IGTOA Funds Galapagos Conservation Programs

IGTOA members have voted $50,000 in funding to projects designed to help preserve the Galapagos Islands. Funding was done at the annual meeting and represents part of the funding that IGTOA will do this year.

The Charles Darwin Foundation received $28,000. Part goes to an Interpretive Center Volunteers, part goes for unrestricted funds.

IGTOA members have voted $50,000 in funding to projects designed to help preserve the Galapagos Islands. Funding was done at the annual meeting and represents part of the funding that IGTOA will do this year.

The Charles Darwin Foundation received $28,000. Part goes to an Interpretive Center Volunteers, part goes for unrestricted funds.

Interpretive Center Volunteers.  In order to provide the essential link between the visitor and CDF’s scientific and technical work, CDF maintains an Interpretive Services program managed by a long-term Galapagos resident and licensed guide. The guide is assisted by a small team of volunteers who also develop interpretive materials in collaboration with other CDF staff.

The Ecuadorian/Galapagos volunteers are given a small stipend and money for additional expenses. This opportunity to participate in the conservation of Galapagos and to understand the work of the CDF is available to a wide group of young people. Many of the volunteers sponsored by IGTOA have gone on to make careers in tourism and visitor services.
The remainder of the IGTOA funding ($22,000) went to various projects administered by WildAid.

GPS Monitoring of the Marine Reserve. Last year, WildAid completed the installation of the vessel satellite-monitoring system at the Galapagos National Park Service for all vessels weighing more than 20 metric tons and can be tracked by the GNPS and Navy via their respective control centers. Phase II is a vital second step: Among the local fishing fleet, there are a few who carry out illegal fishing in no-take zones. These need to be monitored, and IGTOA donated to this program.

Legal Support for the Park.  Also supported was a program to prosecute poachers. The Park Service spends millions of dollars a year in control and vigilance of the Marine Reserve, but in the past, many of those caught were not prosecuted due to lack of legal support.  In response, WildAid has provided the Park with an environmental lawyer to process all illegal fishing violations and other environmental crimes.  This has resulted in the timely prosecution of over 60 cases in the last three years and the purging of over 200 fishermen from the fishing registry.

Support for Park Patrols. Finally, IGTOA helped WildAid’s support of the Galapagos National Park in its patrolling of the Marine Reserve. The Park has a fleet of 13 oceanic, semi-oceanic and fast launch vessels that are required for the patrolling of the Marine Reserve and are required to intercept poachers.  Maintenance of these vessels is critical to ensure they are readily available.  Through WildAid, IGTOA assists the Park in procuring critical spare parts to ensure the uninterrupted patrolling.