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Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg joins CDF's Board of Directors

The Charles Darwin Foundation has appointed Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg to its Board of Directors, effective 1 January 2026. He brings extensive leadership experience in global health, academia, and philanthropy, including senior roles at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Harvard University, and the U.S. National Academy of Medicine.

Carlos Espinosa-CDF
Pelayo Salinas
CDF and WWF launch project to promote the conservation of sharks and rays in Ecuador

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

Joshua Vela
CDF Launches First Digital Dashboard of Introduced Species in the Galapagos Islands

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.

Juan Manuel Garcia-CDF
About us

Discover the mission, vision, and impact of the Charles Darwin Foundation. Dedicated to preserving the Galapagos Islands through groundbreaking scientific research and conservation initiatives since 1964.

Carlos Espinosa/CDF
CDF Joins Floreana Ecological Restoration Project as Co-Executor

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) has joined the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project as a co-executor, alongside other key organizations. This project aims to restore Floreana Island's ecosystem by eradicating invasive species and reintroducing native animals. CDF will lead habitat restoration efforts and support species reintroductions and monitoring. The initiative focuses on holistic restoration, serving as a model for future conservation projects across the Galapagos and beyond.

Pelayo Salinas/CDF
First-ever documented birthing migration of a hammerhead shark

Scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation’s shark ecology and conservation program and collaborators, have published what is likely the first-ever scientifically recorded birthing migration for the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini).

Billy Bensted-Smith/CDF
Local expertise meets global science: the first complete genome of endangered sea cucumber advances marine conservation in Galápagos

Local expertise meets global science: the first complete genome of endangered sea cucumber advances marine conservation in Galápagos

Mara Speece CDF
The world's greatest living laboratory

Ornithologist Juan Manuel Carrión shares his perspective on the Galápagos as the world's greatest living laboratory for understanding evolution. In this interview, he discusses endemic birds, the contributions of Peter and Rosemary Grant, the potential of birdwatching tourism, and the Charles Darwin Foundation's role in conservation and scientific capacity building.

María Igual/ CDF
Conservation Efforts Drive Historic Recovery Signs for the Galápagos Mangrove Finch

Scientists in Galápagos have recorded the most successful breeding season ever for the critically endangered Mangrove Finch, one of the world’s rarest birds. Discover how years of conservation work, innovative nest-protection strategies, and collaboration are offering new hope for this species’ survival in the remote mangrove forests of Isabela Island.

Einar Klum/ CDF
Santa Cruz Population of Galápagos Little Vermilion Flycatcher Records Best Breeding Season Yet

After more than a decade of conservation work, researchers have documented 56 fledglings so far in 2026 — with more nests still active

Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Scientists Rediscover Scalesia retroflexa

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is pleased to announce that 16 individuals of the rare plant Scalesia retroflexa were found growing on the steep, rocky coastal slopes of the southeastern point of Santa Cruz Island. Scientists from CDF’s Galapagos Verde 2050 ecological restoration team, in collaboration with rangers from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), made this discovery during a recent expedition, renewing hope for the survival of this endemic species.

Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Scientists Rediscover Scalesia retroflexa

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is pleased to announce that 16 individuals of the rare plant Scalesia retroflexa were found growing on the steep, rocky coastal slopes of the southeastern point of Santa Cruz Island. Scientists from CDF’s Galapagos Verde 2050 ecological restoration team, in collaboration with rangers from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), made this discovery during a recent expedition, renewing hope for the survival of this endemic species.

Protecting Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks with The Ministry of Environment of Panama

The Ministry of Environment of Panama and the Charles Darwin Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the transboundary protection of the migratory scalloped hammerhead shark and advance the recovery of their populations within the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Scientists Discover Pristine Deep-Sea Coral Reefs in the Galápagos Marine Reserve

Scientists have discovered extensive, ancient deep-sea coral reefs within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR) – the first of their kind ever to be documented inside the marine protected area (MPA) since it was established in 1998. The first reef observed was found at 400-600m (1,310-1,970 feet) depth at the summit of a previously unmapped seamount in the central part of the archipelago and supports a breathtaking mix of deep marine life.

CDF joins the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge

The CDF joins the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge to Implement Community-Based Monitoring and Safeguard Island Ecosystems