Visitor Experience
Visitor Experience in Galapagos
Charles Darwin Research Station
© CDF
GCT recognises that an essential element in overcoming the issues facing Galapagos is educating and engaging local, national and international visitors about what makes Galapagos such an important living laboratory and the part they can each play to keep it that way. The Charles Darwin Research Station plays a crucial role in this, since for many people it is their only contact on the ground with the two key conservation organisations locally - the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park. Historically the site was intended as a base for scientists to conduct research. Over time it has become an essential element of visitors' itineraries, most notably for the captive breeding programmes and its most famous resident, Lonesome George. It is now outdated and ill-equipped to deal with the 80,000 local, national and international visitors it receives each year.
The site has both fantastic potential to develop and an unfulfilled yet vital role to play in engaging support. GCT and its local partners firmly believe that it is time that Galapagos has a visitor experience worthy of this double World Heritage Site.
The visitor experience is essential not only to inform visitors about the excellent conservation work that is taking place on the Islands, but also as an important education resource for local people, particularly school children. Many children growing up in the 'Enchanted Islands' will never experience a boat trip around the archipelago and as a result will, understandably, not realise why Galapagos is so significant and so fragile. Improvements in the interpretation at this site will aim to bring the unique wildlife to them, via state of the art technology and interactivity. In addition, thanks to collaborations with organisations such as Down House it will also bring Charles Darwin back to the Islands that helped to inspire his theory of evolution.This project therefore offers a rare opportunity to fund a resource for the benefit of local people, world class scientists and national and international visitors alike. It will be developed in stages (as funds become available) and in collaboration with the best in the world. It offers naming opportunities and will act as a model for combining eco-friendly design with cutting edge interpretation and interactivity.
In 2008 GCT secured funding for the feasibility phase. This has been a thorough process and will be completed in early 2011 with a detailed plan and timeline. We are now helping the Charles Darwin Foundation to secure partnerships and raise funds in order to implement the key elements of the project.
There are many ways in you can help:
- By making a donation (Project Visitor Experience)
- Pledging in kind support
- Through introductions and connections
- With creative solutions