2020 Impact report 2020 - Galapagos Conservation Trust

GALAPAGOS
CONSERVATION
TRUST
IMPACT
REPORT
2020

OVERVIEW FROM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
undoubtedly had a significant impact on
Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), our
activities and the Islands. But, despite
this, we ended the year as we began, with
a new wave of optimism and energy; the
GCT team implementing our new threeyear
strategic plan, a big win for our
plastics programme and continued efforts
to eliminate COVID-19 in Galapagos.
Focussing on key threats to the Archipelago; invasive
species, the human footprint and climate change, our
programme activities assembled to restore Galapagos’
unique habitats, protect its wondrous species, and
work with local people to provide sustainable solutions
to combat the effects of modern living on the Islands.
Importantly, we also provided relief for local people
impacted by the pandemic.
GCT’s Board agreed on an exceptional donation to provide
essential PPE to Galapaguenians, whilst the GCT team
speedily adapted our educational materials for home
learning and provided support to families to grow their
own food in the face of limited options. Looking to longerterm
solutions, we are now supporting those affected by
the reduction in tourism income, which in turn will protect
the unique wildlife of these Enchanted Isles – from a
‘cash for work’ scheme to collect plastic from beaches, to
providing training in the latest DNA sequencing techniques
to create a genetic library of Galapagos species.
The greatest threat from people in 2020 came from
beyond the Islands’ borders, with the arrival of a huge
international industrial fishing fleet on the outskirts of
the Ecuadorian Exclusive Economic Zone. Initial research
carried out through our plastic programme indicates that
around 30% of the plastic waste is coming from sources
at sea, likely these industrial fishing vessels. Sadly, marine
species are being caught up both in the waste from these
fleets, and in their nets once they leave the safety of the
Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). We fear one such whale
shark, ‘Hope’, which we were tracking, was caught.
Although ‘Hope’ was lost, the team tagged ten more
individuals, and ‘Coco’ became the first tagged whale
shark to follow the ‘Swimway’ between the GMR and
Cocos island in Costa Rica.
We were thrilled to end such a difficult year with the
news that we had won a four-year UK government grant
to forge forward with our work to rid the Islands of
plastic waste. However, we were equally disappointed
that this funding was hit by the overseas aid cuts in early
2021. We are continuing to lobby the UK government for
reinstatement of these funds in 2022.
Our ability to weather these unforeseen challenges
comes from our ingenious partners, staff team and Board
of Trustees but, most importantly, to our supporters who
stepped up with gifts-in-kind, volunteering and financial
donations, ensuring our income remained strong at
£714,647 in 2020. We really could not have survived
2020 without you, and neither could the Islands and
the incredible species and people who live there. With
your support behind us, our optimism for the future is
resolute. Thank you once again.
Sharon Johnson
Chief Executive
© Sharon Johnson
1

WHO WE ARE
© Gina Friedrich
What We Do
Galapagos Conservation Trust is the
only UK registered charity to focus solely
on the conservation of the Galapagos
Islands, one of the most unique and
ecologically important, but vulnerable,
areas in the world.
With over 25 years of experience supporting impactful
conservation programmes in Galapagos, we partner
with Ecuadorian authorities, NGOs, local communities
and leading scientists.
By raising funds and awareness in the UK, we are able
to support and deliver projects in Galapagos and
respond to key threats facing the Islands, focusing
on restoring natural habitats, protecting threatened
species and driving sustainable solutions.
Our Vision
The unique nature and beauty of the
Galapagos Archipelago conserved,
sustained and protected in perpetuity.
Our Mission
We support, develop and promote projects that
achieve measurable conservation, sustainable living,
and protection of the environment of Galapagos.
© Galapagos Conservation Trust
Our Team
Sharon Johnson, Chief Executive
Alice Marks, Trusts Fundraising Officer
Andy Donnelly, Lead Flagship Programmes Manager
Anna Berends, Individual Giving Officer
Anne Guézou, Galapagos Outreach Coordinator
Beth Byrne, Communications & Marketing Officer
Claire McKinley, Head of Finance
Clare Simm, Communications Manager
Dr Jen Jones, Head of Programmes
Jodie Assinder, Operations Officer
Kelly Hague, Senior Philanthropy Manager
Lisa Wheeler, Projects Manager
Lucía Norris, Project Consultant
Mike Crossley, Head of Fundraising & Communications
Sarah Langford, Education Writer
Sol Espinosa, Project Consultant
2

OVERVIEW
FROM CHAIR
Thanks to you, our loyal donors,
who supported us throughout 2020,
we maintained a good income level
throughout the year despite the
unforeseen setbacks we encountered –
enabling us to end the year in a better
position than anticipated when the
pandemic first struck. Undeterred by the
close-down of the Islands, we worked
closely with our partners on the ground
to replan our programmes, enabling us
to continue to deliver outstanding
science, conservation and education
initiatives whilst expanding our efforts
to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
The groundwork for the important
eradication phase of our flagship Floreana
programme forged ahead. Critical research
for reintroductions continued in 2020 for
several wonderful bird species, including
the vibrant little vermilion flycatcher.
The culmination of years of hard work
by GCT and all our partners is now very
much in sight!
GCT was also able to advance activities
focussing on the increasing threats of
industrial fishing and negative impacts
of climate change, which form a core
element of our political advocacy work.
By working with the newly elected
Ecuadorian President and his incoming
administration in 2021, we have high
hopes for the increased protection of the
Islands and the surrounding Galapagos
Marine Reserve as we continue to gather
critical scientific evidence and prepare for
Galapaguenian voices to be heard at
the UN Climate Change Conference
(COP26) later this year. This will be
a key moment for Galapagos and
the world, where nations will come
together to strengthen ambitions to
protect the most vulnerable to the
effects of climate change.
Like the rest of the world, we are
unsure what further COVID-related
impacts lie ahead but today, as
I write this, I am buoyed by the
news that the Islands are now
free from COVID-19 and by the
generosity of our supporters who
did not forget us, or Galapagos
during this most turbulent of times.
With our professional staff team,
an innovative network of partners
and a dedicated Board of Trustees,
although we remain cautious in our
plans, we are also very optimistic for
2021 and the future. Thank you once
again for all your support.
© Charmian Caines
Charmian Caines
Chair
Our Trustees
Charmian Caines
(Chair)
Chris Jarrett
Jane Tozer OBE
Jonathan Lea
(Honorary Treasurer)
Dr Marta Tufet
Michael Drake
(Vice Chair)
Pippa Carte
Dr Becky Nesbit
Sandra Charity
Our Ambassadors
Monty Halls (President)
Angela Darwin
Dr Antje Steinfurth
Dorothy Latsis
Godfrey Merlen
Dr Henry Nicholls
Sir James Barlow Bt
Jennifer Stone
Julian Fitter
Liz Bonnin
Randal Keynes
Dr Sarah Darwin
Stanley Johnson
We often speak of critical times, key
events, and seminal phases in the
world of conservation, but we should
all be entirely clear about what this
moment represents in terms of the
future of the Galapagos Islands. The
global pandemic has disrupted the
infrastructure of tourism and the
conservation funding it creates to such
a degree that we have entered a truly
seminal period. Our efforts today,
therefore, require greater focus, more
application, and more energy than
ever before if the delicate ecosystems
of this irreplaceable Archipelago are to
be maintained. My lingering memories
of the Islands are of the outstanding
individuals and committed groups that
are making a genuine difference - it
is incumbent on us that we support
them in every way we can. Through the
continued enthusiasm and commitment
of GCT and its supporters, we are
achieving that aim. It is something that
will reap genuine conservation rewards
in the months and years ahead.
© Monty Halls
Monty Halls
President
3

© Fernando Faciole
OUR SUPPORTERS
We would like to extend our most sincere
thanks to everyone who helped us during
a very challenging year, through gifts-in-kind,
volunteering and financial donations. This
overwhelming support meant all our projects
continued to be funded. A special mention of
thanks goes to those listed.
Supporters in 2020
The Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust,
Aurum Charitable Trust, British Embassy Quito,
Ken Collins & Jenny Mallinson, Edith Murphy
Foundation, Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust,
Evolution Education Trust, J Paul Getty Jr General
Charitable Trust, Philip Darwin, Prince Albert II
of Monaco Foundation, The Sackler Trust, Swiss
Association of Friends of the Galapagos Islands,
The Woodspring Trust
AQUA-FIRMA Worldwide, Bryan Guinness Charitable
Trust, Liz Callegari, Alan Chapman, Susan Cole,
Craghoppers Ltd, Paul & Jill Davis, Dennis Curry’s
Charitable Trust, The Dolan Charitable Trust,
Ennismore Foundation, Alexis Frier, GESS Charitable
Trust, G F Eyre Charitable Trust, Nicholas & Judith
Goodison, Amy Hammond, Janice & Alan Harris,
Rainer Hiemer, International Galapagos Tour
Operators Association, Carol Kemm, Langdale Trust,
Hazel Ledgard, Mark & Sophie Lewisohn, Dorothy
Lunt, Jerome Mulliez, Jacqueline Murray, Ocean
Conservation Trust, Riva Handelsgesellschaft mbH,
R G Hills Charitable Trust, The Dr Robert Andrew
Rutherford Trust, ShareGift, Judith Shave, Chris
Spooner, Steppes Travel, Temperatio Foundation,
Jane E Tozer, Voice For Nature Foundation, Andrew
Warren, William Haddon Charitable Trust, Richard
Wilkins, Kirsty Wilson
Galapagos Guardians
Csaba Barta, Edward & Sally Benthall, Meg Boak, Alan Chapman, Jeremy Coller,
Tim & Catherine Cox, Annie Coxon, Paul & Jill Davis, Christine Edwards, Sandie
Evans, Penelope Eve, Jennifer Frow, Patrick & Barbara Gallagher, Nicholas &
Judith Goodison, Oliver Graham, Claire Halpin, Emma Healey, Sue Henning,
Daniel Hochberg, Mavis Hughes, Elizabeth & Roderick Jack, Margaret Jackson,
Diana & Robin Jakeways, Chris John, Carol Kemm, Darren Leftwich, Camilla Legh,
Mark Loveday, William & Felicity Mather, Sue McNab, Carolyn Michie, Brian Mills,
Renate Nahum, Jackie Naylor, Mikael Olufsen, Sarah O’Neill, Barry & Ann Phillips,
Michael Prater, Julian Ranger, Richard Rankin, Sarah Reynolds, The Dr Robert
Andrew Rutherford Trust, Michael & Barbara Saville, Katherine & David Soanes,
Chris Spooner, Nicholas Spooner, Thomas Spooner, Jennifer Stone, Catherine
Thomas, Andrew Thompson, Jane E Tozer, Edmund Truell, Susan Walker, Jim
Wheeler, Richard Wilkins, Kirsty Wilson, David Wiltshire, John & Jill Woodley
4

OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS
£714,647 of income
An average of 15,457 unique
website users per month to
galapagosconservation.org.uk
2,625 members
18 volunteers gave their time
3,355 individual financial supporters
Galapagos Guardian members
grew to 65
~300 new people adopted an
endangered Galapagos species
We grew the number of people
who want to learn about Galapagos
and our vital conservation work
across all social media channels:
5,732 followers (+22%)
Monthly eNewsletter list
grew to 9,152 (+64%)
Engaged with 25 companies
enhancing our brand profile
10,637 followers (+29%)
7,207 followers (+59%)
Awarded £708,967 in grants
to eight projects across our
three pillars
Engaged with people from
50 different countries at two
digital events
89p from every pound
we spent went towards
conservation in Galapagos
5

© Helen Brierley
Directly engaged with over
1,979 young people, families
and teachers through field activities,
workshops, in schools and online
across Galapagos and the Eastern
Tropical Pacific
10 whale sharks satellite
tagged
20 juvenile hammerheads
tagged
Total number of visits to our
Discovering Galapagos website
grew by 27%
21 tortoise hatchlings tagged
512 participants cleaned
10,950kg of waste across
168km of coastal and underwater
sites across five islands – over
80% of this waste was plastic!
40% increase in mangrove
finch breeding pairs compared
to 2019
7 teachers and 150 families
involved in the Urban Family
Gardening Project
6 little vermilion flycatcher
chicks successfully fledged
OUR APPEAL TOTALS IN 2020
Endangered
Species Appeal
£25,135
Emergency
Pandemic Appeal
£20,400
Fund for
Hope Appeal
£7,122
6

THEORY OF CHANGE
Our Mission Our Values What we do
How we’ll
achieve change
We support, develop
and promote projects
that achieve measurable
conservation, sustainable
living, and protection
of the environment
of Galapagos
Professional – we retain
integrity, honesty and
respect for each other and
those we encounter
Creative – we have a mix
of different skills and are
open to new ideas
Performance-driven –
we strive to meet
our mission through
clear planning with
measurable results
We support and deliver
projects in Galapagos
and respond to key
threats by focussing on
restoring natural habitat,
protecting threatened
species and driving
sustainable solutions
Driving conservation,
sustainability and outreach
programmes
Collaborating with a
diverse partner network
Identifying knowledge
gaps and working with
world-leading researchers
to address them
Developing conservation
tools with global relevance
Celebratory – we take
pride in what we deliver
Open and Inclusive – we
are one team and value all
our supporters, partners,
staff and volunteers
Supporting local livelihoods
and strengthening capacity
for conservation
Providing opportunities
and resources to enrich
education
Flexible – we are open to
new, exciting opportunities
and ways of doing things
Raising awareness of
conservation issues and
empowering people to act
Advocating for changes in
policy to better protect
Galapagos
7

Who makes
this happen
What has to
happen for this
to be achieved
The change
we’ll see
Our Vision
Supporters – fund and
advocate for our work
Project partners – design
and deliver impactful
interventions
Researchers – provide
scientific evidence for
policy and management
tools
Educators – inspire
the next generation
of conservationists
Local communities –
generate and deliver
locally relevant solutions
Robust scientific
evidence produced to
inform conservation
People empowered to
make sustainable choices
that benefit Galapagos
Policies introduced
to protect the Galapagos
National Park, Galapagos
Marine Reserve and
migratory species
Threats to key species
and habitats mitigated
in the long-term
Habitats restored
to preserve Galapagos
ecosystems
Iconic Galapagos
species protected from
key threats and saved
from extinction
Sustainable solutions
found and communities
become champions
for change
The unique nature
and beauty of the
Galapagos Archipelago
conserved, sustained
and protected in
perpetuity
Tourists – promote
responsible tourism
Industry – innovate and
implement sustainable
products
Policy makers – protect
through legislation
UK charities now increasingly use theories
of change to help them focus their activities,
take a fresh look at their goals, articulate
their mission, and see if their current
strategy is helping them get closer to
achieving their visions. We see our Theory
of Change as the foundation of charity
strategy, evaluation and communication.
We use our Theory of Change as a roadmap,
setting out clear steps to achieve the
change we are striving for and describing
how our work aims to make an impact on
the world. Funders increasingly ask to see
them for evidence of impact. It helps to
answer the ‘so what?’ question and is the
first step to good impact measurement.
© Galapagos Conservation Trust 2021 8

IMPACTS OF COVID-19 IN 2020
14th
Galapagos
went into
lockdown
17th
GCT office closed
and staff started
working remotely
MAR
23rd
First confirmed
cases of COVID-19
in Galapagos
All fieldwork stopped
and international
project partners
returned home
One-off donation made by GCT to
provide essential PPE to safeguard local
farmers and the fishing community to
minimise the impact of the pandemic
and to support the Islands
APR
All in-person education
and outreach activities
in Galapagos cancelled
22nd
GCT staff on furlough
for three weeks
MAY
We produced ‘home
schooling’ packs for parents
or teachers to use at home
or in virtual classrooms
Some fieldwork
was allowed
to restart
Launch of the
Urban Family
Gardening Project
JUN
International
industrial fishing
fleet reported to be
the largest ever seen
with over 300 vessels
© Galapagos National Park
Schools in Galapagos didn’t reopen after
the summer holidays. Lessons went virtual
from June 2020 and this remained the
case into 2021
Tourism restarted –
mainly Ecuadorian
due to international
travel restrictions
Launched
the Plastic
Storytelling
Project
OCT & NOV
Virtual teacher training
sessions with three UK
universities
JUL
AUG
SEPT
OCT
IMPACTS IN GALAPAGOS
• The sudden halt in tourism, which makes up 80%
of the local Galapagos economy, caused a huge
increase in financial hardship in the community.
• There was a 73% decline in tourist numbers in
2020 - 72,519 compared to 271,238 in 2019.
• The decline in tourism caused problems for
international tour operators and boat owners,
many of whom provide support to conservation
projects in Galapagos in various ways.
• By the end of 2020, there had been six confirmed
deaths, two probable deaths and almost 1,000
confirmed cases of COVID-19 in total – the majority
on Santa Cruz (almost 600), fewer than 150 cases
on San Cristobal and over 270 cases on Isabela.
There were no cases on Floreana.
One of my main concerns is the unknown, and
likely negative, consequences of interrupted 2020
fieldwork that plays a key role in the survival or
restoration of species or populations.
– Anne Guézou, GCT’s Galapagos
Outreach Coordinator.
© Juan Carlos Guzman
We supported a
‘cash for work’
scheme launched by
the United Nations
Development
Programme
(UNDP) Ecuador
NOV
We supported the launch of the
Barcode Galapagos project – the largest
ever citizen science project on the
Islands, which aims to create a genetic
library of Galapagos species
9
DEC

RESTORING HABITATS
RESTORING FLOREANA
is an ambitious, long-term programme
to restore the ecosystem on the island
by removing invasive mammals and
reintroducing locally extinct species.
• This is to ensure the survival of the
55 threatened species present, such
as the Critically Endangered medium
tree finch, as well as reintroducing
13 locally extinct species.
• The invasive Philornis downsi fly
now has a common name: the
avian vampire fly.
© Luis Ortiz Catedral
• Due to COVID-19 and delays
to the timeline of securing important
government funding, the eradication
of rats and feral cats from Floreana
has been rescheduled for 2023.
• This delay, although unexpected,
is allowing the team to explore and
incorporate cost-efficient infrastructure
and technologies, such as using drones
for baiting instead of helicopters, as well
as fundraise for the remaining costs.
• Once back in the field at the end of 2020, the
team undertook post-release monitoring of
the finches from the captive holding trials.
• 7 species, including lava lizards and geckos,
monitored to obtain eradication baseline data. This
data will be an invaluable tool to assess the impact
on native species during and after the eradication.
© Island Conservation
Our Partners Delivering the Programme in 2020
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Galapagos National Park
Directorate, Island Conservation.
• The team also extended both the highland
and lowland aviary complexes which will
allow more finches with more space to
be kept during the eradication phase of
the project - a necessary mitigation action
for these vulnerable species.
10

PROTECTING SPECIES
THE ENDANGERED SHARKS OF
GALAPAGOS PROGRAMME
is intensifying its efforts to protect sharks within
and outside of the Galapagos Marine Reserve
(GMR), which has one of the highest concentrations
of endangered sharks in the world.
• In May, the Galapagos-Cocos Swimway was declared
a Mission Blue Hope Spot.
• 25 new whale sharks were identified through photo ID
for the global photo-identification database, bringing
the total identified in Galapagos to over 600 (+5%).
• 10 new whale sharks satellite tagged in August 2020.
RECORD BREAKING YEAR
FOR WHALE SHARKS!
• GCT was also able to advance activities focussing
on the increasing threats of industrial fishing and
negative impacts of climate change, which form
a core element of our political advocacy work.
• The Endangered Sharks of Galapagos
scientists contributed to the Ecuadorian
Government’s White Paper for the Ocean
Protection Commission.
• In February, the shark nursery team completed
2 of the 3 planned net surveys at both Puerto
Grande and La Seca, as well as one of the
planned island-wide drone surveys in March –
then activities were halted for the rest of the year.
• 20 juvenile hammerheads were caught
and tagged to better understand
pupping timings, which has
important implications for
artisanal fishery management.
‘Coco’ had the first recorded track of a
whale shark travelling between the GMR
and Cocos island, Costa Rica - highlighting
the importance of the proposed Swimway.
Tracks from Johanita, Nemo and juvenile male in Jan 2021
‘Nemo’ was the first tagged whale shark
to do a round trip to and from Galapagos.
She left the GMR and returned to the
Archipelago after 80 days and around
1,600km back to the tagging site -
reinforcing the importance of the GMR in
the regional movements of whale sharks.
© Galapagos Whale Shark Project
‘Johanita’ headed along the most common
route towards the Galapagos Rift Zone and
spent a considerable time in the proposed
Galapagos-Cocos Swimway.
SPOT #20364 was the only juvenile and
only male tagged this season. His tracks
will show age and gender differences in
behaviour from the adult females.
‘Hope’ the whale shark was set to be the
first whale shark ever to be tracked leaving
and returning to Galapagos in April, then
in May her tag stopped transmitting in an
area of intense fishing.
On a research trip to Darwin island in August we
started what was to be a quick dive. But then
literally thousands of hammerhead sharks started
to swim overhead. It was like a river; we couldn't
get through and almost ran out of air!
© Alex Hearn
Please help us. Without
our work, I believe sights
like this could soon become
a distant memory.
– Dr Alex Hearn, GCT
Science Partner and
founder of MigraMar
11
4 images: © Galapagos Whale Shark Project

© Giant Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme
THE GIANT TORTOISE
MOVEMENT ECOLOGY
PROGRAMME
is studying these iconic species’ ancient
migration routes and early years’ movements
to inform conservation strategies.
• 21 hatchlings tagged with radio transmitters.
• Baseline health samples have now been
collected from 600 individual tortoises.
• A visit to Alcedo volcano, Isabela went ahead
in December 2020 - 8 out of 11 tagged
tortoises on the volcano were found, including
Spikey, a female tortoise that had not been
seen since 2016.
Over the last three months, no
field conservation activities were
conducted in Galapagos. We could
not conduct any education/outreach
activities either. However, this
break allowed us to regroup and
reconsider some of our priorities
and methodologies. I had time to
focus on data and analyses. It was
a very valuable time to re-evaluate
our work and improve some methods
for future activities.
– Dr Ainoa Nieto, Wildlife Veterinarian
and Researcher at the Charles Darwin
Foundation, and researcher for the
Giant Tortoise Movement Ecology
Programme. July 2020
© Joshua Vela Foncesca
• 100 children aged 6-11 took part
in tortoise outreach activities to
learn more about Galapagos
THE LITTLE VERMILION
FLYCATCHER PROJECT
OUR LAND BIRDS OF
GALAPAGOS PROGRAMME
includes work to conserve the Critically
Endangered mangrove finch, and the little
vermilion flycatcher which was once common
but is now classed as Vulnerable.
The Mangrove Finch Project continues its work
to protect the Islands’ most endangered bird
species, driven to the brink of extinction by
parasitic larvae of the invasive fly, Philornis
downsi, which suck the blood of nestlings.
• Population estimates remain at around
100 individuals.
was launched in 2019. This brightly coloured endemic
songbird is declining at an alarming rate, threatened
by invasive species and habitat degradation.
• Most successful breeding season yet for the
little vermilion flycatcher as 6 chicks successfully
fledged their nests on Santa Cruz, where it is estimated
that there are no more than 40 breeding pairs.
• By October, all 6 project areas had been cleared of
invasive blackberry plants and were showing
regeneration of native vegetation, especially Scalesia trees.
• After placing rat bait stations in the 6 plots in October
2019, only 9% of nests failed due to predation in
comparison to 22% of nests outside of the controlled
plots in the 2020 breeding season.
• There was a 40% increase in the number of
breeding pairs recorded to 14 from 10 in 2019.
• It is unknown whether any nests were successful
in 2020 breeding season or if any chicks fledged
as the team had to leave the field 5 weeks
early due to the lockdown in Galapagos.
Our Partners Delivering Projects in 2020
Endangered Sharks of Galapagos – Galapagos Whale Shark Project,
MigraMar, Universidad de San Francisco de Quito (Galapagos Science Center)
Giant Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme – Charles Darwin Foundation,
Ecology Project International, Galapagos National Park Directorate
Mangrove Finch Project – Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos National Park Directorate
Saving the Little Vermilion Flycatcher - Charles Darwin Foundation,
Galapagos National Park Directorate, University of Vienna
Due to the pandemic, we had
to unexpectedly leave the field
in the middle of mangrove
finch breeding season,
meaning we were unable to
protect this year’s fledglings
from Philornis downsi.
– Francesca Cunninghame,
Mangrove Finch Project Leader
© Charles Darwin Foundation
Overall, I consider invasive species to
be the biggest threat for the wildlife in
Galapagos. While we work hard to find
solutions to reduce the impact of invasive
species already present, a big focus
should be placed on reducing new arrivals.
– Birgit Fessl, Coordinator of the
Galapagos Land Bird Conservation
Plan at the Charles Darwin Foundation
© Charles Darwin Foundation
12

DRIVING SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS
PLASTIC POLLUTION FREE
GALAPAGOS
is an ambitious programme that aims to make
Galapagos plastic pollution free once again
by bringing together partners including the
Galapagos National Park, NGOs, local community
members and international scientists. scientists.
Thanks to this work we now know
that at least 38 different vertebrate
species, including turtles, marine
iguanas and sea lions, are being
directly impacted by plastic.
12
• While there were no tourists
visiting the Islands, we
trained park rangers on 2
islands (San Cristobal and
Santa Cruz) to undertake
plastic beach surveys at 12
tourist sites during lockdown
to measure the impact of the
pandemic on pollution levels.
• We are an integral partner
in a new regional research
network tackling plastic
pollution in the Eastern
Pacific – 16 organizations
across 5 countries.
© Jonathan Green
• We kick-started a drone
training project to strengthen
local capacity for surveys of
plastic pollution and wildlife.
© Adam Porter
10,950
KG
• 512 participants cleaned 10,950kg
of waste across 168km of coastal and
underwater sites across 5 islands –
over 80% of this waste was plastic!
13
• 80 high school students across South
America contributed their stories
about plastic pollution providing
engagement with this important
issue from home during restrictions.
Our Partners Delivering the Programme in 2020
Australia Museum, Charles Darwin Foundation, Cientificos de la Basura,
Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galapagos, Conservation
International, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,
Ecology Project International, Galapagos National Park Directorate, Imperial
College London, Orcatec, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth,
University of Surrey, University of the Sunshine Coast, University of York,
Utrecht University, United Nations Development Programme, Universidad
de San Francisco de Quito (Galapagos Science Center)

OUR CONNECTING WITH NATURE
PROGRAMME
continues to engage young people, their families
and teachers with the wildlife of Galapagos, the
science and our conservation work - despite the
challenges of the global pandemic. We directly
reached 6% of the Galapagos population through
our outreach programmes in 2020.
Gills Club was delivered online to
12 highly engaged girls, including
talks and educational activities.
© Gills Club
I am inspired by the network
of resilient and creative families
we are connecting through
this project. Many people had
never cultivated plants before,
and now they are hooked! The
local teachers love working
together as a group and learning
more about the special plants
growing on our island. This is
only the beginning of yet another
positive process born out of the
COVID-19 crisis.
– Ashleigh Klingman, GCT’s
Connecting with Nature Programme partner
and Urban Family Gardening Project coordinator
© Ashleigh Klingman
MARTI THE HAMMERHEAD SHARK
• Guided reading sessions created as a free
resource in English and Spanish to support
home-learning during the pandemic.
As a woman growing up in Galapagos and pursuing
a science career, I am extremely aware of the
day-to-day challenges for local girls. The Gills
Club offers an opportunity for local girls to get
involved in science while meeting female role
models from an early stage. – Diana Pazmiño,
Shark Scientist and GCT's Connecting with
Nature Programme partner
• Leidy Apolo, GCT’s Ocean Outreach Coordinator,
delivered our Marti guided reading sessions
digitally via WhatsApp and Zoom reaching 251
students across the Islands.
• Collaborated with the library on Santa Cruz to
deliver COVID-19 safe sessions with visiting children.
• Join Science delivered 4 internships to young
scientists on San Cristobal.
• 2 Connecting with Nature days were delivered
to the community pre-lockdown. 5 online events
were delivered reaching 300 community members
between April and August on San Cristobal.
• The Urban Family Gardening Project was launched
in July on San Cristobal. 7 teachers and 150 families
participated planting 566 seedlings.
DISCOVERING GALAPAGOS
• 6,100 visits to the Discovering Galapagos
website each month (+2%).
• Launched our updated Teachers Zone.
• 278,300 visits to Descubriendo Galapagos (+73%)
and 3,900 downloads of our resources on TES (+18%).
• 4 teacher training sessions with three UK universities
reached 120 teachers.
© Ashleigh Klingman
We already had a small garden
going at the beginning of
the project, but we feel this
type of project is essential for
families given the challenges
COVID-19 has posed. Our
daughter Melody has named
her plants, and we all enjoy
a moment of peace as we
care for them daily.
– The De La Torre Sanchez family
• Supported ‘home learning’ in Galapagos as schools
were closed all year through translation of teaching
materials and development of two teaching packs,
primarily delivered over WhatsApp due to poor
internet connectivity.
Our Partners Delivering Projects in 2020
Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Foundation, Ecology Project International,
Galapagos National Park Directorate, Giant Tortoise Movement Ecology
Programme
San Cristobal: Galapagos Science Center, Hacienda Tranquila SA, MigraMar
Isabela: Charles Darwin Foundation (via Ernesto Bustamente)
Floreana: Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Island Conservation
14

COMMUNICATING OUR WORK
ENEWSLETTER
MAGAZINE
INDIVIDUAL
SUPPORTERS
9,152 +64%
2,935
+2% -10%
3,355
SOCIAL MEDIA
FOLLOWERS
10,637 (+29%)
ENGAGEMENT
99,162 (+78%)
FOLLOWERS
5,732 (+22%)
ENGAGEMENT
31,731 (+147%)
FOLLOWERS
7,207 (+59%)
ENGAGEMENT
68,796 (+60%)
EVENTS
• Galapagos Day webinar – Almost 1,000 registered
from 48 different countries
• Plastics webinar in July – Bespoke tailored webinar
for 35 key attendees
© Galapagos Conservation Trust
IN THE PRESS
Coverage in:
• The Times
• The Daily Telegraph
• The Daily Mail
• Bird Watching magazine
• DiscoverWidllife.com
• Smithsonianmag.com
• National Geographic (Spain) website
• Wild Photo Planet magazine
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Included:
• Environmental Biology of Fishes journal
• Testudo journal
• Antiquity journal
• More were prepared for publication in 2021
15
© Marcos Miranda Correia
• We received over 700 entries from 30 different
countries in our 2020 Photography Competition.
Congratulations to Marcos Miranda Correia who won
with this brilliant photograph of Galapagos brown
pelicans eagerly awaiting a meal at a local fish market
in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz island.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Become a member
Without support and funds from
members, we could not continue
our work
Join our small group
of Galapagos Guardians
for a one-off donation of £2,000
Sign up to our eNewsletter
Hear exciting news from Galapagos,
with updates from GCT and our projects
via our free monthly eNewsletter
Leave a legacy
A powerful and touching way
to support essential conservation
work for years to come is from
gifts left in Wills
Enter the annual
photography competition
Fun for you and your images
could help us promote the
beauty of the Galapagos Islands
Adopt a Galapagos animal
for you or as a gift for someone else.
A unique gift that funds our work,
and spreads knowledge about
endangered species such as the
Galapagos giant tortoise
Visit our online shop
Shop for 100% organic cotton
clothing, printed in the UK in
a renewable energy powered
factory and shipped to you in
plastic-free packaging
Attend our events
Get inspired and connect
with other people passionate
about the Galapagos Islands
Donate
However big or small, donations
enable our projects to continue
and grow – as well as our impact
Volunteer
Help through using your
skills and time, either from
home or in our London office
Cruise
We plan to run bespoke GCT
supporter cruises © Jon in 2022 Anderson and
2023 – email kelly@gct.org to
find out more
To find out more about these
and other ways you can
support our work, please visit
galapagosconservation.org.uk,
sign up to our monthly
eNews or follow us on
social media.
Facebook
@galapagosconservation
Twitter
@galapagossip
Instagram
@galapagosconservationtrust
LinkedIn
@galapagos-conservation-trust
Having been supporters for several years, we have
decided that the donations we will make in the next two
years will be unrestricted – meaning that you can spend the money
according to your most pressing needs. We believe this type of
flexible support is vital for charities in these uncertain times.
– Aurum Charitable Trust
I want to adopt a tortoise every year to help support the
conservation of Galapagos. – Charlie, aged 9
I joined GCT soon after it began in 1995, having visited Galapagos
in 1992 and seeing the wonderful wildlife. I thought it was a
worthwhile charity to support, and the motivation was the same
in 2013 when I became a volunteer for GCT. – Alan Chapman,
Galapagos Guardian member and long-term volunteer
16

2020 FINANCIAL REVIEW
Overall income remained strong at £714,647
with only a small decrease of 15% compared to
2019 largely driven by the impact of COVID-19.
© Jacob G Salínas
2020 membership income increased by
2% to £121,924 thanks to continued
support from our loyal members.
Charitable expenditure totalled £708,976,
a decrease of only 6% from 2019 as we
continued to support a broad range of
programmes during the pandemic.
Statement of financial activities
For year ended
31 December 2020
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
2020
£
Total
2019
£
Income:
Donations and legacies
132,984
342,871
475,855
579,973
Memberships
121,924
–
121,924
119,680
Other trading activities
84,009
19,590
103,599
134,787
Investment income
1,094
–
1,094
2,278
Other income
12,175
–
12,175
–
Total income 352,186 362,461 714,647 836,718
Expenditure:
Raising funds
90,742
–
90,742
118,976
Charitable activities
242,694
466,273
708,967
755,705
Total expenditure 333,436 466,273 799,709 874,681
Net gain on investment 8,533 – 8,533 438
Net income/(expenditure) 27,283 (103,812) (76,529) (37,525)
Net movement in funds 27,283 (103,812) (76,529) (37,525)
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
496,926
212,633
709,559
747,084
Total funds carries forward
524,209
108,821
633,030
709,559
17

© Fernando Faciole
Balance sheet
Reserves
For year ended
31 December 2020
Fixed assets:
Tangible fixed assets
Total 2020
£
203
Total 2019
£
1,318
We ended the year with a planned deficit of
£76,529 (2019: £37,525). The carried forward
reserves totalled £633,030 of which £108,821
were restricted and £177,000 were designated
to our strategic programmes.
Investments
158,971
50,438
Current assets:
Debtors
Investments
159,174
91,280
50,000
51,756
112,338
50,000
from every pound we spend
goes towards conservation
in Galapagos. The rest covers
fundraising costs.*
Cash and bank
435,475
516,495
Liabilities:
Creditors: Amounts falling
due within one year
576,755
678,833
(102,899) (21,030)
Net current assets 473,856 657,803
Net assets 633,030 709,559
Expenditure
Restoring
Habitats
Generating
income
Funds:
Restricted funds
108,821
212,633
2020
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
177,000
-
General funds
347,209 496,926
Total funds 633,030 709,559
Protecting
Species
Driving
Sustainable
Solutions
Income sources over the last five years **
2016 2017 2018 2019
2020
Donations Legacies Memberships Events, appeals & trading
These financial statements are a summary of information extracted from the full financial statements. The full report and accounts were approved by the Trustees on 14 June
2021 and have been submitted to the Charity Commission and Registrar of Companies. These summarised financial statements may not contain sufficient information to allow
for a full understanding of the financial affairs of Galapagos Conservation Trust. For further information, the full annual accounts, the independent examiners report on these
accounts and the Trustees’ annual report should be consulted. Copies of these can be obtained from Galapagos Conservation Trust, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London,
SE1 4YR, by email at gct@gct.org or by phone on 020 7399 7440. Approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by: Charmian Caines and Jonathan Lea in July 2021.
Independent Examiner:
M A Wilkes FCA, Azets Audit Service,
Chartered Accountants, 2nd Floor, Regis House,
45 King William Street, London, EC4R 9AN
Bankers:
Lloyds Bank plc
1 Legg Street
Essex, CM1 1JS
CAF Bank Ltd
Kings Hill, West Malling
Kent, ME19 4TA
* A reduction of 24% in the cost of raising funds due to
the pandemic, has resulted in an increase in the proportion
of expenditure relating to charitable activities in 2020.
** excluding Job Retention Scheme and interest income.
18

© Jonathan Green
Galapagos Conservation Trust
7-14 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YR
galapagosconservation.org.uk
+44 (0)20 7399 7440
gct@gct.org
Registered Charity No. 1043470
Printed on 100% recycled paper