It is an exciting time to be associated with the Charles Darwin Research Station - or for that matter, with the Galapagos Islands. Since this time last year, the staff of the Darwin Station has more than doubled. This growth spurt means there is now a need for new buildings to house the additional personnel. Iron bars, poured cement and lava rocks are being arranged among the tall Jasminocereus and Opuntia cactus and a new education and administration center is slowly taking shape.
Efforts to save and restore Galapagos, both by Ecuador and international organizations, have never been as great. And the need to protect Galapagos has never been more urgent. Weekly, 14 planes travel from mainland Ecuador to the islands, more than 80 boats take guests to and from the visitor sites and 16,000 inhabitants live in small towns on four of the islands. But amazingly some of these islands are still completely pristine and unchanged. The animals and birds that our guests find on the trails and beaches of the islands are still innocent and show no fear of man.
Galapagos is no longer completely isolated from the world, and alien species that have been introduced to the islands are wreaking havoc in some areas of the National Park. But what gives one enormous hope is that the eyes of the world are on these islands. This is the last island archipelago on the planet earth that still has approximately 98% of its native flora and fauna intact. Galapagos is salvageable! And at long last financial assistance is slowly coming to the aid of these unique and magical islands.
