Every traveler that embarks on sailing with Ecoventura is making a silent pledge to act as a custodian of the Galápagos islands, which are among one of the first dozen sites to be inducted onto UNESCO's esteemed list of world heritage sites.
In 2000, we became the first recipient of the SmartVoyager ecological certification. This voluntary program sets strict conservation standards, and we have continued to comply with — and exceed — the parameters by installing a system to produce our own fresh water onboard, and implementing a waste management and recycling program. We have also become involved with, or spearheaded, a number of important sustainability funds and supported a number of ecological and social programs.
In 2017, Ecoventura together with the Charles Darwin Foundation and Galápagos National Park Service established the Galápagos Biodiversity & Education for Sustainability Fund to benefit the Charles Darwin Foundation and programs to support research and conservation projects related to biodiversity conservation, such as research and monitoring trips, community outreach, scientific equipment, GNPD boat maintenance and equipment, as well as to support projects related to education for sustainability, including scholarships for local Galapagueños to study at a local or national university.
Through our partnerships with Ecology Project International and Pack for a Purpose, we also help to support the local community through donated supplies, scholarships for Galapagueño students, and community outreach.
We seek the integration of values and principles associated with sustainable development in our operational processes and believe that sustainability is the key element that will allow tourism to continue to be a great contribution to the Galapagos economy. We constantly maintain economic relations with suppliers from the Galápagos Islands. Due to this, 51 % of the total produce used in our menus comes from the Galapagos. Mainly Fruits and vegetables are from San Cristobal Island and meats, seafood and dairy from Santa Cruz Island; 48% of our menu is completely organic.
Funds raised for this ambitious program go directly to research and conservation efforts focused on biodiversity. Examples include, but are not limited to, monitoring expeditions, community outreach, scientific equipment, maintenance of the Galápagos National Park Directorate’s vessels, and projects aimed at education (such as a scholarship for native Galapagueños to pursue university studies).
As custodians of one of the most fragile corners of the planet, we are—by way of these various undertakings—restoring these beautiful islands to their most virgin state.
Guests participate in two Ecology Project International Projects developed by High School students: “Walking Excursion of Puerto Ayora with EPI’s Eco Club” and “EPI Field Activity”.
During the activities, students teach the group about Galapagos history sharing stories, legends and traditions of the islands.
As conservation support, they have the option to clean up the bay using a handmade net built by students as part of a campaign to keep beaches and bays safe for marine life.
Support the education of Galapagueños children by saving space in your suitcase for crucial school supplies like colored pencils and pens, textbooks (including ecology-focused teaching materials), English and Spanish-language dictionaries, and hardware and software, such as digital cameras and educational computer programs.
Ecoventura delivers the contributions directly to Pack for a Purpose beneficiaries, including the Alejandro Alvear School and the Gotitas de Esperanza Foundation. This program is a perfect way for travelers to have a positive impact on our isolated island archipelago’s residents.
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Eradication projects on inhabited islands must involve the community and can present additional opportunities to generate significant benefits for it. Globally, few inhabited islands have been eradicated of invasive predators and none as large as Floreana. This project has a holistic vision and a transversal action line.
With the funds from different donors, including Ecoventura, Island Conservation has built 7 chicken coops. The construction of the chicken coops will benefit the Floreana -among other reasons- by: 1) protecting key focal species key to tourism such as the Galapagos hawk, and setting the enabling conditions necessary for the invasive species eradication which will protect 54 threatened species, 2) increasing production for the poultry farmers which will, in turn, provide a more stable income source for local farmers and regular supply for the farm‐to‐table restaurants frequented by tourists; 3) reduce significantly environmental conflicts between the community and endemic species.
In addition, the GCT team has successfully deployed 12 satellite tags to track whale shark migration, which hopefully, amongst other findings, will increase their knowledge about how the species uses the ‘swimway’ between Galapagos and Cocos Island in Costa Rica. Cocos is often the destination for migratory sharks and other marine species from Galapagos. Given the importance of this migration route, they are also supporting partners, including MigraMar, who are gathering crucial scientific evidence to ensure the Ecuadorian and Costa Rican governments can implement protection for sharks in this ‘swimway’ from threats such as industrial fishing.
The funds collected from Ecoventura’s cabin donation are also helping funding drone surveys of shark nursery sites around San Cristobal. These surveys help to increase the knowledge about the early stages of sharks’ lives, which is important to ensure that they, and the habitats important to them, are fully protected. The surveys have mostly focussed on blacktip sharks so far, but there is potential to expand them to include other species. The team are also testing whether drone surveys can replace more expensive and intensive capture-release methods in order to understand the abundance of sharks found at each nursery site.
Additionally, our expert naturalist guides encourage guests to take any packaging back to the mainland, as opposed to leaving them behind in the fragile ecosystems we visit, while recycling is practiced on board our yachts that are well-equipped with containers for that purpose.