GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST
Galapagos Islands
About our Collaboration
In Golden Galapagos, we are committed to creating an ecosystem where we are all active agents of change, producing a real transformation in the Galapagos Islands and building a future that preserves the magic of life.
As well as a GCT corporate member, We are supporting GCT’s ocean conservation work.
About Galapagos Conservation Trust
Galapagos Conservation Trust was launched in 1995 and it is the only UK registered charity to focus solely on the conservation of the Galapagos Islands.
This group of islands is one of the most unique and ecologically important, but vulnerable, areas in the world. By raising funds and awareness, we are helping GCT to support and deliver projects in Galapagos and respond to key threats facing the Islands.
GCT focuses on restoring natural habitat, protecting threatened species and driving sustainable solutions, helping to contribute to the overall management of this unique ecosystem.
Their vision is of the unique nature and beauty of the Galapagos Archipelago conserved and protected in perpetuity, and we have four key solutions to achieve our aims: stopping species extinctions, controlling invasive species, building climate resilience and reducing the human footprint.
They work with partners such as Golden Galapagos to raise funds for their vital conservation work, and to communicate the message to those who are fortunate enough to visit these Enchanted Isles and experience the incredible nature of Galapagos first-hand.
Oceans / Sharks Initiative
At Golden Galapagos we understand how critically important sharks and rays are to the archipelago’s fragile ecosystems, which is why we directly support the Oceans / Sharks initiative, launched to better understand the migration pathways, nursery areas, and pupping grounds for juvenile shark and ray populations in the Galapagos Islands.
It’s not particularly surprising that a significant number of shark and ray species love to frequent the Galapagos, but what is surprising is just how little we know about them and about what we can do to help them.
Even the largest fish on the planet, the whale shark, is arguably one of the oceans’ most mysterious fish, but we know that it frequents the Galapagos at certain times of the year – and most of the whale sharks visiting the islands are pregnant!
This is one of the mysteries that the Oceans / Sharks initiative, led by the Galapagos Conservation Trust, seeks to unravel.
We also know that protecting our oceans is vital to climate change.
Animals such as whale sharks have been shown to sequester around 32% more carbon than a tree over their lifetimes, which makes protecting their populations all the more important!
Ocean Protection
The waters around Galapagos are some of our planet’s richest, home to the world’s largest congregations of sharks, and many species are found nowhere else in the world. Whales, rays, fish and birds such as the blue-footed booby and the waved albatross all rely on a healthy ocean.
Unfortunately the marine life of Galapagos is facing increasing threats including
Overfishing
An increasing number of industrial fishing vessels arrive each year to fish on the edge of the protected reserve, extracting enormous quantities of squid and fish vital for sustaining marine life.
Illegal Fishing
Shark populations are being decimated, caught ‘accidentally’ as bycatch, or illegally, with fins supplying the Asian market for shark fin soup.
Plastic Pollution
Over eight tonnes of plastic are removed from Galapagos beaches each year by the local community, and marine plastic causes death to wildlife through entanglement and ingestion.
Beaches that appear clean are found to contain large quantities of microplastics when surveyed.
There has never been a time when the conservation of our planet’s biodiversity is so urgent. It is recognised that the best guard against worsening climate change impacts is protecting biodiversity to ensure ecosystems (both marine and terrestrial) are healthy and more resilient. GCT is working to have maximum impact on all of the above issues.
Their work on oceans include:
- Tagging and tracking whale sharks and other migratory marine species to inform new legislation for ocean protection, such as Ecuador’s declaration of the new Hermandad Marine Reserve in 2022.
- Co-ordinating researchers, NGOs and businesses across the Eastern Pacific to identify the sources of marine plastic pollution and its effect on wildlife, and to develop innovative solutions to the problem.
Providing ocean education and outreach to the local Galapagos community, including our support for the Gills Club, an initiative that aims to engage more girls in shark science.
Membership for guests
We believe that everyone has a role to play in protecting the ocean and the environment, which is why all of our guests receive a complimentary one-year membership to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, which provides guests with a range of benefits, including a responsible travel guide, a biannual magazine, and information on the GCT’s conservation work and appeals.
This is a great opportunity for guests to learn more about the Galapagos Islands and their unique wildlife, as well as to support conservation and donate to one of the world’s last remaining natural paradises
To redeem the membership, guests need to follow the link below, which will take them to the GCT website. From there, they can complete the registration process and activate the membership.
Once the membership is activated, guests will start receiving the benefits associated with it, such as the travel guide and magazine.
They will also be kept informed of GCT’s conservation work and appeals, and be invited to exclusive events.
Join us in protecting the unique ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands. Your donation to the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) will fund essential conservation efforts, including eradicating invasive species, protecting marine reserves, and preserving endangered species. Every contribution helps ensure the long-term health and resilience of this incredible ecosystem for future generations.
SDG Orientation
