Celebrating 2024 Successes | Travel News

With 2025 right around the corner, it is the perfect time to reflect on some of the key achievements accomplished this year with the support of dedicated individuals and organizations.

From publishing a landmark plastics report in partnership with the Galapagos National Park Directorate and representing the Galapagos Islands at global events, including the Pacific Leaders’ Summit, to relocating offices and expanding the team, it has been a highly productive year, all made possible through collaboration and commitment.

Finches Released Back onto Floreana

 

In February, five species of Darwin’s finch, which had been safely held in captivity during the eradication of invasive species from Floreana, were released back onto the island (170 finches into the highlands and 340 into the lowlands). This project, supported by GCT, aims to reintroduce 12 locally extinct species and restore the island’s degraded ecosystem.

GCT on a Global Stage

 

In April, GCT’s CEO, Dr. Jen Jones, and Senior Development Manager, Alice Marks, represented GCT and its Pacific Plastics: Science to Solutions (PPSS) partners at the UN Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona. The conference, centered around ‘the science needed for the ocean we want,’ featured a presentation by Dr. Jones on the role of networks such as PPSS in sharing knowledge, voices, and solutions from Pacific islands burdened with global plastic pollution.

Additionally, in April, GCT’s Programmes and Policy Manager, Lucía Norris, attended the Pacific Leaders’ Summit in Rapa Nui (Easter Island). During the summit, she presented the landmark plastics report, published in 2024 in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park Directorate, which highlights the sources and impacts of plastic pollution in Galapagos. The summit concluded with the signing of the ‘Rapa Nui Declaration,’ outlining a collective commitment to ocean protection and the fight against plastic pollution in the Pacific region.

Beyond knowledge-sharing, this visit also marked the beginning of a new partnership between GCT and Rapa Nui. This partnership has since developed into a collective effort advocating for the protection of vulnerable island territories from plastic pollution.

GCT at the Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations

 

In April, representatives attended the fourth round of negotiations for a global agreement to end plastic pollution in Ottawa. Not only was GCT present to advocate for an ambitious and legally binding Global Plastics Treaty, but it also showcased the strength of its new partnership with Rapa Nui by facilitating a workshop alongside the Galapagos National Park Directorate. The workshop brought together representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador and Chile, along with several other organizations, to discuss solutions necessary to eliminate the threat of plastic pollution to island territories.

In preparation for the fifth and supposedly final round of negotiations in November, collaborations with organizations across the Pacific, including the Municipality of Rapa Nui and the Galapagos National Park Directorate, led to the development of a detailed policy brief. This document provides guidance and practical recommendations to support negotiators of the Global Plastics Treaty, bolstering the international response to plastic pollution in island territories.

While the Treaty was not finalized during this round of negotiations, efforts continue as part of a collective voice advocating for Pacific islands, striving for a future free from plastic pollution.

Galapagos Day 2024: Turning the Tide on Plastic Pollution

 

In October, GCT hosted its largest event of the year at a new central London venue, 1 Wimpole Street. The event welcomed numerous members, supporters, and partners, along with many new faces.

The theme, ‘Turning the Tide on Plastic Pollution,’ brought together scientists utilizing cutting-edge technology to map the scale of the issue, policymakers working to secure a Global Plastics Treaty to curb plastic pollution, and community leaders driving change at a local level.

Beyond the discussions, the event provided an opportunity to reconnect with old colleagues and build new relationships—an essential aspect of events like Galapagos Day. The evening was also a fundraising success, raising over £3,000 through a combination of raffle and merchandise sales, donations, and new GCT memberships.

Stephen Fry Presents the BBC Radio 4 Appeal

 

In November, actor, broadcaster, and writer Stephen Fry highlighted the plight of Galapagos giant tortoises and the threat of plastic pollution through the BBC Radio 4 Appeal.

Funds raised from the appeal will enable continued training of a new generation of Galapagos-born conservationists, including Cristian Peñafiel, whose research focuses on tracking the migration routes of endemic giant tortoises. The funds will also support the Young Tortoise Protectors, who work to clean up litter and alert authorities when tortoises wander into urban areas.

Following the appeal, Stephen Fry was announced as the new Galapagos Conservation Trust Ambassador.

Supporting Early Career Researchers

 

Thanks to ongoing support, several early career researchers received assistance this year. These include Denisse Dalgo, a PhD candidate at Leipzig University studying the impact of climatic events on endangered marine iguanas; Henry Moreau-Smith, a Master’s student at the University of Exeter focused on developing plastic monitoring methods for use in the Galapagos Marine Reserve; Georgie Savage, a PhD student at the University of Exeter investigating tools for rapidly assessing pollution to enhance monitoring and management capabilities of the Galapagos National Park; and Gislayne Mendoza Alcívar, a laboratory technician at the Charles Darwin Foundation, monitoring the health of endangered land birds by analyzing them for infectious agents.

The continuous support of dedicated individuals and partners has made all these achievements possible. Looking ahead to 2025, exciting opportunities await the team, the people, and the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands.