The Galapagos National Park Service

The Galapagos National Park (GNP) was established by Presidential decree on July 4th, 1959. Encompassing 97% of the land, the GNP was first managed by the Ministry of Development (now Agriculture and Livestock) with support from the CDF. In 1968, the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) was established and its headquarters constructed adjacent to the CDRS on Santa Cruz. From its first two officials in 1968, the GNPS has grown into an organization with satellite offices on San Cristóbal, Isabela, and Floreana.

The most recent Park Management Plan was approved in 2005 and highlights a philosophical change from a primary focus on natural resource management and conservation to a broader focus on the need to manage the entire Galapagos Archipelago, both land and sea, under a unified shared vision for both conservation of the natural resources and sustainable development of the human communities. The GNPS has six main management programs:

Conservation of ecology and biodiversity;
Coordination of the ecosystem model with regional planning;
Institutional strengthening;
Provision of support to the human communities of Galapagos;
Research; and
Scientific cooperation at both national and international levels.

The Special Law for Galapagos, enacted in 1998, established the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR), one of the world’s largest protected areas. It measures 138,000 sq km and has a highly unusual range of biological communities and exceptional diversity. The GNPS is responsible for the administration of the GMR and oversees a participatory management framework that includes the main stakeholders, primarily the tourism industry and the local fishing sector. A management plan for the GMR was completed in 1998 and an initial 5-year Fishing Calendar in 2002. The Park has four primary units focused on the GMR:

Management Coordination
Control and Surveillance
Fisheries and Monitoring
Marine Research

To better manage use within both the GMR and the GNP, the GNPS has developed a zoning system to regulate use and ensure conservation.

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