Long before CDF was established, scientists – both professional and hobbyists, came to Galapagos to study this strange and fascinating environment and share their findings with the world. CDF is now one of the primary facilities for today’s scientists to continue this legacy of independent investigation and information sharing.
The expertise and technical support CDF offers international visiting scientists – and local individuals and organizations – are of the highest caliber and help maximize a project’s potential. This sharing of knowledge is very much an exchange. CDF builds its own capacity through learning from others, and offers the opportunity to follow up and expand these independent studies.
© CDFCollaborating scientist Bernard Landry examines invertebrate specimens in the field.These are often labors of love for independent investigators. Other times they are intended to help educate scientists in training from the world’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Additionally, partners’ projects may complement CDF projects by addressing issues that are not currently in CDF’s research portfolio. Most valuably, collaborating groups help CDF to expand the range of priority conservation science that it can carry out. How these partnerships are developed varies widely. Formal relationships established through agreements with academic institutions have been a staple of independent research assisted by CDF.
However a new avenue of collaboration is emerging that promises to be one of the most significant developments in CDF’s history. Residents of the Galapagos bring experiential knowledge and their own perspectives on research needs and conservation management efforts for their homeland. It is crucial to the long-term conservation of the archipelago that Galapagueños have an active role in research. Local people are crucial to the management of protected areas.
For current partners, please visit the Visiting Scientists page in CDF’s most recent Annual Report.