There are 28 small endemic landbirds in the Galapagos Islands, including the iconic Darwin finches (17 species) and charismatic mockingbirds (4 species). In spite of extensive studies on the evolution of Darwin’s finches and other birds, surprisingly little is known about how many birds are found on each island and whether populations are healthy. 

Recent studies indicate that some bird populations are undergoing severe declines, in particular on the inhabited islands. Studies are underway to understand what is the cause of this decline. The reasons are multiple and include nestling mortality caused by the invasive parasitic fly Philornis downsi (the most serious threat), reduced food availability caused by habitat degradation, predation by invasive species (e.g. rats and cats and the Smooth-billed Ani), and introduced diseases.

To reverse these declines as quickly as possible, the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) formed the Landbird Conservation Program in 2014. This program counts on the help of Galapagos residents, visitors, and researchers from around the world and is investigating multiple options simultaneously for the protection of these iconic bird species.

“Galápagos Verde 2050" is a program implemented by the Charles Darwin Foundation with the support of the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park, comprising multi-institutional collaboration components. From 2013 until 2021 it was managed as a project with two components: Ecological Restoration and Sustainable Agriculture, obtaining successful results especially in relation to cost-benefit analysis and the effectiveness of the use of water-saving technologies both in ecological restoration processes on various islands, and in improving the productivity of several short-cycle crops.

However, as of 2022, due to the need to enter a new phase, in which the program will move from experimentation to the implementation of ecological restoration activities on a larger scale, it was transformed into the Galápagos Verde 2050 program, which is composed of seven research projects focused on the ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems on seven different islands. The main objective of the program is to contribute with pure and applied research for the development of an adaptive management model that will guarantee the conservation of the natural capital of Galapagos and contribute to the well-being of its human population.

Opuntia megasperma var. orientalis is a cactus species endemic to the island of Española. This keystone species serves as a food source for giant tortoises, nesting and feeding structures for birds, and refuge for many other endemic and native species that inhabit the island. Unfortunately, the O. megasperma population was drastically reduced by feral goats, which were introduced to Española two centuries ago. Although the goats were eradicated in 1978, O. megasperma has not been able to recover due to their slow growth (approx. 2 cm per year), natural herbivory by endemic fauna, and the arid climatic conditions of the island. Therefore, this project seeks to contribute to the restoration of the ecological integrity of Española Island through the recovery of the Opuntia megasperma var. orientalis population using innovative and effective restoration strategies.

Plaza Sur, despite being one of the smallest islands of the archipelago, has become an iconic tourist destination due to its extraordinary flora and fauna. Among its main attractions are land iguanas and Opuntia cacti. Unfortunately, the Opuntia echios var. echios population has been affected by a combination of several events, such as introduced rodents, pressure from herbivores such as native iguanas, and extreme weather events such as El Niño and La Niña. In addition, an understudied factor is soil properties and their effect on the O. echios population. This is why GV2050 initiated restoration efforts in 2013, obtaining valuable results on the effectiveness of using water-saving technologies for O. echios restoration. Currently, the project is focused on the ecological restoration of Plaza Sur, through the restoration of the population of Opuntia echios var. echios using the island of Plaza Norte as a reference ecosystem.

Twenty Galapagos bird species, including 12 species of Darwin’s finches, are under threat from a parasitic fly, Philornis downsi. This fly was accidentally introduced to Galapagos and is seriously affecting the survivorship of several Galapagos birds including the critically endangered Mangrove Finch. Flies are adept at locating bird nests to lay their eggs. Once larvae hatch they feed on the blood of hatchlings, sometimes causing all of the chicks in a nest to die.

In order to reduce the impact of Philornis downsi on birds, CDF and the Galapagos National Park Directorate are overseeing a multi-institutional collaborative effort (now up to 22 institutions from ten countries) that is investigating the biology and ecology of this little-known fly, while simultaneously conducting research to find effective and environmentally friendly control methods.

Galapagos tortoise migration plays a fundamental role to maintain healthy tortoise populations. Understanding the ecological, social, and sanitary implications of these movements allows us to reduce the threats the tortoises are facing and contributes to their conservation.

This program is a multi-institutional collaboration between the Charles Darwin Foundation, Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Galapagos National Park Directorate, Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, Houston Zoo, and Galapagos Conservation Trust. Drs. Stephen Blake and Sharon Deem lead the program with the support of a local team based in Galapagos and a large number of international collaborators and partners.

Marine invasive species can threaten biological diversity, human health and/or economic activity.

Globally, marine invasions have increased due to commerce, shipping and tourism. Invasions occur when species are transported from one region to another and become established in the new environment. These undesired guests compete for space and can displace and harm the populations of native species.

The Galapagos Islands are under threat from possible marine invasive species, given the connectivity that exists with the Eastern Tropical Pacific, the increase in tourism and associated marine traffic and the effect of extreme climatic events such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The CDF scientists, together with our collaborators, are developing risk assessments along with protocols for the prevention, early detection and management of marine invasive species in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

The Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi) and Galapagos waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) are endemic to the Galapagos archipelago and Ecuador.

They can now be found on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. The population status of these island species is being monitored on a yearly basis with our partners at the Galapagos National Park Directorate.

The Mangrove Finch (Camarynchus heliobates) is one of the 14 species of Darwin's finches that only live in the Galapagos Islands. It is the rarest bird of the archipelago, with an estimated population of 100 individuals that inhabit only 30 hectares in two areas on Isabela Island.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species classifies the Mangrove Finch as in Critical Danger. The main known threats are the introduced parasitic fly (Philornis downsi) and the introduced black rat (Rattus rattus).

The Galapagos Islands are a key site for the conservation of the green turtle Chelonia mydas, as they are host to the second most important nesting colony in the region. It also provide numerous feeding sites for this specie throughout the archipelago.

Despite the protection provided by the "Marine Reserve" status, there are still some threats to the species in Galapagos, where interaction with fisheries and the impact of boats are the most problematic.

Like many Central and South American Countries, economic development in the Galapagos Archipelago is oriented towards ecotourism, and its potential continues to grow. In the last decade the number of visitors to the islands has increased dramatically, and in turn generating an increase in marine traffic as a product of tourism demand, and hence an increased interaction between boats and marine fauna.

The incidence of collisions between birds and cars in the road between Puerto Ayora and Canal de Itabaca seems rather high. The assessment of the frequency on which these events happen would enable us to illustrate areas with higher incidence, and to suggest mechanisms to mitigate this problem.

This project aims to offer evidence on what, where, when, these events occur, and to suggest alternatives to reduce it.

The vegetation coverage of the native forests in Los Gemelos zone, has suffered signficant reduction in the last years. The Gemelos is an area of two volcanic craters located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms to improve the restoration capacity of these zones by analizing the factors that compromise this capacity.

Native species in Galapagos have been seriously affected by the changes in the uses of the land in the past, and most recently by invasive species. The Scalesia habitat has been drastically reduced in Santa Cruz which was dominated by Scalesia pendunculata that now it is estimated to cover less than 1% of its original distribution. The best example remains in this area of Los Gemelos, an area of 100 hectares and which is the focus of all the restoration efforts of the Galapagos National Park Directorate (DPNG).

Scalesia cordata is a tree endemic to southern Isabela. Before the arrival of humans, it formed widespread forests that harboured a great diversity of plants, birds and associated invertebrates. However, its range has been drastically reduced to only a few sparse populations due to land clearing for agriculture in the past and current replacement by invasive species. Together with the Galapagos National Park Directorate, we are taking several management actions to prevent the local extinction of the remaining populations of Scalesia cordata and to facilitate its recovery. These measures include collecting seeds, growing seedlings in the nursery, controlling invasive plant species negatively impacting Scalesia cordata trees, and working with farmers and the Isabela community to raise awareness about this species, unique to Isabela. Galapagos has seen few extinctions of plant species; we do not want Scalesia cordata to be one of them.

Seamounts are underwater mountains, often of volcanic origin, that rise above the surrounding seabed at least 100 m from the seabed but do not reach the surface. These underwater structures provide deep-sea hard substrate, allowing productive formation of deep-sea coral and sponge reef communities. Additionally, seamounts are considered highly productive, redirecting deep-sea currents rich in nutrients that attract a myriad of other marine organisms, such as fish and marine mammals.

Due to the volcanic history of the Galapagos Archipelago, hundreds of seamounts, ranging from > 3000 to 100 m in height, are known to be scattered on the seafloor in the reserve. Given that most seamounts lie outside the margins for safe SCUBA diving (< 40 m), and exploring deep-sea ecosystems is technologically and financially challenging, our understanding of seamounts and other deep-sea habitats remains very limited.

To close this critical knowledge gap CDF, in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), is leading a multi-institutional collaborative effort to characterize the biodiversity, ecology and physical environment of these mysterious deep-sea ecosystems.

In the Galapagos, sharks are of great importance to the local economy. The marine tourism industry, which heavily relies on shark sightings, provides employment to 37% of the local active workforce. It has been estimated that on average a live shark is worth USD$360,105 per year to the local economy.

Thanks to the protection the Marine Reserve gives to the marine ecosystem and all plant and animal species within its boundaries, the Galapagos are one of the few sites around the world where shark populations remain healthy, providing a unique opportunity for researchers to study their populations. At the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), we carry out various projects focusing on increasing our understanding of sharks and their relationship with their environment with the aim of providing a strong scientific basis for the development of effective management plans that will ensure their long-term protection.

Fishing is one of the most important activities in Galapagos. It can produce more than 2 million dollars per year. It is source of employment for more than 500 fishers and their families. In addition, fishing is essential for food security for the local people of the Archipelago. There are more than 50 species that can be fished in Galapagos; among the most important are: spiny lobsters, slipper lobster and fish.

CDF along with Galapagos National Park Directorate and other partners are carrying out interdisciplinary researches to achieve sustainable fisheries in Galapagos. These researches include, from the biology and ecology of species, line-based ecosystems, capture technologies, up to the governance, sociology of fishers and economy of fishing activity.

Fowler’s Snouted Treefrog (Scinax quinquefasciatus) is a relatively recent invader of the Galapagos Islands, having been introduced from mainland Ecuador, most likely during the wet El Niño season of 1997/1998.

Little is known about the biology and ecology of this frog in Galapagos. To close this knowledge gap and to gain information for potential management, CDF is carrying out a study of the diet, distribution, habitat use and potential dispersal of this species.

The CDF works on this project in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park Directorate and the Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral (ESPOL).

Subtidal Ecological Monitoring is a long-term programme that has been carried out for several decades establishing a baseline of the GMR. It was developed to provide the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) with a complete description of this community and to provide information on the dynamics and magnitude of the fluctuations of this biota through space and time, while incorporating natural and anthropogenic effects such as climate change.

The long-term scale of the Subtidal Ecological Monitoring program in Galapagos, has enabled the recognition of patterns and processes that are of fundamental importance in the coastal-marine ecosystems.

By looking at the subtidal ecological condition would illustrate the current threats and risks to which these ecosystems are most exposed to, and the mechanisms to mitigate/minimize them.

Vegetation maps provide an important tool to guide management actions for the restoration of terrestrial ecosystems in the Galápagos Islands by addressing questions, such as: What is the approximate area covered by an invasive plant species and how much effort would it take to control it? How are plant species compositions changing over time? Are there plant species compositions that promote or limit the habitat range of threatened animals?

We use drone and satellite imagery to generate very high resolution maps that show the distribution and abundance of invasive plant species, like blackberry (Rubus niveus), guava (Psidium guajava), Cuban cedar (Cedrela odorata) and quinine (Cinchona pubescens), and key endemic plant species, like Scalesia pedunculata or Miconia robinsoniana.