September 2009 Archives

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have agreed on a joint scientific, educational, cultural, and communication initiative to support conservation and sustainable development in Galapagos.

The agreement was signed in the presence of 15 UNESCO officials by Dr. J. Gabriel Lopez, CDF's executive director, and Edouard Matoko, head of UNESCO in Ecuador and is in accordance with the Ecuadorian government's policy, enshrined in the Constitution of 2008, to foster conservation and sustainable development in the archipelago.

CDF and UNESCO will coordinate their projects with Ecuador's National Development Plans, cooperating in a joint course of action to achieve common goals. Specifically, the accord seeks to develop social capabilities for environmental preservation in the Galapagos Island region.More information here

Supporter Brett Horwell recently ran the Berlin Marathon on 20 September to raise funds for GCT

Before the race Brett said: "I haven't entered a marathon before so expect that it will prove to be an interesting and no doubt painful experience.  It may be much more "tortoise" than "hare" on the day." In fact,  Brett achieved a respectable time of 4 hours and 28 minutes.

Biologist Sarah Darwin and GCT Ambassador is sailing on a voyage of discovery, following in the wake the of her famous great-great grandfather.

Sarah embarked on her ambitious round the world expedition with her husband and two children in the Dutch clipper Stad-Amsterdam, starting from the same Devon port, Plymouth, where Charles Darwin set sail on HMS Beagle 178 years ago.

According to Sarah: "The whole point about science is getting it into the public area and we hope that it what this voyage will achieve. For me it will be a very moving and incredible feeling to be in remote places that my great-great grandfather was in 180 years ago."

At Galapagos Day 2009, Sir David Attenborough, GCT President, Andrew Marr, and CDF's director of technical assistance, Felipe Cruz, appealed for help to create a 'Galapagos model' for sustainable development around the world.

Sir David Attenborough, Andrew Marr and Felipe Cruz (photo. Kevin Murphy)

Galapagos Day 2009 was held on 15 September at the Royal Geographical Society. 

GCT is extremely grateful to Steppes Discovery, and IWC for supporting this event."

GCT organised a three-way open discussion between Sir David Attenborough, Galapagos-born Felipe Cruz and chairman, Andrew Marr, before an audience of GCT members and supporters.

Sir David said the islands were at a tipping point: "Even though Galapagos is recognised as one of the best preserved tropical archipelagos in the world, however, due to the consequences of human intervention, many species are now threatened with extinction. With prompt and holistic action, Galapagos can provide a model of sustainability for world; without it this natural treasure will be lost for ever". 

When discussing the inexorable rise in the number of tourist visitors, Andrew Marr asked Sir David whether he was comfortable with the fact that visitor numbers to Galapagos might have to be rationed - only available for those who could afford the high price. Sir David replied that he was, provided there would be access for genuine students and researchers.

Sir David described Galapagos as: "A fabulous place. An astounding place where, for example, birds will perch on your head and take your hair. The birds realise you are an intruder but they don't care."

Felipe Cruz praised his country's government for its tremendous support for Galapagos conservation: "Ecuador is the only country in the world which has given the environment constitutional rights."

Felipe Cruz saw Galapagos as a "thermometer for the world. In the last 15-20 years I have seen dramatic changes in weather." His greatest wish "would be for my son, Rashid (who joined his father on the stage, ed),  to be celebrating Galapagos Day well into the future ".

Auction winner, the Principal of the Mayfair School of English, Naeem Ahmad, pictured with Sir David Attenborough, Toni Darton, Steppes Travel's Kieran Murphy, and Andrew Marr. Photo Kevin Murphy

First published by John Murray in 1859, the book was purchased in 2008 by Steppes Travel Group, which generously donated it for auction at our Anniversaries Special Galapagos Day on 15 September 2009, with the proceeds going to the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

To celebrate the 200th year of Darwin's birth and the 150 years since the book was first published, the book has been going on a year-long journey appearing at various events before being auctioned.

Scientists have discovered three new coral species - and one that was thought to be extinct - in an extensive survey of reefs around the Galapagos Islands, raising hopes that reefs may be more resilient to rising sea temperatures temperatures than previously thought.

Professor Terry Dawson of Southampton University carried out the marine survey along with scientists from the University of Miami, covering an area that had not been studied extensively by marine biologists since the 1970s.

The three new coral species are from the genera Hydrozoanthus, Parazoanthus and Antipathozoanthus. They also found a fourth possible new species and other corals that were thought not to inhabit the waters around the Galapagos.

Coral reefs are formed by deposits of calcium carbonate left by successive generations of tiny polyps which feed off plankton. They also receive nutrients from symbiotic algae known as zooxanthellae which also give coral their bright glowing colours. As temperatures rise, the algae dies or is ejected by the polyps, which leads to coral bleaching. In 1982-83 an El Niño event killed off around 95% of the coral in the Galapagos and caused severe disruption to the marine ecosystem there. In 1997-98 ocean warming caused a second bout of bleaching.

Dawson, who published his team's findings in the peer-reviewed journal Galapagos Research last month, said that it appeared the algae might be adapting to warmer ocean temperatures. Sea temperatures in the Galapagos vary between 23C and 29C in normal years, but can rise to 30C in El Niño years.

"Our study might suggest that species are more resilient than we thought. Nature is quite capable of looking after itself," he said. "Humans have such short timescales in looking at things. A lot of coral dies off after an El Niño event. But we don't give species enough time to do what it needs to do. We worry about rapid climate change and its effects but some species can adapt to climate change quite quickly too."

Miranda Richardson

Well known actress and GCT supporter, Miranda Richardson, has confirmed her participation in the exclusive anniversary fundraising trip to Galapagos. Miranda will join Randal Keynes, Charles Darwin's great, great grandson, helping to make the cruise, departing on 24 October, truly memorable for all participants.

Miranda has been involved with GCT since 2003 but this will be the first time she has achieved her ambition to visit the Islands. A passionate conservationist, she has appeared in a number of TV programmes about conservation, including Extinct in 2006, and is a strong advocate of the need to address climate change.

Randal first visited Galapagos in 2000 and joined the General Assembly of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in 2004. He was elected to the Board of the CDF in 2007 and is one of the champions of the Floreana project, stressing the key importance of Floreana's unique mockingbird species in Darwin's thinking about evolution.

The cruise has been organised in partnership with the Charles Darwin Foundation, Ocean Adventures and Abercrombie & Kent

The trip includes a 7 day luxury cruise aboard the M/V Eclipse; a reception at the British Embassy in Quito; and a VIP day of special events at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

The cruise will raise funds for the Station's new visitor centre, the Charles Darwin Center for Galapagos and for the Floreana Restoration Project. There are still a few places available. For more details please email us at gct@gct.org or contact Matilda at A&K on 01242 547700.

Creation, a new film about Charles Darwin, directed by Jon Amiel (Entrapment, Sommersby, The Singing Detective) and starring Paul Bettany, is set to hit UK cinemas on 25 September. The film makers describe Creation as "the powerful story of Charles Darwin and the single most explosive idea in history.

"Darwin's great, still controversial book, On the Origin of Species, (inspired by Galapagos) depicts nature as a battleground. In Creation the battleground is a man's heart. Torn between his love for his deeply religious wife and his own growing belief in a world where God has no place, Darwin finds himself caught in a struggle between faith and reason, love and truth."

Creation is based upon GCT Ambassador Randal Keynes' book, Annie's Box, about the life of his great great grandfather Charles Darwin. The book will be published in paperback by John Murray (publishers) on 17 September.

The Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) will be taking part in the UK premiere and has helped publicise the film in the UK by supplying Icon Film Distribution with information about Galapagos and related topical issues.

The fifth edition

The final port of call in the celebratory journey of a rare fifth edition of On The Origin of Species will be at The Royal Geographical Society on Galapagos Day, later this month.

First published by John Murray in 1859, the book was purchased in 2008 by Steppes Travel Group, which has generously donated it for auction at our Anniversaries Special Galapagos Day on 15 September 2009, with the proceeds going to the Galapagos Conservation Trust. The auction will be conducted by GCT's President, Andrew Marr.

To celebrate the 200th year of Darwin's birth and the 150 years since the book was first published, the book has been going on a year-long journey appearing at various events before being auctioned.

You can follow the book's journey here. You can also place a bid here in advance of our Anniversaries Special Galapagos Day.

Since the event is sold out, if you would like someone to represent you at the auction, please email us at gct@gct.org or call us on 020 7629 5049.