February 6, 2025

REACCT Project Relaunches in Galápagos: Supporting Local Businesses and Sustainable Development

Six agro-based businesses adding value to local raw materials have been selected for the REACCT (Reactivating the Economy through Science, Community, and Work) project in San Cristóbal, Galápagos. These businesses: Galafruit, El Trapiche, Asecris/Chatham, Green Island, Lácteos San Cristóbal, and Galápagos Natural Harmony, were chosen based on criteria such as impact, market access, and innovation. All of them have previously participated in the Rural Business Schools initiative led by Heifer Ecuador Foundation in San Cristóbal.

REACCT Project Relaunches in Galápagos: Supporting Local Businesses and Sustainable Development Read More »

El proyecto Reactivando la Economía a través de la Ciencia, la Comunidad y el Trabajo (REACCT) continúa en Galápagos

Seis emprendimientos que agregan valor a materias primas de origen agropecuario fueron seleccionados con base en criterios como impacto, categorización y acceso a mercados para su fortalecimiento en San Cristóbal, Galápagos. Entre los participantes se encuentran los negocios Galafruit, El Trapiche, Asecris / Chatham, Green Island, Lácteos San Cristóbal y Galápagos Natural Harmony, iniciativas locales que han participado de las Escuelas de Negocios Rurales que impulsa la Fundación Heifer Ecuador en San Cristóbal.

El proyecto Reactivando la Economía a través de la Ciencia, la Comunidad y el Trabajo (REACCT) continúa en Galápagos Read More »

Ontogenetic feeding shifts in two thresher shark species in the Galapagos Marine

Thresher sharks are key predators in the marine ecosystems of the Tropical Pacific Ocean, playing a fundamental role in maintaining ecological balance. They primarily feed on squid and small fish. This study aims to assess possible ontogenetic changes in the feeding habits and habitat use of two thresher shark species (Alopias pelagicus) and (Alopias superciliosus) inhabiting the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR), aspects that remain poorly understood in the region.

Ontogenetic feeding shifts in two thresher shark species in the Galapagos Marine Read More »

Cambios ontogenéticos en los hábitos de alimentación de dos especies de tiburón zorro en la Reserva Marina de Galápagos.

Los tiburones zorro son depredadores clave en los ecosistemas marinos del Océano Pacífico Tropical, donde juegan un papel fundamental en el equilibrio ecológico. Se alimentan principalmente de calamares y peces pequeños. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar posibles cambios ontogénicos en los hábitos alimentarios y uso de hábitat de dos especies de tiburón zorro (Alopias pelagicus y Alopias superciliosus) que habitan en la Reserva Marina de Galápagos (RMG), aspectos que son poco conocidos en la región.

Cambios ontogenéticos en los hábitos de alimentación de dos especies de tiburón zorro en la Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Read More »

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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.

The Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos

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!