Charles Darwin Foundation

The marine birds of the Galápagos face threats of climate change, invasive species, pathogens, pollution, bycatch, and antimicrobial resistance placing them at immediate risk of population decline.

This program aims to ensure the long-term conservation of key (sentinel) Galápagos marine bird species by providing critical data on their population status and health to guide effective management and conservation actions by the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD). Key activities include monitoring of 14 nesting sites, capture-recapture studies to assess survival and reproduction, evaluating introduced species population status and diseases and implementing control actions in the marine bird breeding areas.

Mangroves are the most powerful blue carbon ecosystems on earth, storing far more carbon than most forests, while also shielding coastlines and sustaining fisheries. In Galápagos, these ecosystems support unique and endangered species, provide nursery grounds for fish, and protect communities from storms. Yet they are increasingly at risk. Rising sea levels, stronger storms, shifting rainfall and salinity, local human pressures and introduced species threaten their survival. In the Galápagos, mangroves are classified as a vulnerable ecosystem by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), underscoring the urgent need for their conservation action.

This program aims to assess and enhance the role of Galápagos mangroves in climate change mitigation and sustainable fisheries management. Key activities include quantifying their carbon capture, monitoring climate vulnerability, evaluating their role as a nursery for fisheries and key species, and engaging the local communities in conservation. The results will provide policy-relevant data to guide conservation strategies, safeguarding biodiversity, strengthen marine reserve management, and contribute to sustaining local livelihoods in the Galápagos.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the Galápagos each year, increasing recreational activities and pressure on marine wildlife. Green sea turtles, a flagship species of the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR), are especially at risk. Vessel traffic, habitat degradation and climate change threaten their survival, with up to 19% of turtles near ports and 12% of females nesting at the most important nesting site showing injuries from strikes. To balance the demands of economic growth with conservation needs, it is crucial to identify and mitigate anthropogenic threats early on to protect turtle populations.

This program aims to evaluate the impacts of human activities on sea turtles and design strategies to mitigate them, strengthening both conservation and sustainable tourism. Key activities include mapping overlap between turtles and vessel routes, drone and satellite tracking, collision risk modelling, and climate vulnerability assessments on nesting beaches. The results will guide marine traffic regulations, reduce collision risks, and inform climate adaptation strategies, ensuring long-term protection of turtles and their habitats.