For Immediate Release
Ecoventura / Galapagos Network
CONTACT: Doris Welsh
Email: doris@galapagosnetwork.com
Website: www.ecoventura.com/
Phone: 800.633.7972
Galapagos Expedition Cruise Company’s Santiago Dunn
Brings Ecoventura’s Commitment to Sustainable Tourism
To World Wildlife Fund National Council
MIAMI, Sept. 30, 2010 – Ecoventura Executive President Santiago Dunn has accepted an invitation to serve a three-year term on the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) National Council. His term begins Oct. 19 at the next WWF meeting in Washington, DC.
Dunn is the visionary leader of Ecoventura, a small ship expedition cruise company founded in 1990 by his father. He is tirelessly committed to protecting the fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos and securing its future as one of the world’s leading eco-tourism destinations.
Dunn’s relationship with WWF extends through joint projects and initiatives in the Galapagos that Ecoventura has helped guide and support over the past decade.
Ecoventura helped establish the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund in 2008 in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to support environmental education and marine conservation by strengthening local communities’ ability to manage natural resources. Dunn’s company originally pledged a donation of $80,000 annually (in cash and in-kind services) for the first three years in support of the fund. Dunn has increased that pledge to $100,000 annually for the next three years.
Since this fund’s inception, $238,522 in contributions have gone directly to the various projects now in operation including scholarships for local children to study at the university level, development of micro-enterprises to create alternate sources of income, control of illegal fishing activities through a permanent floating station at Darwin Island and the acquisition of a satellite vessel monitoring system.
Ecoventura has assisted financially and strategically with the following WWF projects in the Galapagos:
· Since 2007 WWF has provided 27 scholarships for students from Galapagos to study at the University San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) on San Cristobal Island and an additional nine scholarships for high school students to attend an ecology course at Yellowstone National Park.
· Financial support for a computer lab for a primary school on San Cristobal Island.
· Supported the Galapagos National Park in the repair of a patrolling boat and to repair the floating platform “Tiburón Martillo” to improve surveillance of the Northern islands of the archipelago – Darwin and Wolf.
· Assisted a project to conduct a census and monitor sea lions health, build and install floating bases for sea lions resting and build a “primary care nursery for wildlife” for sea lions and other species.
· Supported a shark-tagging project jointly with the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park.
· Supported the local fishermen’s women’s group OMCA on Isabela Island.
· Provided financial support to the Galapagos National Park for a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to control and patrol the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
· Supported the Galapagos Tourism Chamber (CAPTRUGAL) to conduct an awareness campaign of the Tourism Quality Project in the Galápagos Islands.
· Assisted organization of a workshop “Environmental Penal Law as a Conservation Instrument for the Galapagos Islands and the Region” in coordination with Sea Shepherd and Conservation International.
About World Wildlife Fund: The WWF is the world’s leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.
About Ecoventura: Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard a fleet of three expedition vessels; identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts with 10 double cabins. The company also operates the M/V Galapagos Sky, a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard offering 7-night weekly itineraries visiting the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. All of its vessels have been purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards.
To reserve a cabin or to receive a copy of Ecoventura’s 2010-2011 catalog please call toll-free 1.800.633.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com. To access current rates, schedules and itineraries you can log onto: https://www.ecoventura.com/.
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For photos and/or more information on how Ecoventura is making a difference in the Galapagos Islands please contact:
Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.com
Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / d.wiggins@comcast.net
Website and portfolio of past client releases: https://www.travelnewssource.com/
