Galapagos, Author at Galapagos Islands Travel

To commemorate 44 years of the islands’ designation as World Heritage Sites, the first Cultural Festival Celebrating Galapagos Natural Heritage and Humanity, will be held on Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora. Bertha Corella is a Galapagos Islands cultural activist and recipient of one Galapagos Conservancy Conservation and Sustainability Action Grant. She will be organizing the festival, which she hopes will celebrate the preservation and strengthening of the islands’ cultural identity.

Experts in culture say it’s possible to raise awareness about environmental threats and promote conservation through the arts. Bertha hopes to increase citizen participation in the defense of Archipelago’s biodiversity and social responsibility to care for it through her initiative, which promotes the preservation of islands through art.

Bertha stated that culture contributes positively to society’s well-being. Bertha believes art can be a tool for socio-economic growth and environmental sustainability. Many regional artists including musicians, dancers, singers and painters will take part in the festival. They will share their work with others and raise awareness about the importance of protecting the Islands. Bertha hopes to hold a Galapagos Cultural Festival every year on the 8th September in honor of the Galapagos Natural Heritage Site’s anniversary.

Galapagos Conservancy congratulates Bertha Corella on her initiative. A culture that safeguards, preserves, and upholds the natural wealth of the Galapagos Islands can only be built with the help of conservationists who encourage and support education for an environmentally-minded culture.

Participacion ciudadana en la defensa de la biodiversidad del Archipielago

Bertha quiere potenciar la participación ciudadana en la defensa de la biodiversidad del Archipiélago e incentivar el compromiso social para cuidar este Patrimonio © Bertha Corella

Galapagos Archipelago’s extraordinary biodiversity is known worldwide. It is not found anywhere else in the world. This important natural heritage requires ongoing conservation work. Island residents are vital to the Archipelago’s sustainability. Galapagos Conservancy supports community-based environmental initiatives in the Galapagos Islands. It places an emphasis on the conservation and enhancement of Galapaguenos’ capacity.

One example of such an initiative is the Jadines Botanicos project (Botanical Gardens), which is run by Mirian Silva, a Galapagos native. It helps preserve Santa Cruz Island’s native and endangered plants. Mirian says that her love for plants has been a constant throughout her childhood, and she is determined to preserve the Galapagos Islands native flora.

“I love Galapagos fauna and hope more people will be inspired to have a home with native plants. Plants at home can not only decorate the home but also control the humidity and clean the air. Mirian said that while they do release carbon dioxide at night they also give off oxygen during the day.

Mirian’s project also includes delivering native and endemic plants for Santa Cruz Island schools. Mirian stated, “I want to help preserve the iconic Galapagos flora such as scalesias, miconias, orchids and scalesias. She said that they reforest them in green spaces at local colleges and schools, and so contribute to the preservation of rare plants around the globe.

Galapagos Conservancy is proud support this project for native plant propagation, environmental education and sustainability through the Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship program (WISE).

Paul Salaman, President of Galápagos Conservancy; Mirian Silva, founder of the project; and Amy Doherty, Senior Director of Operations © Galápagos Conservancy

Galapagos Islands are unsurpassed in terms of natural riches. The Galapagos Islands’ unique marine biodiversity is of great tourist and scientific value. This highlights the importance of supporting research initiatives to increase our knowledge of marine ecosystems in order to better protect them.

Over the past 40 years, Galapagos’ endemic pinnipeds — sea lions or fur seals — has seen a 50% decline in their population. Their numbers have drastically declined due to climate change and pollution as well as invasive species. They are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature UCN’s Red List of Threatened Species because of these threats and their isolation.

Galapagos Conservancy will support research this year to assess the threat of climate change to Galapagos sea lions, fur seals, and other marine mammals. This is led by Dr. Diego Paez (Universidad San Francisco de Quito) who has been working for the past two decades on research projects related the Galapagos Islands’ marine fauna.

This project is co-ordinated by Dr. Jorge Carrion, Galapagos Conservancy Director of Conservation. It also involves USFQ researchers. This study aims to track changes in feeding habits of the Galapagos Sea Lions and Galapagos Fur Seals on a seasonal as well as interannual basis during normal and warm periods. It uses a variety of techniques to determine dietary plasticity, which is a diet’s ability to adapt to an environment. Also it will examine their relationship to climate change. Experts believe that climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of El Nino events, which raise ocean temperatures. The Galapagos Marine Reserve’s temperature rises, reducing its productivity and making pinnipeds’ food scarcer, putting their population at risk.

Dr. Carrion asserts that this research will provide baseline data to conserve Galapagos pinnipeds, and allow researchers to examine the long-term impacts of climate change on these species. Dr. Paez, for his part, affirms that the study “investigating this issue, we are tracing and trying to connect dietary composition, homerange, and trophic flexibility, with their feeding success, energy budgets, and food budgets.” This study will have an impact on the population dynamics, health, resource management, and other aspects of human health.

Experts believe that sea lions manage the prey populations to ensure balance in marine ecosystems. Paez said that pinnipeds were “bioindicators” of sea health. Only by studying their behavior, trends and patterns can we learn what is happening at the trophic levels below them (i.e. In the population of plankton and fish, as well as other marine species.

“This research contribution will expand our understanding of pinniped ecology. Carrion stressed that we hope to share information that will assist Galapagos Marine Reserve managers understand this species’ function in ecosystem sentinels.

Galapagos Conservancy would like to congratulate Dr. Diego Paez on his contributions to the preservation and enhancement of Galapagos’ ecosystems. His research on the link between climate change, Galapagos Sea Lions and the environment will undoubtedly help in the preservation of these species. We hope other young people will follow his example and assume the immense responsibility of caring for the Galapagos Islands, their natural heritage, and the surrounding areas.

Sea Lions

Charles Darwin was the last to record Land Iguanas at Santiago Island in 1835. Due to the passage of time and because iguanas can be an engineering species of ecosystems like Giant tortoises Giant tortoises were the last person to record Land Iguanas on Santiago Island in 1835. The Galapagos National Park began the restoration process of Santiago island three years ago with the help of its collaborators. They released 3,143 Land Iguanas.

Galapagos Conservancy funds the monitoring activities that will evaluate these iguanas’ adaptation to Santiago’s ecosystems. In the final week of July, a team of scientists and park rangers walked approximately 13.9 miles of the island, finding new individuals of different ages and in good health. Dr. Jorge Carrion is the Director of Conservation of the Galapagos Conservancy. He stated that there has been evidence of the Galapagos iguanas reproducing in Santiago. This indicates that the reintroduction has been successful.

Dr. Luis Ortiz-Catedral is the scientific advisor of the Galapagos National Park Directorate. He said positive changes have already been observed on Santiago Island because of the increased number of iguanas. Ortiz stated that the iguanas have changed the dynamics of the island by opening up paths and removing the earth.

Danny Rueda Director of the GNPD stated that this is an unquestionable conservation accomplishment and increases our hope of restoring islands that have been severely affected by human activity.

The ecological restoration of Santiago Island started many decades ago with efforts to eliminate feral pigs and goats. This was an objective that the GNPD reached in 2006. While there are still many challenges to restore ecological integrity to the island, the Land Iguanas return is a crucial step. It represents giving back the ecosystem the missing pieces to reestablish their integrity,” stated Wacho Tapia General Director of Galapagos Conservancy.

Monitoring the actions taken in ecological restoration is crucial. This is why the GNPD and Galapagos Conservancy, Re:wild Galapagos Conservation Trust Galapagos Conservation Trust Island Conservation Trust and Fundacion Jocotoco collaborated to evaluate the land iguanas in Santiago.

Land Iguana on Santiago Island @Galápagos National Park Directorate

Galapagos Conservancy is committed to supporting the preservation and restoration of endangered species in Galapagos Islands. We funded a crucial Whale Shark Research Project, which was led by Johnathan Green, and his daughter Sofia Green. The project began in December 2021 and will provide baseline data about the reproductive status and movements in Galapagos Archipelago Whale Sharks.

Experts believe that the Galapagos Archipelago has the only place in the world where you could see pregnant female Whale Sharks. Sofia Green pointed out that Whale Sharks are a rare species, with 99% of them females, who transit the Galapagos Islands waters between June and December. She stated that by keeping these Galapagos adult females, we can protect a group possible reproductive mothers of the species at risk of extinction.

Galapagos Conservancy’s support has been vital in continuing our study on Whale Shark reproduction. We will find out if the Galapagos Whale Sharks arriving in Galapagos have become pregnant or are in an important part of their reproductive cycle. The hormone levels are determined using blood samples. Once they leave Galapagos, the whales are tagged with GPS tags to track their movements.

Green stated that Galapagos Conservancy has supported the community in educational and scientific activities. They have given presentations and gone out with fishermen to search for Whale Sharks. This is a collaborative effort to conserve them.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) has listed the Whale Shark as Endangered.

Galapagos Conservancy supports local initiatives that encourage learning and teaching, particularly about conservation, through our Education for Sustainability program and our Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship grants (WISE).

Jenny Macias is an educator who was awarded a Galapagos Conservancy Conservation Action Grant. She lives on Santa Cruz Island, and she leads the Pasitos de Gigantes project. Jenny teaches children aged three to five years old how to care for the beautiful Galapagos Islands. This includes field trips to the highlands and conversations with naturist guide. The project is aimed at children who are small but have a huge impact on Galapagos.

Macias stated that the responsibility for caring for the islands is not just the responsibility of authorities and educators. “It’s everyone’s responsibility and vitally important to give environmental education the youngest children.” It is the seed that we give to these little and large giants that can make a difference and have an effect on their parents and grandparents to care for the paradise that surrounds them.

To raise awareness about the importance of caring for our planet, environmental education is vital. According to UNESCO the following are the goals of environmental education for children:

Sensitize and raise their awareness about environmental issues.
Encourage them to take an active role in improving and caring for the environment.
Encourage them to be able to understand the world around them.

Galapagos Conservancy believes that Pasitos de Gigantes is an important program for connecting youth to the natural world. The benefits of environmental education are that we become more aware of the issues that affect natural resources and the actions we can take in order to protect them.