Table of Contents - Fundación Charles Darwin

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CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION: 1996-2006 / 2006-2016 Charles Darwin Foundation For 48 years, the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) has been a key advisor to the Government of Ecuador on the conservation of Galapagos. Message from Graham Watkins Executive Director As a result of the actions of the Government of Ecuador, supported by the CDF, the archipelago is arguably in a better state today than it was 100 years ago. Goats are gone from nine islands and northern Isabela, cats from Baltra, and pigs and donkeys from several islands. Meanwhile, tortoise populations are recovering on four islands as many of the uninhabited islands are recuperating from the ravages of the past. The Galapagos Marine Reserve restricts fishing to only residents and is managed under a participatory management framework with a well financed Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) patrolling the waters. Much of the conservation action in Galapagos is financed by tourism visitation through a series of mechanisms such as the Park entrance fee. During the last ten years, more than 1,500 volunteers and scholars have been trained by the CDF and many of our alumni now occupy key positions in Ecuador and beyond. In addition, an inspections and quarantine system (SICGAL) has been implemented to reduce arrivals of introduced species. Finally, the Municipalities work with various partners to manage development impacts, including the Inter-institutional Committees for the Management of Invasive Species.
Unfortunately, the advances made in conserving Galapagos are being increasingly challenged and undermined. Over the last 15 years, Galapagos has undergone rapid growth and change. Future effective management requires a better understanding of the factors that underlie the links among tourism, urban growth and immigration. Decision making has been decentralized to the islands, the local community has grown, and local residents search for a better standard of living. Meanwhile, new invasive species arrive and endangered species are newly affected. All of these changes bring new research and information challenges that we need to address. Responding to the changes in Galapagos and new information demands, 2006 was a transition year for the CDF. Therefore, in this letter I want to reflect on the past ten years and talk about the ten years to come. The CDF tripled in size from 50 staff and a budget of USD 1.7M in 1997 to over 160 staff and a budget of US$4.7M. At the same time, the institution has become increasingly transparent and in 1999 we produced our first public annual report. Between 2004 and 2006 we changed our governance to increase stakeholder oversight by forming governance and finance committees linked to the Board. In the last ten years, the CDF spent USD 38M on research and complementary activities to ensure the conservation of Galapagos. An average of 125 people worked for the CDF, 70% of whom are permanent residents. Over 1 000 volunteers have worked with us in the last ten years; 24 Galapagos and 52 mainland students have graduated with financial support from the CDF. With these resources the CDF supported over 300 research missions, including more than 1 000 researchers resulting in over 800 publications from staff and supported researchers. Our research has provided a deeper understanding of the natural history of the archipelago, provided the basis for guide books and interpretation used in tourism and been important for decision making. Annual report 2006 Critically, the CDF has supported the development of local institutional capacities as a partner in the development of the Galapagos Special Law and in the implementation of participatory management in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The 2006-2016 CDF Strategic Plan presents several important changes that respond to the political, social, economic and ecological changes of the last ten years. The CDF will continue to improve efficiency, further streamline the CDF, use renewable energies, and minimize waste in order to allocate 45% of our resources to research and 40% to technical assistance and information dissemination. Our expanding research alliances will include partnering with social science research institutions. By working with key clients – the GNPS, INGALA and the Municipalities – the CDF will undertake prioritized research linking social and biological sciences. At the same time the CDF will continue to build local institutional and individual capacities to support effective management and sustainable and equitable enterprise development in the islands. And there is much more to do, including working with the GNPS and INGALA to establish a new human ecosystem monitoring system. Future research will focus on understanding the dynamics of human ecosystem of Galapagos and not just the biological issues. The 2007 declaration of Galapagos as at risk by the President of Ecuador and by UNESCO recognizes that the archipelago is at a crossroads. The CDF will continue to undertake quality research, provide information and help build the capacity of government institutions. As we move ahead, we hope that you, our partners, will continue to support us so as to ensure the long term conservation of these extraordinary and unique islands.
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Page 5: Message from Peter Kramer President
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Page 31 and 32: Income and Expense Statement Annual
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Page 35 and 36: Scholarship Program Annual report 2
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