The Galapagos Islands were officially annexed by Ecuador on February 12, 1832. This marked the beginning of a new era in the political, cultural and ecological history of the archipelago. This momentous event in Ecuadorian History marked a major political milestone, and began a process of conservation and protection of one of the most precious natural sanctuaries of the world.

After gaining independence in 1830 from Gran Colombia, Ecuador wanted to consolidate its territorial sovereignty. Jose de Villamil was a distinguished military leader and politician who led the expedition to secure the annexation of Galapagos Islands by the newly formed Republic of Ecuador. Su estrategia y liderazgo permitio a las autoridades ecuatorianas reconocer y afirmar el control sobre este extraordinario territorio.

On February 12, 1832 President Juan Jose Flores, after receiving reports from General Villamil issued the official decree that officially integrated the Galapagos Islands into Ecuadorian Territory . This was the beginning of an historic relationship between Ecuador, and this amazing archipelago.

Soon after annexation by Ecuador, the first human settlement was established in the Galapagos. The settlement was intended for convicts and part of a plan to populate the Galapagos Islands. This human presence endured extremely harsh conditions and laid the foundation for future settlements, and eventually colonization of the Galapagos Islands. It also marked the beginning of a complex interplay between humans and their natural environment.

The Galapagos Islands, with their unique wildlife and strategic location, have drawn global attention over the years. During World War II the United States built a military facility to protect the eastern Pacific and the Panama Canal. This underscored the geopolitical importance of the archipelago.

This international connection is still vital today, but it has a new mission: conservation. The Galapagos Islands have become a symbol for environmental stewardship through global collaboration. They inspire nations to work together in order to protect their unique ecosystems.

Galapagos Conservation works tirelessly to protect the flora, fauna and ecosystems of these islands. We have made great strides with the help of many dedicated individuals and partners, including those based in the United States.

Galapagos’ story is more than just its annexation. It is also a testament of a world community dedicated to its preservation. The islands, once viewed as desolate and uninviting, have become one of the most precious natural reserves in the world. Despite the challenges of climate change and invasive species, there is hope in those like you who recognize and champion this place’s profound natural legacy.

We reaffirm, as we celebrate this historical milestone, our unwavering dedication to protecting the Galapagos Islands for future generations. It is not only a local duty to preserve this unique paradise, but a global mission which unites all of us in protecting its natural wonders.

You are part of the story, and you have helped to conserve Galapagos.

Visit Galapagos Conservation to learn more about what we do and how you can protect Galapagos.

Lonesome George is a symbol of the Galapagos biodiversity and a conservation icon around the world. His legacy continues the fight to preserve unique species.

This image combines the Wall of Tears built by prisoners during the 20th century with a Galapagos tortoise, symbolizing both the rich history of humanity and the natural beauty of the archipelago.

Baltra, 1960s: Tourists and locals arrive in Galapagos at the beginning of tourism development in the archipelago.

The iconic Ninfa Bar was a hub of social activity for both locals and tourists during the early days when tourism increased in Galapagos.

The fishermen of Galapagos clean their catch as frigatebirds circle overhead, illustrating the relationship between the fishing communities and the wildlife on the islands.

A photo from the past of Puerto Ayora Bay. It shows sailboats, wooden boats, and the Mistral. The Mistral was one of the very first tourist boats in the archipelago. This marked the beginning of tourism on Galapagos.

A historical scene of a settlement on horseback, and a family of visitors or residents, navigating the archipelago during the colonization years.

In the crater on Isabela Island of Wolf Volcano, a tiny population of Giant Tortoises (Chelonoidis Becki) have survived in one the harshest environments of the Galapagos. These tortoises are isolated on a small flattened plateau of the wall of the crater that collapsed many years ago. The discovery of young tortoises, which face unique challenges for their long-term existence, in this remote region offers new hope that they can become a self-sustaining community.

A Remarkable Discovery

A small population of 50 tortoises has adapted to the harsh conditions of the volcano crater. The area is only 0.8 square miles (2.2 square kilometers), and the walls are over 200 meters high. They rely on seasonal rains and scarce vegetation to survive. The tortoises cannot climb the walls of the crater and communicate with each other.

This discovery is a positive sign of natural reproduction. This discovery not only demonstrates their resilience, but also highlights the importance of continuing conservation efforts.

Finding juveniles in an environment so harsh and isolated highlights their amazing resilience and ability thrive in extreme circumstances. This is an encouraging sign that these tortoises have been successfully reproducing, and maintaining their population,” said Dr. Jorge Carrion is the Director of Conservation for Galapagos Conservancy.

Technology Advancing Conservation

Galapagos Conservancy uses cutting-edge technology in order to better understand these tortoises and protect them. Researchers can collect critical data by equipping individuals with satellite tracking devices. This will help guide conservation strategies.

These trackers are vital tools for studying how tortoises adapt to their environment. “It’s a continuous effort, but it is essential for the survival” of this unique population,” Dr. Carrion says.

The Challenges of the Future

The crater is still a harsh habitat, despite this encouraging discovery. Food and water shortages–especially during prolonged dry periods–continue to pose a significant challenge. The presence of juveniles indicates that the population is likely to grow and persist.

Galapagos Conservancy is committed to the protection of these tortoises. We are committed to ensuring that future generations will be able to see these amazing creatures thrive in one of Earth’s most unique landscapes.

In order to promote environmental awareness and appreciation of the archipelago’s unique biodiversity, Galapagos Conservation in collaboration with educational institutions located on Floreanaand Isabela Islands recently organized a contest focusing on the protection of the iconic Galapagos Giant Tortoises.

Children and students participated in the contest with enthusiasm, displaying their creativity and imagination through vibrant and colorful artwork. Their drawings also conveyed messages of love and affection for Galapagos, its giant tortoises and the archipelago. The children’s art pieces not only showed their talent, but also their dedication to the conservation of these amazing creatures – an undeniable icon of the archipelago.

Celebrate the Winners

Four students received recognition for their originality and artistic quality. YazuProano, Luis Quijosaca, AlejandroMorocho, and Daniela Quituna, all from Floreana Island and Isabela Island respectively, were recognized for their outstanding drawings. They showed both an exceptional level of creativity and a profound understanding of giant tortoises, and the importance of protecting them.

The winning artworks showed that Galapagos giant tortoises were not only one of the most fascinating and iconic species, but also a well-known symbol of the archipelago. They are a major attraction to thousands of tourists each year. The students’ drawings emphasized the importance of protecting tortoises in maintaining biodiversity and the ecological integrity on the islands.

Collaboration with the Education System

This contest highlighted the importance of engaging young people and children in activities that strengthens their connection to nature and commitment to conservation of Galapagos. Jenny Macias is our educational advisor. She highlighted the positive impact the initiative has had on fostering environmental values and respect at a young age. She said that these educational activities encourage creativity and also help to build an emotional bond with the natural wonders of Galapagos.

Inspiring future generations

Galapagos Conservancy is proud to be the organizer of this initiative that combines art, conservation, and education. The students’ dedication is a testament to the importance of investing into initiatives that promote a love of Galapagos, and its unique species.

This contest is a powerful reminder of the importance of environmental education in forming future Galapagos guardians, who will be responsible to preserve these natural treasures.

A young student of the Jacinto Gordillo Educational Unit, Isabela, addresses the community to highlight the importance protecting giant tortoises.

The students shared their messages and showcased their work with the community.

Every year, on the 24th of January, the world celebrates International Day of Education. This day is dedicated to highlighting the importance of education as an essential human right and the power it has to create a sustainable future. Galapagos Conservation uses this occasion to reaffirm its commitment to education, especially in protecting and conserving the unique Galapagos Archipelago ecosystems.

We are proud of all the progress that we have made as we enter our ninth year of the Education for Sustainability Program. This program was launched in 2016 with the collaboration of Ecuador’s Ministry of Education. We have been providing teachers with the resources and training they need over the years to integrate sustainability issues into the lessons of children and young adults. Our goal was to instill a sense of responsibility for the environment, which is essential to ensuring long-term preservation of this fragile natural environment.

The New Focus for 2024

The year 2024 will be remembered as a landmark for our educational initiatives. Our commitment to quality education was reaffirmed by integrating sustainability at the heart of our work. Thanks to the collaboration of local and national experts, teachers in Galapagos received innovative, modern teaching materials. These professionals worked closely together with educators from across the archipelago to facilitate workshops, offer guidance and promote project-based learning tailored to local contexts.

Jenny Macias is our educational advisor and she emphasizes the importance of adapting local realities. “Our goal to empower teachers in integrating sustainability into their curriculums and adopting active teaching methods to meet the unique local needs.”

We also want to encourage children and youth to play a more active role in the building of sustainable communities. We bring teachers, students and families together to tackle local challenges using sustainable, context-driven, solutions by fostering learning communities in schools.

Education as a catalyst for conservation

On International Day of Education we celebrate not only the right of education but also its transformative powers in advancing sustainability and conservation. Galapagos Conservancy understands that sustainability education is essential to preserve our unique ecosystems, and foster a harmonious relationship between the local communities and the natural environment.

Our educational programs aim to inspire and motivate a new generation to protect and conserve the natural heritage of Galapagos, with a vision to extend this legacy beyond the Galapagos Islands. Education can be a powerful tool to encourage positive change and the integration of sustainability in all aspects of our lives.

Galapagos Conservancy will continue to place education at the forefront of its mission to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all generations.

Through the Galapagos Initiative in 2024, the Galapagos Conservancy along with the Galapagos National Park Directorate achieved important breakthroughs for the preservation of the Galapagos Islands’ unique ecosystems. Our efforts to protect iconic species and restore their natural habitats reflect our unwavering commitment towards a sustainable future. Here are some of the most significant achievements from the past year:

Pink Iguanas: Protecting them from harm

Four scientific expeditions on Wolf Volcano were conducted to close knowledge gaps regarding the Pink Iguana a critically endangered reptile native to Galapagos. Over two million images have been collected using a network of cameratraps to monitor the iguana populations. In order to better understand the ecological niche of pink iguanas, the team deployed environmental sensors. The data collected will help us better understand the biology of pink iguanas and provide the basis for the species Conservation Plan that will be implemented in the next year to ensure the survival of the species and restore its habitat.

Tracking Giant Tortoise Movements

We now have 90 tortoises being monitored remotely across different islands. This is thanks to the devices attached to two six turtles on San Cristobal Island. This technology gives us valuable information about their migration patterns, nesting sites, and habitat use. These insights are crucial to understand the natural history and habitat of the Galapagos giant tortoises, and to develop more effective strategies for protecting their habitats.

Ecological Monitoring of Santa Fe Island

The ongoing ecological monitoring by our team on Santa Fe Island was critical to assessing the impact of the giant tortoise project, and the effects it had on the island ecosystems. Since 2015, 600 tortoises from Espanola Island were brought to the island to replace the extinct species. Field surveys conducted in 2024 confirmed that the tortoises were thriving and dispersing throughout the island. They also played a greater role in restoring island ecosystem. The presence of tortoises promotes the growth of cactus and reduces the overgrowth by woody plants. The population of the endemic Santa Fe Island land iguana continues to increase, indicating a positive interaction between the tortoises and the endemic iguana. Both herbivores are contributing to the slow recovery in the island’s eco-system.

Yellow Land Iguanas – Two Tales of Resilience and Restoration across the Archipelago

• Recapture of Yellow Land Iguanas on Isabela Island. Our team captured many yellow land iguanas after they were released from captivity. This success shows the effectiveness of head-starting and captive breeding programs in restoring a threatened species.

• Translocation of North Seymour Island to Santiago Island: The iguanas on North Seymour Island were used as “nurseries” to transfer to Santiago Island where they had been extinct for more than a century. After a rigorous quarantine, over 500 iguanas from North Seymour were relocated to the north of Santiago Island, where they have thrived and are showing signs of breeding.

Albatross Frequent Flyers

In the absence of giant tortoises, woody plants had grown over 50 landing sites that were critical for the Waved Albatross to access their nesting site on Espanola Island. The clearing of these areas will ensure safe landings for the albatrosses who are returning to their nesting area following their incredible migratory trips across the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Protecting Galapagos Petrel Nesting Areas

Santa Cruz Island was cleared of invasive blackberry plants, guava trees, and quinine shrubs. The Galapagos Petrel is a rare and endemic bird that nests only on the sides of volcanoes within the archipelago. Our team has also resumed monitoring nesting colonies in Santiago and Isabela Islands. They found the first chicks of the petrel on Isabela Island for decades, and provided vital data that will help assess conservation status on both islands.

Strengthening Giant Tortoise Protection on Isabela

We will intensify our efforts in 2024 to protect the giant turtles of southern Isabela. These tortoises are under severe threat from invasive species like fire ants and cattle. In 15 expeditions, we collected 72 eggs and two hatchlings from remote nesting sites on the Sierra Negra volcano. The nests were then carefully moved to the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center in Isabela. This initiative is the first in more than 12 years and marks an important step towards accelerating the recovery.

These achievements demonstrate the impact that Galapagos Conservancy has had on the world’s most remarkable ecosystems. Each achievement demonstrates our commitment to protecting Galapagos’ unique biodiversity, and ensuring that this natural legacy continues for future generations.