Charles Darwin Foundation

The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands (CDF) is an international, non-profit, research organization dedicated to carrying out scientific research and providing technical information and assistance to the Government of Ecuador and other entities to ensure conservation success in Galapagos.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) established the CDF in 1959, following years of effort by a group of Ecuadorian, European, and North American conservation pioneers.

CDF carries out its mission, to provide knowledge and assistance through scientific research and complementary action to ensure the conservation of the environment and biodiversity in the Galapagos Archipelago, under a unique partnership agreement with the Government of Ecuador, which allows the CDF to carry out research and provide conservation advice to the Government both on national and local levels. CDF is a key player in a network of local and national institutions that support the conservation of Galapagos. CDF works in close partnership with the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS), the principal government authority in charge of conservation and natural resource issues in Galapagos, providing a scientific foundation for effective management to ensure the preservation of this extraordinary World Heritage Site.

Construction of the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), began in 1960, near the tiny fishing village of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The CDRS was formally inaugurated in January 1964. Today over one hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students, and support staff from all over the world participate in this work. CDRS teams are also based in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal Island) and Puerto Villamil (Isabela Island). The CDF has a long-standing commitment to providing education and leadership training to Galapagos residents and other Ecuadorian students with the goal of forming a large group of future leaders in science and conservation both in Galapagos and in continental Ecuador. Over 90% of the CDRS staff is Ecuadorian.

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