by species that have already been introduced.
Prevention is difficult, because the human population needs cargo boats, airplanes, and vehicles as means of transport, but which also bring introduced organisms. Prevention is however much more economical than treating the problems caused by invasive species that manage to evade the preventive barriers.
Introduced plants
Introduced reptiles and amphibians
Introduced birds
Introduced invertebrates
Introduced land mammals
Introduced fish and marine organisms