Photo: Joshua Vela
En esta temporada especial, queremos desearte una Feliz Navidad y un próspero Año Nuevo. Te animamos a explorar las noticias, datos y logros que reflejan el esfuerzo conjunto por fortalecer la conservación y promover un desarrollo sostenible en el archipiélago de Galápagos, Patrimonio Natural de la Humanidad.
La Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos con el apoyo de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, realizó el lanzamiento oficial del “Plan de Manejo para la Conservación y Uso Sostenible del Lobo Marino de Galápagos en la Isla San Cristóbal 2025-2030”.
COAST-SCAPES es un nuevo proyecto que se desarrollará en el Galapagos Science Center (GSC), titulado “Repensando los paisajes costeros con intervenciones resilientes al clima: soluciones sistémicas de la tierra al mar”.
Las islas oceánicas, como Galápagos, son escenarios privilegiados para estudiar cómo se originan y diferencian las especies. En este contexto, los gecos endémicos del género Phyllodactylus cumplen un rol ecológico importante y, al mismo tiempo, son poco conocidos desde el punto de vista genético.
Los ecosistemas de Galápagos están en constante transformación debido a la interacción entre procesos naturales, animales y actividades humanas. Esta investigación analiza cómo distintas especies, tanto nativas como introducidas, influyen en el paisaje de las islas a través de sus movimientos, hábitos de alimentación y comportamiento, y cómo estos cambios se pueden observar con herramientas digitales de monitoreo ambiental.
En este estudio se analiza cómo las variaciones en la temperatura del mar influyen en la reproducción de la canchalagua (Radsia goodallii), un molusco endémico de las Islas Galápagos y recurso de importancia para la pesca artesanal local.
Oceanic islands such as Galápagos are privileged settings for studying how species originate and diverge. In this context, the endemic geckos of the genus Phyllodactylus play an important ecological role and, at the same time, remain poorly known from a genetic perspective.
The ecosystems of Galápagos are in constant transformation due to the interaction between natural processes, animals, and human activities. This research analyzes how different species, both native and introduced, influence the islands’ landscape through their movements, feeding habits, and behavior, and how these changes can be observed using digital environmental monitoring tools.
This study analyzes how variations in sea temperature influence the reproduction of the canchalagua (Radsia goodallii), an endemic mollusk of the Galápagos Islands with ecological and socio-economic importance for local artisanal fisheries. Understanding its reproductive patterns is essential for developing management and conservation strategies that ensure the sustainability of the species.
The invasive bramble (Rubus niveus) is one of the main threats to the native flora of the Galápagos Islands. It currently occupies around 30,000 hectares in the highlands, where it displaces native vegetation and affects biodiversity.
La ciudad de Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, ubicada en la isla San Cristóbal, acogerá la séptima edición del Simposio de Investigación y Conservación en Galápagos. Este destacado encuentro de carácter multidisciplinario tendrá lugar el lunes 14 y martes 15 de julio de 2025, en el Centro de Convenciones Charles Darwin. El evento será organizado por el Galapagos Science Center, con el respaldo de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Chapel Hill y la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, y contará con el aval del Parque Nacional Galápagos.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, en la isla San Cristóbal, fue la sede del VI Simposio de Investigación y Conservación en Galápagos. Este importante evento multidisciplinario, que se llevó a cabo los días lunes 15 y martes 16 de julio de 2024 en el Centro de Convenciones Charles Darwin, fue organizado por el Galapagos Science Center gracias al auspicio de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Chapel Hill y la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, y con el aval del Parque Nacional Galápagos.
Puerto Baquerido Moreno, en la isla San Cristóbal, fue la sede del 5to Simposio de Investigación y Conservación en Galápagos. En este importante evento multidisciplinario, se tuvieron presentaciones científicas y de interés de la comunidad, en las que se expusieron principalmente investigaciones e iniciativas relacionadas con la conservación, cambio ambiental, biodiversidad y océanos, salud e iniciativas comunitarias.
En 2022, el Galapagos Science Center (GSC) y la Iniciativa Galápagos de la UNC y la USFQ celebraron su décimo aniversario. El GSC organizó la Cumbre Mundial sobre Sostenibilidad Insular del 26 al 30 de junio de 2022 en el Centro de Ciencias de Galápagos y el Centro de Convenciones Comunitario en la Isla San Cristóbal.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal Island, will host the 7th Symposium on Research and Conservation in Galápagos. This important multidisciplinary event, which will take place on Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Charles Darwin Convention Center, will be organized by the Galapagos Science Center, thanks to the sponsorship of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and with the support of the Galápagos National Park.
The 6th Galápagos Research and Conservation Symposium took place on Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at the Charles Darwin Convention Center on San Cristóbal, Galápagos. This important multidisciplinary event was organized by the Galapagos Science Center, with the sponsorship of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito with the endorsement of the Galapagos National Park.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal Island, will host the 5th Galapagos Research and Conservation Symposium. This significant multidisciplinary event will feature scientific presentations and community-focused talks, showcasing research and initiatives related to conservation, environmental change, biodiversity and oceans, health, and community initiatives.
In 2022, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the broader UNC & USFQ Galapagos Initiative celebrated its 10th Anniversary. The GSC hosted the World Summit on Island Sustainability on June 26–30, 2022 at the Galapagos Science Center and the Community Convention Center on San Cristobal Island.
In 2022, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the broader UNC & USFQ Galapagos Initiative will celebrate its 10th Anniversary. We are proud to announce the World Summit on Island Sustainability scheduled to be held on June 26–30, 2022 at the Galapagos Science Center and the Community Convention Center on San Cristobal Island.
The content of the World Summit will be distributed globally through social media and results documented through papers published in a book written as part of the Galapagos Book Series by Springer Nature and edited by Steve Walsh (UNC) & Carlos Mena (USFQ) as well as Jill Stewart (UNC) and Juan Pablo Muñoz (GSC/USC). The book will be inclusive and accessible by the broader island community including scientists, managers, residents, tourists, and government and non-government organizations.
While the most obvious goal of organizing the World Summit on Island Sustainability is to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the GSC and the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, other goals will be addressed through special opportunities created as part of our operational planning of the World Summit.
For instance, we seek to elevate and highlight the Galapagos in the island conservation discourse, seeking to interact with other island networks in more obvious and conspicuous ways to benefit the Galapagos Islands, the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, and the world. We will seize the opportunity to further develop the I2N2 – International Islands Network-of-Networks. Further, we wish to highlight and emphasize multiple visions of a sustainable future for the Galapagos Islands and we cannot do this alone. Therefore, engaging the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, the Government Council of Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park, and local Galapagos authorities, including government and non-government organizations and local citizen groups, is imperative.
Borrowing from Hawaii’s and Guam’s Green Growth Program and the Global Island Partnership, we wish to examine existing global programs that emphasize island sustainability and their incorporation into life, policies, and circumstances in the Galapagos Islands. We will also seek to enhance our connections with the institutional members of our International Galapagos Science Consortium and expand the Consortium through the recruitment of other member institutions. We will also work to benefit islands and their local communities by working with citizen groups as well as important NGOs who seek to improve the natural conditions in the Galapagos and diminish the impact of the human dimension on the future of Galapagos’ ecosystems.
Lastly, we will use the World Summit to benefit UNC & USFQ and our constituencies through a strong and vibrant communication plan about the World Summit, creating corporate relationships as sponsors, identifying funding goals through donors, and benefiting our study abroad program for student engagement in the Galapagos Islands. We plan to develop and issue a Galapagos Sustainability Communique after the World Summit that includes the vision and insights of all its participants for a sustainable Galapagos with applicability to global island settings.
We are eager to hear your perspective and have you join us at the World Summit on Island Sustainability!