Research at the CDRS

Tortoise repatriation program - early days.

When the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) was founded in 1959 it became the first international research and advisory institution dedicated exclusively to Galapagos. Through programs at its Charles Darwin Research Station, CDF has drawn worldwide attention to Galapagos. The archipelago is now a focal point for world-class conservation science and CDF remains the leader in using research to protect this world treasure.

CDF research informs decision making through local institutions. At the same time, CDF prioritizes research problems through an existing understanding of the ecological, social and cultural environment.

Thanks to this approach, Galapagos has so far been conserved very effectively. The archipelago currently boasts one of the lowest rates of species loss on the planet.

There is still much work to be done. Much like other oceanic island systems, Galapagos is extremely fragile. The human population is growing quickly. Diminishing isolation of the region is raising the risk of invasive species, and there is increasing pressure to harvest more natural resources. Without well-informed decisions complemented by concerted actions to control and counteract growing threats, many of the native plants and animals of Galapagos may soon disappear.

© CDFExtracting plant DNA

The nexus of native species, invasive species, and resource use is at the heart of CDF’s research, which will be broadened through strategic alliances to encompass social sciences expertise. This will enable CDF to meet the challenges of the 21st century, recognizing that the human factor is a key component of Galapagos ecosystem research and will require thorough investigation to enable CDF to give the best possible advice to decision-makers in relation to areas such as tourism development and sustainable livelihoods.