Founded in 1959, under the auspices of UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (previously World Conservation Union), the Charles Darwin Foundation is dedicated to the conservation of the Galapagos ecosystems. The Foundation operates the Charles Darwin Research Station to conduct scientific research and environmental education for conservation. The Station has a team of over two hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students and support staff from all over the world. The Foundation Secretary General is located in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and maintains close contact with the government to promote Galapagos conservation throughout Ecuador.
The Charles Darwin foundation conducts scientific research and enviromental education about conservation and natural resource management in the Galapaos Islands and its surrounding Marine Reserve.
Visit the foundation´s site at http://www.darwinfoundation.org to obtain more information.
Marine
The coastal and marine areas of the Galapagos Islands ecosystem harbor an array of distinctive habitats and many endemic species. Sea Lions, Penguins, Dolphins, Sharks and a lot of other species populate the marine reserve that includes all waters surrounding the islands to a distance of 40 nautical miles.
Considered to be among the world´s top destinations for scuba diving, the marine reserve showcases a great variety of wildlife that has been preserved almost untouched by external sources.
Terrestrial
The Galápagos Archipelago contains some of the most unusual and fascinating species in the world. 95% of its original plant and animal species still survive. A total of 140 species of birds have been registered in Galapagos. Close to 50% of the resident birds are endemic to the Galapagos.
The terrestrial flora and fauna of Galapagos have the great fortune to live in an place where more than 96% of the surface area is National Park, administered by a capable and dedicated institution, and with a relatively high environmental awareness among the inhabitants. Nevertheless, the flora and fauna confront the serious threat of introduced species.
