CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION - Research & Preservation Support

The Inti Raymi Fund visited the Galapagos Islands and as part of our belief of “Socially Responsible Tourism”, we contributed $25,000 into the Charles Darwin Foundation based on the Puerto Ayora Island. Puerto Ayora is where the Charles Darwin Foundation is headquarters in Galapagos Islands.

The $25,000 will be divided amongst: eco-transportation for disabled persons to and from the Charles Darwin Research Station, building wheelchair-accessible paths to the beaches at the Research Station, supporting education and outreach initiatives, increasing accessibility and reach of their website, and support various community projects on Isabela and San Cristobal Islands where there no longer are Charles Darwin Foundation offices; however, they are rebuilding community projects there. Each of the five components will be allocated $5,000 of the $25,000.

By providing these funds for the research center, it provides a lifeline for research; however, an easily overlooked benefit is the sustainability of eco-tourism for the approximate 25,000 islanders who solely depend upon tourism for their existence on the islands.  From daily cruise ships arriving onto the islands to hotel stays and retail, everyone comes to see the wildlife and visit the Research Center, shedding money along the way. The wildlife can only be sustained by protecting it against poachers and exploitive excess dredge fishing vessels from other countries. These vessels if left uncheck would encroach closer and closer into the national fish sanctuary limits of the 40km ring around each of the islands.  This would cause the coral to disappear, then the fish would disappear, then the habitat for the turtles, then the Iguanas and birds in a continual downward spiral of loss of the unique flora and fauna we know at the Galapagos Islands.  This animal sanctuary is one of the last safe places where these animals have no real enemies.

One can view this as a symbiotic relationship of man and nature cohabiting together for common good. This symbiosis is the reason we were enthusiastic about funding this project and highly recommend you financially support the Charles Darwin Foundation directly. We also encourage you to visit the amazing Galapagos Islands for a “socially responsible tourism” vacation  contributing to the islanders through generous tips and or donations in person to the Charles Darwin Research Center.