Many of the challenges the 15 Steps to Help Save Galapagos seek address are not unique to Galapagos GCT has helped fund a Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) international workshop on Island Sustainability in a Globalized World, held from 22 March to 26 March at CDF's offices in Galapagos.
The event brought together international experts from islands in the South Pacific, the Caribbean and Australia, and members of local and national institutions, NGOs and special guests to exchange experiences on island-community management and sustainable development issues.
According to GCT chief executive, Toni Darton: "We were delighted to support this workshop because we expect it to make a valuable contribution to the international sharing of knowledge about island sustainabilty. We recognise that there is no quick fix to saving Galapagos. It requires a holistic approach and that is why our 15th Anniversary Appeal focuses on 15 Steps to Help Save Galapagos. The workshop is a great example of what working together can achieve in tackling current challenges whilst securing longer term solutions."
During the opening ceremony of the week-long seminar, CDF's executive director, Dr J Gabriel Lopez, highlighted the importance of this meeting where "throughout this week, experts and workshop participants will be developing a practical conceptual framework regarding sustainability priorities to not only address the problems afflicting Galapagos, but also debate possible solutions in the search for the balance of good living with biodiversity and ecosystem conservation."
The following main topics were discussed in the seminar:
1. Analysis of island societies and/or the vulnerability of ecosystems in a globalized world,with special attention to the concepts of geodiversity and/or geographical opening.
2. The meaning of sustainability in island societies.
3. Indicators of human impacts arising from globalization processes.
4. The main areas of research to identify priority measures for achieving sustainability in island societies.
This is the first of a series of workshops to be held by CDF in 2010 and 2011 to address specific issues such as tourism, energy and transportation, waste management, water management and climate change, among other matters relating to island conservation and sustainable development.
March 2010 Archives
The work to help save the Floreana mockingbird, Darwin's inspiration, featured in the first episode of BBC 2's documentary programme, Museum of Life.
The Floreana mockingbird is the flagship of Project Floreana, a five year plan to save this rare species and restore Floreana, its native island. Project Floreana is a key element of GCT's 15 Steps to Help Save Galapagos. In addition to supporting the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in Galapagos for this work, GCT has awarded a grant of £16,470 to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to help fund a field worker jointly managed by CDF in Galapagos.
GCT's chief executive, Toni Darton, said: "The Critically Endangered Floreana mockingbird Mimus trifasciatus helped inspire Darwin to develop his theory of natural selection. This iconic bird now only exists on two small offshore islands. A recent population estimate gives a total of approximately 470 birds. This is why this work is of the upmost importance and we are delighted to be working with both DWCT and CDFon this project."
The reintroduction of the mockingbird forms part of Project Floreana, a new multidisciplinary restoration project in Galapagos. This remains one of GCT's flagship projects and we were delighted to raise over £150,000 towards this in its first year. Project Floreana is uniquely different from previous large scale conservation efforts in Galapagos. It represents the first time that such a project will be carried out on an inhabited island, albeit with a small population of 120.
Most importantly, the plan requires integrating the human population into conservation actions. The Floreana inhabitants are the guardians of the island, and any restoration programme needs to proceed in step with the inhabitants´ wishes. GCT is also funding various strands to help local people understand and get involved with the conservation needs of Floreana.
The Floreana mockingbird is the flagship of Project Floreana, a five year plan to save this rare species and restore Floreana, its native island. Project Floreana is a key element of GCT's 15 Steps to Help Save Galapagos. In addition to supporting the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in Galapagos for this work, GCT has awarded a grant of £16,470 to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to help fund a field worker jointly managed by CDF in Galapagos.
GCT's chief executive, Toni Darton, said: "The Critically Endangered Floreana mockingbird Mimus trifasciatus helped inspire Darwin to develop his theory of natural selection. This iconic bird now only exists on two small offshore islands. A recent population estimate gives a total of approximately 470 birds. This is why this work is of the upmost importance and we are delighted to be working with both DWCT and CDFon this project."
The reintroduction of the mockingbird forms part of Project Floreana, a new multidisciplinary restoration project in Galapagos. This remains one of GCT's flagship projects and we were delighted to raise over £150,000 towards this in its first year. Project Floreana is uniquely different from previous large scale conservation efforts in Galapagos. It represents the first time that such a project will be carried out on an inhabited island, albeit with a small population of 120.
Most importantly, the plan requires integrating the human population into conservation actions. The Floreana inhabitants are the guardians of the island, and any restoration programme needs to proceed in step with the inhabitants´ wishes. GCT is also funding various strands to help local people understand and get involved with the conservation needs of Floreana.
In November 2009, a group of vets, working with the Galapagos National Park (GNP), prepared 39 hybrid tortoises that they hope will be the pioneer group to initiate the return of tortoises to Pinta Island. Project Pinta is a multi-year project aimed at the restoration of Lonesome George's native island following the successful eradication of goats on Pinta in 2003. It was made possible thanks to funding from a number of organisations including the Galapagos Conservation Trust and the US based Galapagos Conservancy.
While complete island restoration will require the eventual repopulation of Pinta with a reproductive tortoise population, scientists and managers are awaiting the final results from genetic analyses of a massive sampling of tortoises before making the final selection of which tortoises to use.
To initiate the return of tortoises, critical ecosystem engineers during this important period of recovery for the island's vegetation, this special group of tortoises will be released onto Pinta. To ensure that this group of hybrid tortoises will not compromise any future efforts to reestablish a reproductive population, the veterinariy team sterilised them and placed them in quarantine in preparation for their release.
On 28 January the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) presented its 2009 Annual Report and Flagship Initiatives for 2010 at Quito's Botanical Garden. Representatives from major local, national and international institutions were in attendance.
During the event, Dr. J. Gabriel Lopez, CDF's Executive Director, highlighted the foundation's achievements during 2009, as well as the new conservation and development challenges facing Galapagos.
Dr. Lopez reported that as an integral part of facing these challenges, in 2010 the Foundation will further strengthen its three flagship programmes launched in 2009. These include measuring the "human footprint" in the archipelago, better understanding the impacts of climate change in Galapagos to inform decision-making on adaptation, and furthering its comprehensive restoration of Floreana Island at the southern end of the island chain. Dr Lopez also emphasised the importance of "working in a coordinated manner with Ecuadorean government agencies, academic centres of excellence, local actors, and the private sector for the conservation and sustainable development of Galapagos."
In his address, CDF Board President Pablo Iturralde Barba, brought attention to the importance of the Foundation's volunteer and scholarship programme, through which more than 1,100 young people from Galapagos and continental Ecuador have been trained at different stages of their careers. Many have continued their education, graduating with master's degrees and doctorates, and are now working in high-level positions in Ecuador and abroad.
CDF also launched a new "Partners for Galapagos" campaign that aims to bring together public and private enterprise in support of the organization's vital conservation efforts in the Galapagos archipelago.
Environment Minister, Marcela Aguinaga, and Dr Lopez
Dr. Lopez reported that as an integral part of facing these challenges, in 2010 the Foundation will further strengthen its three flagship programmes launched in 2009. These include measuring the "human footprint" in the archipelago, better understanding the impacts of climate change in Galapagos to inform decision-making on adaptation, and furthering its comprehensive restoration of Floreana Island at the southern end of the island chain. Dr Lopez also emphasised the importance of "working in a coordinated manner with Ecuadorean government agencies, academic centres of excellence, local actors, and the private sector for the conservation and sustainable development of Galapagos."
In his address, CDF Board President Pablo Iturralde Barba, brought attention to the importance of the Foundation's volunteer and scholarship programme, through which more than 1,100 young people from Galapagos and continental Ecuador have been trained at different stages of their careers. Many have continued their education, graduating with master's degrees and doctorates, and are now working in high-level positions in Ecuador and abroad.
CDF also launched a new "Partners for Galapagos" campaign that aims to bring together public and private enterprise in support of the organization's vital conservation efforts in the Galapagos archipelago.
In the early hours of Sunday 28 February, following the previous day's massive Chilean earthquake, the Ecuadorian authorities advised people to evacuate Puerto Ayora because of a fears of a tsunami.
According to the Charles Darwin Foundation's Executive Director, Dr. J. Gabriel Lopez: "We assembled all staff, volunteers and becarios who live on the station within 10 minutes and drove to Bellavista as advised by the authorities.
"We were among the first evacuees to arrive in Bellevista but eventually the vast majority of the population of Puerto Ayora made their way there. Shops quickly ran out of water, other liquids and breads and snacks. Upon receiving the all clear we returned to the Station at 0830".
As of Monday morning, UK time, the sea is reported to be behaving oddly with quickly rising and receding tides of about one metre every 15 minutes. However there is not thought to be any serious risk.
According to the Charles Darwin Foundation's Executive Director, Dr. J. Gabriel Lopez: "We assembled all staff, volunteers and becarios who live on the station within 10 minutes and drove to Bellavista as advised by the authorities.
"We were among the first evacuees to arrive in Bellevista but eventually the vast majority of the population of Puerto Ayora made their way there. Shops quickly ran out of water, other liquids and breads and snacks. Upon receiving the all clear we returned to the Station at 0830".
As of Monday morning, UK time, the sea is reported to be behaving oddly with quickly rising and receding tides of about one metre every 15 minutes. However there is not thought to be any serious risk.
