It is safe to say that 2020 has, for the vast majority of us, been a pretty tumultuous year so far. With the disruption that has so fundamentally upended our daily lives, it would be easy to overlook our wider responsibilities that come with living in one of the most pristine natural environments on the planet.
The Galapagos is famously known as an ecological paradise, with a host of wonderful species living above and below the waves, many of which that call no other place on earth home. It is no wonder that Charles Darwin was so inspired visiting this stunning archipelago that his theory of evolution was developed here, famously using the 13 species of endemic Galapagos finch to help finesse his thinking.
And as an operator of boutique luxury vessels in these islands, we recognize that we have a fundamental role to play in supporting the conservation of this veritable Eden.
To help preserve the astonishing array of life here, several organizations work tirelessly to protect the ecosystem and the animals that depend on it, including the Galapagos Biodiversity and Education for Sustainability Fund (the GBESF), Ecology Project International and Island Conservation, to name but a few. Even at the height of the pandemic these organizations continued working hard to support the most vulnerable species on these islands.
We are proud to have supported a host of these efforts going back many years, and one of the organizations we are particularly committed to helping is the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF).
The CDF is a non-profit group dedicated to conducting scientific research in the Galapagos. Recently celebrating its 60 year anniversary, the foundation plays a key role in protecting the islands’ natural resources and the sharing of scientific results for the conservation of this living laboratory, whilst also supporting the professional development of the scientific community in the Galapagos and Ecuador as a whole.
Since joining forces with the CDF in 2017, Ecoventura has donated over $270,000 to the GBESF – a fund set up by Ecoventura in collaboration with the CDF and the Galapagos National Park Directorate – to help finance research and monitoring trips, buy vital scientific equipment and run educational projects and conservation camps for scientists and students. The fund supports marine and terrestrial conservation and education efforts run by the CDF, as well as providing patrolling, surveillance and management support to the Galapagos National Park authorities – an incredibly worthy cause and one we are proud to play an active role in supporting.
In recognition of our ongoing commitment and support for this wonderful organization, we are delighted to announce that we have recently been awarded a Platinum badge from the CDF, to demonstrate our commitment to corporate social responsibility and the efforts we give back to science and conservation in the Galapagos.
As Lisa Nagode, outgoing Donor Relations Officer at the CDF says, “I want to take this opportunity to once again thank you for your commitment to the scientific research and community outreach that we carry out in the Galapagos. We want you to know that your support and trust in our work are very much appreciated, and we hope that your experience as a major donor to CDF is gratifying; your business truly cares for the fragile wildlife and ecosystems of the Galapagos”.
As the Galapagos reopens to visitors and we look towards setting sail once again, we will always bear in mind our wider responsibilities to this wonderful spot and ensure the incredible organizations that work so tirelessly to preserve the fragile ecosystems here can continue to count on our ongoing support.
