Conservation in the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands have a rich heritage as the birthplace of the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin in 1835. Today, the islands act as a hub for ecotourism, where people from all around the world visit to learn more about the history of the islands and their endemic fauna and flora. As a result, it is vital that we protect the fragile island ecosystems from anthropogenic contamination, invasive species, and species extinction. In December of 2019, through the Klemm Fellowship, I spent three weeks volunteering on the islands to combat these pervasive issues with the National Park Service of Ecuador and Projects Abroad. With machete-use, trash cleanups, species monitoring, and cultural immersion, I gained a multimodal understanding of the Galapagos Islands in a holistic manner.