Working for the sustainability of the Galapagos Islands
The conservation of the Galapagos Islands is not only a government policy and concern; in fact, it is everyone's task. It was with this in mind that the Galapagos Ecuador Foundation was created, through the initiative and sponsorship of Metropolitan Touring. Today, a few additional tour operators have joined this effort.

The Foundation is an Ecuadorian, non-profit organization, founded in 1998 with the mission of providing support and funding for conservation projects directly related to the sustainable development of the Galapagos Islands. The foundation focuses most of its efforts, plans and resources to conduct and support the following projects:

Environmentally responsible disposal of solid wastes
The population growth that the Galapagos Islands have faced in the last decades translates into an increase in generation and accumulation of garbage and waste. However, until recently, the waste produced by the community was taken to a dump with no treatment whatsoever. Through joint efforts with other colleague operators, the foundation set up and manages the "Fabricio Valverde Environmental  Center" in the most populated town of Galapagos, Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island (approximately 12,000 inhabitants). It is here that 40% of the waste materials generated in Santa Cruz are processed.  They are now aiming at 70%.

Under the leadership of the Municipality of Santa Cruz and its Mayor, and the participation of the Galapagos National Park, a system for classified and segregated disposal of domestic garbage has been implemented in the town of Puerto Ayora.
Between 2000 and 2006, actions promoted by Metropolitan Touring through Fundacion Galápagos have collected and recycled 558 tons of refuse.

Fabricio Valverde Environmental Center:

• All organic wastes are turned into compost which is then used as fertilizer in the agricultural lands of Santa Cruz Island.

• Selector belts segregate plastic, glass and cardboard refuse. Special machines crush plastic and glass; the latter serves as raw material for manufacturing paving stones used on sidewalks by the Municipality of Santa Cruz.

• Crushed plastic and cardboard are transported to the continent.
  In order for this work to become sustainable, it is fundamental that native Galapagos children and those visiting the Archipelago understand the importance of recycling. For this reason, the Interpretation Center was created at the Environmental Park; it educates visitors concerning the damages that plastics and other wastes cause to the environment and wildlife of the Galapagos.

Education and Sponsorships
Education is the basis to achieve long-term results. The Foundation´s projects aim to involve the local population in order to create community-based solutions with a conservation vision. The Foundation provides financial support to local students who have won scholarships to study programs in areas such as organic farming, sustainable agriculture and other related careers. Their compromise is to return to Galapagos and dedicate their efforts to organic and sustainable horticultural projects with the local farmers.

Environmental Education at local schools
In order to consolidate and reinforce the educational recycling campaign, the Foundation together with the National Park are designing a number of workshops for teachers, additional to visits to the Interpretation Center of the Fabricio Valverde Environmental Center. Moreover, Fundación  Galápagos coordinates educational cruise programs for students and parents to the various islands, in order for them to become aware of the valuable wildlife of the Archipelago. During 2006, seven educational cruises were carried out on board  Metropolitan Touring's M/V Santa Cruz, transporting 42 students and teachers. Educational cruises will be incremented to 12 during 2007.

Coastal Cleaning
The complex system of currents around the islands, and in part the local human activities and even tourist-related activities may cause the slow accumulation of inorganic waste, especially plastics, along the shores. This material can alter the shores' ecosystems with serious consequences. Sea lions, turtles, birds, and iguanas could remain trapped and, even die, in debris accumulated along the shores.

Fundación Galapagos Ecuador together with the Galapagos National Park has developed a permanent program of coastal cleaning to avoid ecological damage. Aboard small vessels, young volunteers from all over the world work eight days a month, navigating along the shoreline of the islands, cleaning up the accumulated garbage.

The origin of such debris is analyzed in order to develop educational campaigns that involve the local population with the intention of finding solutions for proper waste management.

Key actions planned for 2007:

• Purchase containers to be placed at the Itabaca Canal and Puerto Ayora for the collection of garbage produced daily by the expeditions;

• Implement signalization for the environmental park in order to facilitate self-guided visits;

• Sponsor the workshop organized by the House of Culture concerning recycling of materials; and

• Launch a project for manufacturing rag filled Galápagos animals with crushed plastic processed from waste beverage containers collected in the islands.  This will help raise funds to help defray the environmental protection effort carried out by Fundación Galápagos and encourage the work of women of the community, who will participate in a manufacturing center to make these dolls.

How can you help?
All of us can play a leading role in the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. There are basically two ways to collaborate directly with the Galapagos Foundation: through volunteering or donations. The coastal cleaning project operates with the help of local and international volunteers, who participate on a seven-day trip around the islands collecting solid waste accumulated on the shores and then separating it for appropriate disposal or recycling upon their return to Santa Cruz Island.

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