Scientists Meet in Galapagos to Discuss Climate Change

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), and a group of local and international scientists and authorities met at the end of July 2017 on Santa Cruz Island to discuss the impacts of climate change at a workshop called “Science and Climate Change CMAR,” generously funded by Amy Blackwell.

In addition to establishing new ways for scientists and organizations to collaborate on climate change research, the objective of the meeting was to discuss scientific knowledge gaps to improve the management of protected areas in The Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (“CMAR” in its Spanish acronym form). The four countries within the CMAR region include Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador. Since Galapagos is home to unique marine species within CMAR which are vulnerable to climate change, it was important to host this meeting in the archipelago.

"The scientific knowledge developed and executed by different entities of the four member states of CMAR will be shared in this forum, with the goal of promoting knowledge to facilitate regional decision-making on this important marine corridor,” stated Dr. Arturo Izurieta, Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF).

CDF scientists will continue conducting cutting-edge collaborative research with investigators from all over the world to improve the management and conservation of our unique natural heritage in places like the Galapagos archipelago. The results of the workshop will be shared at the 4th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC4), hosted in Chile in September 2017. 

In addition, Arturo Izurieta gave Walter Bustos a plaque honoring the hard work performed by park rangers.

We would also like to thank Amy Blackwell for her generous gift and continued support for the climate change work being carried out. It was only thanks to her donation that this international workshop was made possible.