Charles Darwin Foundation’s (CDF) work in Isabela
CDF carries on several successful projects in Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. The Organized Women of Galapagos held their First Regional Meeting. A workshop on the regulations for the total control of introduced species was organised. The Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) organised the second workshop to validate information regarding the current state of South Isabela and the priorities for its conservation. The Iguana Children’s Club has been organised and strengthened. Its primary pursuit is to stimulate the development of skills through activities involving introduced animals. Environmental education work with the Turtle’s Friends Club is still going on. A camp was organized with children from elementary schools of the highlands, and the Cerro Grande Ecology Club was created to encourage learning about the local flora through training on ecological orchard handling.
Science has not been left behind. Sarah Darwin has received support for her research of the actual state and distribution of the two species of endemic tomatillo in South Isabela. The same goes on for Karin Lindstrom and Henrik Parn with their research on ectoparasites of the Geospiza fuliginosa finches, which aims to determine the number of parasite species present and the birds’ immune response. Within our traditional work areas, we have monitored the status of the turtles reintroduced in Cerro Cazuela, and continue monitoring the growth of turtles in the breeding center. We also collaborated with the 2002 lobster season monitoring.
Frogs are our current challenge; we took part in a workshop for the monitoring and control of Scinax quinquefasciata, and work is being done to establish the dispersion range of kikuyo grass and its effect on the ponds around Puerto Villamil. Regarding plants, together with the GNPS we continue working in the manual elimination, spraying and monitoring of the two species of blackberries present in South Isabela.