They are a major tourist attraction and support a blooming economy. They generally also have human communities, which in one or another way interact with their environment, often having harmful effects on the surroundings. Nevertheless, there is a specific threat that has already destroyed a great part of the unique species of oceanic archipelagos of the world and could, in the course of the next decade s, also destroy those of Galapagos. This is the threat of alien invasive species , plants and animals that don't belong to the islands but which have been introduced, voluntarily or not, by us, the humans. The projects' main goal is to determine new methods for the management of invasive species and their effects, while simultaneously accomplishing actual eradication of selected populations and impact mitigation of others.
Management always includes local participation.
An important part of our project is to involve the local community in education campaigns aimed at preventing new introductions to the islands of foreign organisms and the spread of the existing ones. All Rights Reserved. The Tortoise logo is a trademark of The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, registered in Ecuador and other countries. To provide the knowledge and support to ensure the conservation of the environment and bio-diversity of the archipelago of Galapagos, through scientific research and complementary actions.