October 3, 2023, marks the beginning of the implementation phase of the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project, the largest and most ambitious restoration initiative currently underway in the Galapagos Islands.

Scalesia forests once thrived on the Galapagos Islands, forming a unique humid ecosystem for plants, insects, giant tortoises and birds. Today, only 1% of the forests’ original distribution remains, with several endemic species, including the Scalesia themselves, struggling to survive. We are working to restore this important habitat and given the rapid rate of forest loss, it is a race against time.

For the first time, the Charles Darwin Foundation opens Galápagos’ largest scientific collections to the public. Housing over 137,000 specimens, this new facility offers a rare glimpse into the science shaping conservation decisions and safeguarding one of the planet’s most extraordinary ecosystems.

The Charles Darwin Foundation’s 2025 Impact Report highlights a year of scientific discoveries, conservation milestones, ecological restoration, and institutional growth across Galápagos. From species recoveries to new research infrastructure and large-scale restoration efforts, discover how science, collaboration, and local capacity are shaping a more resilient future for the archipelago.

The new Galápagos Atlas 2026 offers a 309-page look at 68 species and species groups, combining purpose-built distribution maps with something rarely found in a reference guide: a clear record of what scientists still don’t know. Free to explore online, it highlights critical knowledge gaps and invites future research to strengthen conservation.

Two groundbreaking studies led by Stephen Blake, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology at Saint Louis University and Sharon L. Deem, DVM, Director of Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, in collaboration with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and teams of multidisciplinary scientists shed light on crucial aspects of the conservation of two critically endangered giant tortoise species endemic to the Island of Santa Cruz, Chelonoidis porteri and Chelonoidis donfaustoi. Both studies offer valuable insights into the challenges these emblematic species face and the strategies needed to ensure their survival in the face of potential future habitat alteration and climate change.

The Charles Darwin Foundation celebrates 65 years of innovation, development, and science in service of conservation

Phil van Haarlem was truly a force of nature. In celebration of his life, and to honour his time with us over the last 10 years, we have asked colleagues and friends to tell us their unique experience with Phil, whom we miss dearly.

Meet the donors that are supporting the Charles Darwin Foundation's vital science and conservation work.

Restoring Floreana isn’t about small plots—it’s about healing an entire island. Discover how large-scale habitat restoration underpins species recovery, why forests like Scalesia matter, and how science, patience, and collaboration are reshaping one of Galápagos’ most ambitious conservation projects—with lessons that could inform island restoration worldwide.

The Charles Darwin Foundation and WWF launch project "Habla Tiburón" to promote the conservation of sharks and rays and empower fishing communities in mainland and insular Ecuador