2020 Impact report 2020 - Galapagos Conservation Trust

OVERVIEW FROM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
undoubtedly had a significant impact on
Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), our
activities and the Islands. But, despite
this, we ended the year as we began, with
a new wave of optimism and energy; the
GCT team implementing our new threeyear
strategic plan, a big win for our
plastics programme and continued efforts
to eliminate COVID-19 in Galapagos.
Focussing on key threats to the Archipelago; invasive
species, the human footprint and climate change, our
programme activities assembled to restore Galapagos’
unique habitats, protect its wondrous species, and
work with local people to provide sustainable solutions
to combat the effects of modern living on the Islands.
Importantly, we also provided relief for local people
impacted by the pandemic.
GCT’s Board agreed on an exceptional donation to provide
essential PPE to Galapaguenians, whilst the GCT team
speedily adapted our educational materials for home
learning and provided support to families to grow their
own food in the face of limited options. Looking to longerterm
solutions, we are now supporting those affected by
the reduction in tourism income, which in turn will protect
the unique wildlife of these Enchanted Isles – from a
‘cash for work’ scheme to collect plastic from beaches, to
providing training in the latest DNA sequencing techniques
to create a genetic library of Galapagos species.
The greatest threat from people in 2020 came from
beyond the Islands’ borders, with the arrival of a huge
international industrial fishing fleet on the outskirts of
the Ecuadorian Exclusive Economic Zone. Initial research
carried out through our plastic programme indicates that
around 30% of the plastic waste is coming from sources
at sea, likely these industrial fishing vessels. Sadly, marine
species are being caught up both in the waste from these
fleets, and in their nets once they leave the safety of the
Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). We fear one such whale
shark, ‘Hope’, which we were tracking, was caught.
Although ‘Hope’ was lost, the team tagged ten more
individuals, and ‘Coco’ became the first tagged whale
shark to follow the ‘Swimway’ between the GMR and
Cocos island in Costa Rica.
We were thrilled to end such a difficult year with the
news that we had won a four-year UK government grant
to forge forward with our work to rid the Islands of
plastic waste. However, we were equally disappointed
that this funding was hit by the overseas aid cuts in early
2021. We are continuing to lobby the UK government for
reinstatement of these funds in 2022.
Our ability to weather these unforeseen challenges
comes from our ingenious partners, staff team and Board
of Trustees but, most importantly, to our supporters who
stepped up with gifts-in-kind, volunteering and financial
donations, ensuring our income remained strong at
£714,647 in 2020. We really could not have survived
2020 without you, and neither could the Islands and
the incredible species and people who live there. With
your support behind us, our optimism for the future is
resolute. Thank you once again.
Sharon Johnson
Chief Executive
© Sharon Johnson
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