Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF)

    The Charles Darwin Foundation was founded in 1959 to help preserve the ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands. The CDF is in charge of the Charles Darwin Research Station, which conducts scientific research, much of the time in partnership with the GNPS. The CDF works closely with the Ecuadorian Government and advises them upon principles of environmental conservation. The Foundation Secretary General is located in Quito, and directs the efforts over 200 scientists, researchers, and volunteers. The headquarters of the CDF, are, however, located in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels.
    The governing of the CDF is taken care of mostly by the General Assembly of the CDF at a meeting in Ecuador. The General Assembly takes care of changing by-laws and approve recommendations and budget concerns brought up by the Board of Directors, whom they also vote into office. The Board of Directors consists of nine members, one of whom must be Belgian and one of whom must be Ecuadorian, and is presided over by the President of the Board. The duties of the Board include setting budgets, appointing scientific commissions, and establishing relations with other scientific or environmental groups. The last leg of the triumvirate in charge of the CDF is the Executive Director. The job of the Executive Director is to supervise the completion of day to day tasks that will allow the CDF to continue their actions, as well as drawing up the budget and being the formal representative of the CDF.
    The Foundation also provides many necessary controls to the Galapagos ecosystem. Many of their projects work directly towards the stability of a healthy ecosystem. One such program for the Control and Eradication fo Invasive Species is funded for by the United Nations Foundation. The CDF works together with UNESCO to use the $4 million grant to help remove the non-native species introduced onto the islands. In addition, the Foundation works to educate the Galapagos community about the problems of conservation and maintaining the healthy ecosystem.






http://www.darwinfoundation.org/invasive/FactSheet.html
http://www.darwinfoundation.org/about/statues.html