2020 Impact report 2020 - Galapagos Conservation Trust

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.
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