Galapagos Islands: Funding and Projects
Adventure Life is an active member of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, (IGTOA). Together we have created an effective way for the travel industry to help support Galapagos conservation. Like other isolated island groups however, the Galapagos Islands face serious challenges for the long-term survival of their marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
The travel industry and those who visit the Galapagos must meet the challenge of preserving this world heritage. In Nov. 2006, together with IGTOA, we launched a Galapagos traveler-funding program. As of Feb. 2012, our travelers have raised over $83,000 for island conservation. Click here to learn more about the Galapagos Traveler-Funding project.
Here are some of the projects that Adventure Life and our travelers have helped sponsor through IGTOA.
Text provided by International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA)
2011 Projects
CDF (Charles Darwin Foundation) received a total of $28,000. IGTOA members allocated $10,000 to the station for general operating support — to help it improve its physical and staffing infrastructure in order to meet the islands’ present and future challenges. Another $18,000 was awarded towards its interpretive services program which enables young Ecuadorians and Galapagos residents to gain experience in tourism and public relations.
WildAid, an organization whose mission is to end illegal wildlife trade by reducing demand through public awareness campaigns and providing comprehensive marine protection, received $25,000 in funds, which will go toward supporting a preventive quarantine initiative in the Galapagos Islands supply chain. The program will endeavor to design internationally accepted biosecurity protocols at the embarkation port in Guayaquil. The monies from the fund-raising program will specifically be used to help in procuring a biosecurity expert and help pay for biosecurity equipment costs.
2010 Projects
Protection of the Marine Reserve: To support WildAid, working with the Galapagos National Park, to provide patrols for shark and sea lion protection.
Education: To support the Scalesia Foundation for a pilot program in environmental education and teacher training workshops.
Introduced Species: To support WildAid, working with the government on fumigation of boats on the wharf in Guayaquil.
Visitor Education: To support the Charles Darwin Station for an education specialist at the Van Straelen visitor center.
Shark protection: To support a floating platform in the northern part of the islands to monitor illegal shark fishing in this remote area.
Bay cleanup, 2009
We supported a group of local fishermen in the cleanup of Academy Bay, netting more than eight thousand pounds of waste.
Best Practices Program for the Travel Industry, 2006 & 2007
We provided funds to Conservation International and Rainforest Alliance for their program to institute standards of operation for tour companies.
Charles Darwin Station staffing 2004 to present
We have funded several positions at Van Staelen Hall, the visitor interpretation center.
Emergency land purchase, 2000
At the request of the Charles Darwin Foundation, we provided funds to purchase private land that would be turned into a protected area.
ISM boat certification program, 2002
We gave money to CAPTURGAL to help with international safety certification for locally-owned boats operating in the Galapagos.
Library for Galapagos guides, 2006
We provided funds for the purchasing of hundreds of books for a library in Puerto Ayora, to be used by guides in their studies.
Mooring anchor for patrol boats, 2009
We provided anchorage off Wolf Island to support patrols for illegal fishing and shark finning in this remote sector.
Oil spill cleanup, 2000
IGTOA provided emergency funds for the oil spill in 2000.
Patrol boat equipment, 2008
IGTOA donated a GPS system and video equipment to be used by the Galapagos National Park rangers when they patrol the islands for illegal fishing.
Recycling Center, 2006 & 2007
We supported the Funcacion Galapagos’ Recycling Center on Santa Cruz Island.
Scholarship for a research project, 2002
We sponsored a graduate student at from Ecuador to make important baseline studies of the Galapagos tortoise at the Charles Darwin Station.
Scouts program in Puerto Ayora, 1998
We funded a project to provide environmental education and activities for a mixed-gender scout group on the island of Santa Cruz.
Shark Conservation Campaign, 2007
We supported WildAid in their information campaign to stop illegal shark finning.
Stray dog and cat neutering, 1998
We gave money to the Charles Darwin Research Station for a program to prevent the further spread of feral cats and dogs on the islands.
