Possibly best known for its remoteness, giant tortoises and links with Charles Darwin, the Galápagos Islands—600 miles off the Ecuadorian coast—are also home with the magnificent Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorate), a huge bird that nests there and raises its young during nine months of the year. The largest bird in the Islands, it is the only albatross that lives in the tropics.

Ecologically, the ocean is one interconnected system. Yet international law has divided it into arbitrary maritime zones based on geopolitical interests. Our research seeks to improve transnational ocean governance and conservation outcomes in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, through collaboration with scientists, academics, practitioners, and decision-makers.

Floreana Island, heavily impacted by introduced species and biodiversity loss, now hosts one of Galápagos’ most ambitious restoration efforts. With a small community and 54 species still threatened, the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project aims to recover the island’s ecological balance through the removal of invasive species and the return of native wildlife.

Galápagos faces increasing tourism pressures that threaten its unique ecosystems. This report reviews seven international case studies to identify effective visitor-management tools—such as quotas, zoning, monitoring, and community engagement—and evaluates their relevance for Galápagos.

While the Galapagos Islands remain one of the best-conserved destinations in the world, they are faced with numerous challenges that are derived from growth in tourism and local population. The Charles Darwin Foundation is investigating how sustainable practices across multiple sectors such as urban planning and energy can mitigate these impacts while enhancing local community well-being through the health of the islands' socio-ecosystems.

A scientific delegation from the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands participated in the 12th annual meeting of the Commission of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO), which took place in Manta, Ecuador, between 29 January – 2 February 2024.

In an interview, renowned Galapagos volcanologist Dennis Geist tells us a bit more about the 2024 eruption and volcanic activity in Galapagos.