Projects

The Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) has sent almost £3 million in support of a wide range of conservation projects, mainly through our local partners the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and Galapagos National Park (GNP).  We raise funds to support projects in three priority areas - Island Restoration, Climate Change and Social Issues - that take all factors into consideration and ensure a holistic approach.  Within these broad subjects we have compiled our 15 Steps to Help Save Galapagos.  Each area has been broken down into smaller projects that are prioritised, as funding becomes available.  Some examples of projects funded by GCT can be found below - please click on the titles to find out more.

Giant Tortoise Monitoring Programme

Since the Galapagos Giant Tortoise Monitoring Programme began, 46 GPS tags have been deployed on tortoises, initially on the island of Santa Cruz and more recently on Isabela and Espanola in an effort to learn more about the ecology of these giants.

Capacity Building on Isabela

Comprehensive environmental management is essential to limit the impacts of the human footprint in Galapagos. GCT has teamed up with WWF to strengthen capacities and improve environmental management on Isabela working with the local community.

Responsible Tourism

Ensuring the sustainable future of tourism in Galapagos is a major priority for GCT and we are working together with various organisations and experts to protect the Islands from the impacts of human pressure. Read more about the 2011 Tourism Workshop here.

Saving Darwin's Finches

The parasitic fly Philornis downsi has a larval stage that feeds off young nestlings and is having a devastating effect on the endangered populations of many finch species.  In order to control this major pest, research is desperately required to understand it's life cycle.

Gulbenkian Galapagos Artists Residency Programme

The Gulbenkian Galapagos Artists' Residency Programme is a creative way of highlighting the very serious conservation issues facing Galapagos. 13 artists have now visited the Islands where they interacted with the environment and local residents.

Pesca Vivencial

Careful management of fishing activity is essential for the protection of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Pesca vivencial is a local term for recreational fishing and has the potential for fishermen to get most of their income from tourism instead of commercial fishing.

Charles Darwin & Galapagos Islands Fund

This exciting collaboration between GCT and Christ's College of Cambridge University is aiming to develop a long-lasting partnership between key scientists dedicated to the protection of the Galapagos Islands and furthering Darwin's work.

Project Floreana

Project Floreana is a multifaceted project to restore Floreana Island which has historically suffered severe species loss and habitat damage.  The main ethos of the project is to integrate ecosystem restoration with the lives and aspirations of local residents. 

Tsunami Appeal

GCT is helping to raise £76,650 to assess the impact that the March 2011 tsunami had on the Galapagos' coastal ecosystems and wildlife and to help restore the marine laboratory of the Charles Darwin Foundation where essential research is undertaken.

Controlling Invasive Plant Species

Supporting PhD students is a key part of GCT's work to improve our scientific knowledge of the Galapagos ecosystem. Jorge Renteria is an Ecuadorian researcher and is studying a highly invasive blackberry species that is threatening native flora.

Penguin & Cormorant Monitoring

The Galapagos Penguin and Flightless Cormorant are both endemic species to the Archipelago.  Infection by Plasmodium parasites and changing environmental conditions means the ongoing monitoring of their populations is essential.

Visitor Experience

An essential element in overcoming the issues facing Galapagos is educating and engaging local, national and international visitors.  Improving visitor facilities at the Charles Darwin Research Station will help to explain the science behind conservation projects.

Urban Development: El Mirador

As part of our commitment towards a sustainable future for Galapagos, GCT are keen to work with local partners to help ensure that the development of 1,200 new homes has a minimal impact on the environment.

GCT is currently raising funds for a number of projects, some of which are listed above.  If you would like to support any of these by making a donation, please visit online donation, telephone the office (020 7629 5049) or write to us at 5 Derby Street, London, W1J 7AB.  For more information on a specific project, please contact us and we will be happy to provide more details.

If you would like to discuss making a significant contribution to any of the projects listed or more generally to conservation in Galapagos we would be delighted to talk this through in more detail with you.  Please don't hesitate to contact Robert Silbermann, our chief executive (020 7629 5049 or robert@gct.org).

Thank you very much for your support.