The Galapagos National Park Directorate is responsible for managing protected areas in the insular area. Danny Rueda, the Director of GNPD, stated that 316 park rangers are dedicated to Galapagos and work 365 days a calendar year to preserve this natural heritage.

Rueda stated that the challenge was to develop management plans that would allow local communities and visitors to have access to environmental services, benefit from resources such as timber extraction and fishing, and improve their quality-of-life and social conditions.

The GNPD has strategic allies to help it fulfill its great responsibility, which is to ensure the integrity and sustainability the Galapagos natural resources. One of these strategic allies is Galapagos Conservancy. Paul Salaman, the President of the GNPD, has over 30 years of conservation experience and stressed that the best way to ensure sustainability of a site is to involve the community in the preservation of protected areas.

Salaman stated that “We are passionate and committed to conserving this Natural World Heritage Site. So one of our priorities it to manage more resources to encourage support from the U.S. to get funds as quickly as possible to Galapagos. We are becoming more efficient through conservation grants to support more projects and initiatives, particularly those led by the community.”

Permanent financial resources are required to support conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands. Galapagos Conservancy must provide scientific and technical assistance to the GNPD, and address any financial resources that are required to continue the development of conservation activities on the Islands.

The preservation of biodiversity on our planet is essential for human well-being. This is why it is so important to ensure the conservation of Galapagos Islands. The Archipelago, one of the most significant natural sites in the world is included on the prestigious World Heritage Sites List. It was also the first site to meet the criteria set by UNESCO for this designation. A site must have remarkable natural phenomena and represent the major stages in Earth’s history. It also needs to exhibit important ecological and biological principles and provide critical natural environments.

Lobos marinos Isla de San Cristobal © Joshua Vela

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.