The Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) is a British
conservation
Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws.
Conservation may also refer to:
Environment and natural resources
* Nature conservation, the protection and managem ...
charity
Charity may refer to:
Giving
* Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons
* Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing
* C ...
(registered number 1043470) which focuses on saving animals at risk of extinction on the
Galapagos Islands. It is a member of the Friends of Galapagos Organisations (also known as the Darwin Network). It was launched in 1995 at the
Royal Society
The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...
in London. The charity fundraises to support pioneering conservation projects in the Islands, and raise awareness of Galapagos conservation both in the UK and in Ecuador to ensure the unique flora and fauna on the Islands are preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Ambassadors for the charity include
Liz Bonnin
Elizabeth Bonnin (born 16 September 1976) is a French science, wildlife and natural history presenter, who has worked on television in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. She presented morning show '' RI:SE'' and music show ''Top of the Pops'' ...
,
Stanley Johnson, Henry Nicholls,
Sarah Darwin,
Monty Halls, Dr. Godfrey Merlen,
Randal Keynes
Randal Hume Keynes, OBE, FLS ( ; born 29 July 1948) is a British conservationist, author, and great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin.
Family background
Keynes was born in Cambridge, England. He is the son of the Hon. Anne Pinsent (née Adri ...
, Julian Fitter, Angela Darwin,
Jennifer Stone
Jennifer Lindsay Stone is an American actress and nurse. She is known for playing Harper Finkle on the Disney Channel Original series '' Wizards of Waverly Place'' (2007–2012) and in the Disney Channel Original Movie '' Wizards of Waverly Pl ...
, Dr. Antje Steinfurth,
Nigel Sitwell
Nigel Degge Wilmot Sitwell (23 August 1935 in Gosport, Hampshire – 2017) was an English conservationist, writer, editor and businessman specialising in wildlife and travel. He is noted for his travels in nearly 100 countries, including Antarct ...
, Dorothy Latsis and Sir James Barlow. Of these, Sir James, Sarah Darwin and Randal Keynes are descended from
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended ...
- Angela Darwin is a Darwin by marriage (she is the widow of George Pember Darwin, son of Charles Galton Darwin).
Projects
GCT support projects under the key areas of: conserving endemic species, controlling invasive species, marine conservation, conservation through education and sustainable development. Working closely with authorities and organisations in Galapagos and mainland Ecuador, the charity supports a wide array of projects from species-specific studies and ecosystem-scale restoration projects to promoting local recycling initiatives and education.
GCT is involved in the
Mangrove Finch Project that is working to save the
Critically Endangered mangrove finch (''Camarhynchus heliobates'') from extinction.
GCT has partnered with the
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) to run their teaching resourc
Discovering Galapagos The resource consists of two websites, one adapted and linked to the UK curriculum and one adapted for delivery in Galapagos and mainland Ecuador. A bilingual blog connects the two sites allowing for interactions between students from around the world.
References
External links
Official Galapagos Conservation Trust website DiscoveringGalapagos.org.uk DescubriendoGalapagos.ec€”
{{Authority control
Galápagos Islands
Nature conservation in Ecuador
Environmental charities based in the United Kingdom
Land trusts
Environmental organizations established in 1995
1995 establishments in the United Kingdom