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.

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.

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.