At Lindblad Expeditions, we believe that respectful adventure tourism can be a key factor in helping to sustain a region and, in some cases, even repair it. Our own efforts to encourage greater awareness and participation in conservation projects have included the following:

Galápagos Conservation Fund (GCF)
The Galápagos Conservation Fund (GCF) was started by Lindblad Expeditions in 1997 as an opportunity for guests to contribute directly to local conservation projects that will preserve the islands for generations to come. Funds raised by our guests are contributed entirely to local projects across the islands, as determined by an independent board and implemented by the Galápagos National Park and Charles Darwin Research Station. Since its inception, the GCF has raised more than 4 million dollars (as of October 2007) that have been used in a variety of local projects such as the eradication of feral pigs from the island of Santiago and the support of National Park Marine Reserve patrol boats.

Galápagos Teachers Aboard Program
In 1999, Lindblad Expeditions developed the Teachers on Board program to host Galápagos-area high school Teachers aboard the LEX Galápagos expedition ships, Polaris and Islander. The program is now part of a continuing education program that expands the Teachers’ environmental knowledge through coordinated seminars. To date, more than 150 Teachers have participated in Teachers on Board, which draws from the archipelago’s 27 schools serving 5,400 students.

Gulf of California Conservation Fund - Baja Forever! Campaign
Working with Mexican and international partners, the Gulf of California Conservation Fund (GCCF) was created in the Spring of 2004 to channel support to some of the most pressing conservation priorities in the Gulf. Every dollar our guests contribute on board is matched dollar for dollar by the Fondo Mexicano para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza and the Packard Foundation. Projects that will directly benefit from these funds include sea lion disentanglement at Los Islotes, the restoration of Santa Catalina Island to its natural state, and radar surveillance of Bahia Loreto Marine Reserve to monitor illegal fishing traffic in the reserve. As of October 2007, guests of Lindblad Expeditions have contributed more than $443,000 to the fund. These donations, when matched by partnering organizations, total more than $1 million.