| The Galapagos Conservation Trust |
Objectives as stated on the official GCT website:
The Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) works to ensure the conservation of the biological diversity of the Galapagos archipelago. Conservation in Galapagos is primarily the responsibility of the Galapagos National Park, and it is assisted by the Charles Darwin Foundation, an international non-governmental organization founded in 1959 to advise the government of Ecuador on science and conservation in the islands.
GCT also raises awareness of, and funds for, the conservation needs of Galapagos principally through its support of the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park.
GCT is a primary source of information and comment in the UK on conservation in the Galapagos Islands.
GCT is a UK registered charity dedicated to meeting the conservation needs of the Galapagos Islands. It works closely with other Galapagos institutions such as the Charles Darwin Foundation and is a member of Friends of Galapagos, a network of Galapagos-related organizations that represent the USA, Germany, Spain, Canada, and the Netherkands among other countries. GCT provides monetary support to the Charles Darwin Research Station, a part of the Charles Darwin Foundation, and accepts private donations.
Where GCT money goes:
- Captive Breeding Programme of Giant Tortoises
Funds are used for purchasing and maintaining monitoring equipment, breeding pens, and incubators and building and equipping a new herpetology laboratory on Isabela Island.
- Project Isabela - The largest habitat restoration project in the Galapagos
Funds are used for personnel, equipment, field trips, medicines for dogs, materials for dog kennels.
- Becario Programme
Funds are used for the volunteers and grant-aided students at the Charles Darwin Research Station and to bring highly qualified volunteers to the Galapagos.
- Protecting Galapagos Birds
Funds are used for monitoring Galapagos petrel and mangrove finch populations, research into bird diseases, conducting censuses of penguins, cormorants, lava gulls, and other threatened birds, and the purchase of new equipment.
- Recovery of Endemic Reptiles
Funds are used for equipping personenel on field trips, computer equipment for Global Positioning System and Geographical Information Systems.
- Conservation of Native Galapagos plants - San Cristobal Island was surveyed in 1998 and 1999 to locate populations of endemic species. A later survey repaired existing enclosures protecting threatened plants on Santiago.
Funds are used for field equipment and supplies, fencing posts and wire, personnel and volunteers, telecommunications, seed cultivation of Scalesia atractyloides.
- Galapagos Marine Reserve
Funds are used for monitoring oil spill damage, personnel costs, community education, training Ecuadorian scientists and research in zooplankton, and the salaries of the Head of Biomar and her assistant.
- Communication Systems at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS)
Funds are used for purchasing a new server and updating computer equipment.
- Eradication of Black Fly
Funds are used for staff support and equipment.
- Building the capacity to monitor and manage disease threats to Galapagos wildlife
Funds are used for equipment for a wildlife pathology laboratory.
- Supporting PhD Students - Financially assist scientists gain the education needed to manage a unique ecosystem.
Funds are used for equipment, travel, research costs, living expenses.
- Institutional Strengthening at the Charles Darwin Research Station
Funds are used for outreach work, library expenses, environmental planning, management, and coordination.
GCT is among the more influential names in Galapagos conservation. It is regarded as the most credible for information on the islands. Throughout its ten-year history, it has been very involved in research to find newer and more effective methods to maintain the islands' unique ecosystems, proving that it is open to new and innovative solutions. Its emphasis on monitoring population levels, among other things, reflects our goal of installing and maintaining a system of sensors on and around San Cristobal. While GCT does fund in part the work done at CDRS, it most conceivable that that GCT would be more interested in supporting our efforts in monitoring the islands than in other areas of our project, especially since its funds are severely limited (estimated at less than US$1 million). My conclusion is that GCT is a great resource for information and establishing contacts within the Galapagos-conservation community but should not be relied on for a significant portion of the financing.
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| Galapagos Conservation Trust. Retrieved 09 24, 2004, from online: http://www.gct.org |
Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands |
Mission as stated on the official CDF website:
"The Charles Darwin Foundation exists to provide knowledge and support to ensure the conservation of the environment and biodiversity of the Galapagos Archipelago through scientific research and complementary actions."
Our mission is to conduct scientific research and environmental education about conservation and natural resource management in the Galapagos archipelago and its surrounding Marine Reserve. Scientific research and monitoring projects are conducted at the CDRS in conjunction and cooperation with our chief partner, the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS), which functions as the principal government authority in charge of conservation and natural resource issues in the Galapagos.
The Charles Darwin Foundation was founded in 1959 to protect and conserve the Galapagos Islands ecosystems. It manages the Charles Darwin Research Station where over two hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students, and support staff carry out research and educate others on conservation. CDF collaborates with the Ecuadorian government to spread awareness of the importance of conserving the islands. CDF received US$4.9 million in 2003 and spent US$4.6 million in the same year (up from US$2.6 million in 1999).
The Charles Darwin Research Station
Research at CDRS includes:
- Research for the protection of native animals
- Research for the control of introduced animals
- Terrestrial Plants
- Invertebrates
- Marine Research
- Monitoring
- Natural Resource Management
- Environmental Education and Interpretation
- Visiting Scientist Program
- Public Relations and Outreach
- Ecuadorian Student Training Program
- Technical Support: Publications, Library, Computer Center, Cartography, and Statistics
Where CDF money comes from:
- CDF, Inc
- GCT
- Friends of Galapagos Organization (FOGO) Switzerland
- FOGO Netherlands
- Frankfurt Zoological Society
- Galapagos Conservation Fund
- Global Environment Facility/United Nations Development Program
- United Nations Fund/UNESCO
- Darwin Initiative (British Government)
- Government of Ecuador
- Inter-American Development Bank
- USAID
- Funding from other foundations
- Private donations
- Sales of souvenirs and other services
Where CDF money goes:
- 41% - “Science”
- 21% - Adm, Finance, IT, Logistics
- 11% - Project Isabela
- 10% - Communication and Participation
- 7% - Director's Office, Governance and Representation in San Cristobal and Isabela
- 6% - Institutional Development
- 4% - Support to GNPS
CDF is among the more respected organizations in Galapagos conservation. Its support would open many opportunities and provide numerous contacts within the Galapagos conservation community. With an annual income of almost US$5 million, it is also among the more financially reliable sources. It has the financial capacity to fund large projects, and, because it draws funds from a variety of sources, CDF is unlikely to be drastically affected should one source fail to provide funding for a year. Like GCT, CDF is thoroughly committed to finding newer and more innovative solutions to existing problems and its efforts to research and monitor the current situation reflect on our plan to develop a system of monitors for San Cristobal. My conclusion is that CDF is an influential and stable organization. Its financial status is promising and its forty-five year history proves that it can be relied on. CDF would be an excellent organization to approach for funding our project.
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| Charles Darwin Foundation. Retrieved 10 04, 2004, from online: http://www.darwinfoundation.org |
United Nations Fund/UNESCO |
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization was founded by the United Nations in 1945 to address the scientific and cultural issues of the world. The official website states its ultimate goal as using education, social and natural science, culture, and communications "to build peace in the minds of men."
The extent of UNESCO's involvement in the Galapagos Islands from 1999-2004 was the control and eradication of invasive species. It committed US$4 million to the project.
The project objectives include as stated on UNESCO's website are:
- Develop and test cost-effective eradication techniques for alien species
- Improve quarantine system preventing new arrivals of alien species
- Eradicate selected alien species populations
- Enlist the support of Galapagos residents in the fight against alien species
- Establish a $2 million trust fund to support on-going alien species work
Since it was established by the United Nations almost sixty years ago, UNESCO is a reliable organization to be affliated with. It is also very financially secure and can commit large amounts of funding to each project. The project detailed above shows that it is interested in and willing to commit funding to the research projects (it is establishing US$2 million to support research). Additionally, UNESCO's work in other countries shows that it would have an interest in funding our village. However, history has shown that it is much more difficult to obtain financial support for unproven and innovative solutions from governmental organizations, so, should we propose a particularly creative solution, selling some aspects of our plan may not prove easy. That aside, my conclusion is that we would greatly benefit by having UNESCO's financial support. We would have the support of an organization that represented multiple nations and had the capabilities of providing significant amounts of funding.
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| UNESCO.ORG. Retrieved 10 10, 2004, from online: http://portal.unesco.org |
Galapagos Conservation Fund |
Created in 1997 by international travel company Lindblad Expeditions, GCF's mission is to establish a partnership between the tourism industry in the Galapagos Islands and conservation efforts. It has raised well over US$1 million since it was founded and contributes funds to the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station. It now raises around $200,000 annually from its cruise ship.
Projects supported by GCF:
- Adopt-an-island program for Santiago Island
- Eradication of feral pigs from Santiago Island
- Re-establishment of native plant species
- Support of Patrolling Efforts and Physical Maintenance of Galapagos National Park's patrol boat P/V Guadalupe River for protection of the recently expanded marine reserve
- Environmental Education
- Establishment of environmental education centers for local populations
- A university scholarship in biology or environmental sciences for a Galapagos student
- Teachers on board program
- A “small grants” fund that encourages locally-initiated conservation project
- Funding for invertebrate research and the establishment of an invertebrate collection
- An emergency fund for unforeseen needs
GCF is a small organization with severely limited funds. While it is closely affiliated with CDRS and GNP, it is not as influential itself. Because it draws all of its funds from single source (donations on board a cruise ship), it is not very reliable to consistently provide the same level of support every year. Moreover, since all project allocations require the approval by GCF, GNP, and CDRS, it may be much more convenient for us to approach CDF (operator of CDRS) directly. Additionally, since it is operated by a tour company and is, therefore, a special interest organization, we may lose its support if we try to limit tourism. My conclusion is that GCF is not a good match for us. |
| HORIZON Solution Site. Retrieved 10 11, 2004, from online: http://www.solutions-site.org/cat1_sol116.htm |
Inter-American Development Bank |
| IADB is a bank that was established in 1959 to lend loans for the purpose of social and economic benefit. It's owned by forty-six countries with over 50% of the voting power in Latin America and the Caribbeans. With over US$100 billion in resources, IADB funds countless organizations. It assists borrowers with developing policy plans for achieving the results they are looking for. IADB has lent over US$230 million to Ecuador in 2003 and almost US$4.5 billion since 1961, much of which has gone to the Galapagos Islands. If we were to establish an organization as part of our plan, it's conceivable that we could receive a generous loan from IADB. However, we must first develop a reasonable strategy to payoff the loans. |
| Inter-American Development Bank. Retrieved 10 11, 2004, from online: http://www.iadb.org |
USAID |
According to the official website, USAID is an independent federal government agency founded in 1961. It supports economic growth, agriculture, trade, global health, democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance. Its annual budget is less than one-half of one percent of the federal budget, roughly US$5 million of which went to the Galapagos Islands in 2004.
USAID supports/funds:
- implementing of the marine zoning plan
- strengthening the governance of the Marine Reserve
- reducing of illegal fishing and over-fishing
- increasing tourism’s contributions to conservation
- promoting public education and outreach
- updating the Galapagos Management Plan
- producing a strategic plan for the Charles Darwin Foundation
- completing the community-based ecotourism activity in Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island
USAID very actively promotes biodiversity throughout the world. It has worked in the Galapagos Islands since 1997 and has financial obligations through 2008. With around US$4 billion in federal contracts and grant every fiscal year, we would surely find ample funding. USAID already commits US$5 million to conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands and will increase that amount to US$5.1 million in 2005. My conclusion is that we would most likely be able to obtain significant funding for our efforts from USAID. |
| USAID.org. Retrieved 10 15, 2004, from online: http://www.usaid.org |
Government of Ecuador |
| During the 1990s, Ecuador's overall GDP growth rate was the lowest for all South American countries, a mere 1.9%. It peaked at around three to four percent in the middle of that period due to an increase in government investments. However, a series of events in the latter end of the '90s negatively affected an already declining economy. To combat hyperinflation, the country adopted the US dollar as its official currency, although the sucres is still widley used. Measured in US dollars, Ecuador's GDP fell from $19.7 billion in 1997 to $13.65 billion in 2000 and is currently back at its 1997 level. The country's current account deficits hit a high of US$2.1 billion in the 1990s but turned in to nearly $1 billion in surplus by 2000. While not the most stable economy, my conclusion is that the Ecuadorian government has the capability to provide adequate funding to our project. One problem that must be addressed, though, is that the government has economic interests in the Islands would oppose any plans that would cause a reduction of their income. |
| Yahoo Finance: Summary of Ecuador. Retrieved 10 20, 2004, from online: http://biz.yahoo.com/ifc/ec.html |
