A forest that is home to a rare tree species found only on the Galapagos Islands is threatened by fire set by an erupting volcano, officials said Sunday.
There are only 400 specimens of the Scalesia-Cordata tree left in the world, press reports said Sunday. The species has succumbed over the years to pressure from imported goats and cattle as well as insects.
The trees reach about 10 metres in height and bear small flowers.
Firefighters have cut a trench in an attempt to ward off the flames, and helicopters were dumping water onto the threatened areas, according to the newspaper 'El Comercia' on Sunday.
The report quoted the director of the Galapagos National Park, Washington Tapia.
Ecuadoran President Alfredo Palacio was expected to declare an emergency for parts of the Galapagos Islands, which lie in the Pacific Ocean off the Ecuadoran coast. The declaration would free up additional money to fight the fire.
The Sierra Negra volcano on southeern Isabela Island started erupting on October 22. Red hot lava oozed from the volcanic slopes and last Sunday set fire to vegetation. Unfavourable winds fanned the flames toward the forest.
The Sierra Negra is one of the highest volcanos on the Galapagos Islands, with a crater measuring 10 kilometres across. On Isabela alone, there are six volcanos.
The Galapagos Islands are famous for the unique wildlife and plants that evolved on their own, separated from the mainland by 1,000 kilometres of sea.
Charles Darwin visited the islands in the 19th century, and found evidence that led to his theory of evolution to explain how species on Earth evolved over billions of years.M & C Science and Nature
