A United Nations panel has voted to remove Ecuador's Galapagos Islands from its list of endangered sites.
During a meeting in Brazil, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee voted 14-5, with one abstention, to take the islands off the list. In its decision, the committee said Ecuador has made progress in protecting and preserving the site.
Brazil had requested that the Galapagos be removed from the list. The islands had been on the list since 2007 due to the increase of tourism, over-fishing and the introduction of invasive species.
The Galapagos Islands are famous for hosting many rare species of birds, animals and plants. The islands have been called "a living museum and showcase of evolution." They have been on the World Heritage Site since 1978.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
