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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

Discover how Galápagos waters fuel Ecuador’s economy and fight climate change. A groundbreaking study by CDF and partners reveals the immense value of marine ecosystems—from carbon-storing mangroves to booming tourism and fishing industries. Learn why protecting these waters is essential for sustainable development and global conservation efforts.

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.

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.

This year’s breeding season brought record success for the Little Vermilion Flycatcher with 39 fledglings, while the Critically Endangered Mangrove Finch continues to be a conservation priority. Discover how science, habitat restoration, and innovation are reshaping the future of Galápagos birds—and why this season marks a breakthrough in conservation.

Galápagos landbirds soar to new heights.
This year’s breeding season brought record success for the Little Vermilion Flycatcher and cautious hope for the Critically Endangered Mangrove Finch. Discover how science, habitat restoration, and innovation are reshaping the future of Galápagos birds—and why this season marks a breakthrough in conservation.