Discover the New Regional Partnership for Deep Ocean Exploration in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

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.

Being a volunteer at the Charles Darwin Foundation was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. For two months, I had the privilege of participating in various projects that allowed me to witness firsthand the incredible work being done to protect the natural environment of the Galápagos Islands. From guiding visitors in the Exhibition Hall, collaborating with the Communications and Marketing team, to joining scientists in the field, I experienced a full immersion in the CDF’s conservation efforts.

Park rangers from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), in collaboration with scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), have discovered two new areas of Scalesia cordata on Sierra Negra volcano, located in southern Isabela Island. This discovery marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to preserve this critically endangered species, which has seen its natural habitat severely reduced.

Habla Tiburón is a project that aims to improve the long-term health of shark and ray populations in Ecuadorian waters while empowering fishing communities.

In a joint effort to protect the unique biodiversity of the islands, representatives from the public and private sectors, NGOs, transport cooperatives, and local governments gathered to understand the factors and solutions to reduce bird mortality on the roads of Galápagos caused by vehicles, the road connecting Puerto Ayora to the Itabaca Channel is of great importance as it passes through protected and productive areas of the island.

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is pleased to unveil the Galapagos Introduced Species Dashboard, the first open-access digital repository of information about species introduced to the Galapagos Islands.

Cristian Peñafiel, our field assistant for the giant tortoise conservation program, was interviewed by our donor, Galapagos Conservation Trust, to share his experience studying these iconic animals.

In the heart of the Galapagos Islands, a tiny, unexpected hero emerged in 2002 that would change the course of conservation. The Australian ladybug (Novius cardinalis), small in size but immensely effective, became a crucial ally in the fight against an invasive insect that threatened to devastate the endemic flora of these islands. This is the story of how science, innovation, and nature itself came together to help preserve one of the most valuable biological treasures on the planet.

Researchers from the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park have published the first confirmed record of a white shark in Ecuadorian waters. The encounter, roughly ninety kilometers west of Wolf Island and outside the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR), marks an unusual sighting of this species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, where sightings south of Mexico's coastline are exceptionally rare.

The Board of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands (“CDF”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Lúcia G. Lohmann, Andrew Balfour, and Mary C. Pearl to its Board of Directors, with immediate effect. Each new member brings unique expertise and a deep commitment to CDF’s mission of safeguarding the Galapagos Islands through science and conservation.

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is excited to launch its Ambassador Program, a platform for passionate advocates who share our vision of protecting the Galapagos Islands—one of our planet’s most extraordinary natural treasures—through science and conservation action.

Scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) have, for the first time, assessed the conservation status of mangrove ecosystems in the Galápagos Islands using the Red List of Ecosystems methodology developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The study concludes that this ecosystem is classified as Vulnerable, underscoring the urgency of its conservation. The full report is available in the EcoEvoRxiv repository.

Today, I find myself here, by the sea, writing about my experience living on an island. It all started when I was searching for an opportunity, and I found a living dream instead: volunteering in the Galápagos. I applied to the Landbird Conservation Program of the Charles Darwin Foundation and had the privilege of becoming part of their team.Today, I find myself here, by the sea, writing about my experience living on an island. It all started when I was searching for an opportunity, and I found a living dream instead: volunteering in the Galápagos. I applied to the Landbird Conservation Program of the Charles Darwin Foundation and had the privilege of becoming part of their team.

December marks the start of one of the most exciting activities of the year in Galápagos: the Christmas Bird Count. Now in its ninth consecutive year, this event, organized by the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in collaboration with key partners, combines science, community, and fun to celebrate and protect the incredible diversity of birds on our islands.

The Galapagos Islands are home to species so unique they exist nowhere else on Earth. Among these are the Galápagos penguin and the flightless cormorant, evolutionary wonders that have adapted to thrive in these remote habitats. But these incredible creatures face mounting challenges from climate change, diseases and invasive species. Protecting them is no easy feat—it takes dedication, resources, scientific knowledge, and action.

After 20 years, Nancy Tapia Paredes returned to the Galapagos, volunteering at the Community Library on Santa Cruz Island. Through storytelling and environmental education inspired by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, she rediscovered her passion for conservation and found healing. Discover her story of second chances, growth, and a renewed purpose in protecting this extraordinary place.

Have you ever thought about what you could do to help nature and people live in harmony? Environmental education offers a simple yet powerful answer. It acts as a bridge that connects learning with action, inspiring us to care for our planet through small steps that, when combined, lead to significant change.

The woodpecker finch of San Cristobal has been identified as a potential new species (Camarhynchus striatipecta), according to groundbreaking research just published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Previously considered one of three subspecies of the woodpecker finch (Camarhynchus pallidus), this population is now identified as a genetically distinct lineage. These findings mark a significant revision to the taxonomy of Darwin’s tree finches and scientists propose C. striatipecta as a newly recognized species.

The smooth-billed ani is considered to be the most damaging introduced bird species in Galapagos. Hannah Rickets, at Galapagos Conservation Trust, spoke to PhD student Cristian Poveda about his research into this challenging species.