Since 2006, Celebrity Cruises has partnered with Galápagos Conservancy to protect and preserve the Islands through the Celebrity Cruises Galápagos Fund, which has raised over $1.5 million in contributions from Celebrity and its guests. As fund administrator, Galápagos Conservancy recently allocated resources to carry out comprehensive maintenance and improvements at the plant nursery of the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.

Washington Tapia, General Director of Galápagos Conservancy, stated that the maintenance and additional works at the nursery are of great importance, as the seedlings grown at the greenhouse are later replanted as part of restoration projects, such as the unique Scalesia forest in Los Gemelos. The new plantings restore natural ecosystem dynamics, including providing shelter, food, and other resources to threatened species, such as finches, vermilion flycatchers and the Galápagos hawk.

Rehabilitation of the plant nursery will allow for the expansion of the restoration project for Scalesia pedunculata and other unique species in the Archipelago, thanks to a joint initiative between Celebrity Cruises, Galápagos Conservancy, and the GNPD since 2014. Currently, guests aboard Celebrity Flora participate in weekly tree plantings in the Los Gemelos area. 

Celebrity Xpedition and Xploration ship guests will soon be able to participate in conservation activities, contributing to preserving the Galapagos as a top ecological tourist destination. This activity will enhance their legacy and positive impact on the area.

Fausto Arcos, General Manager of Celebrity Cruises in Ecuador, highlighted the company’s commitment to conservation and the local community, emphasizing the value of providing a unique opportunity for guests and collaborators to participate in these significant efforts that foster direct contact with nature in this pristine corner of the world.

Danny Rueda, Director of the Galápagos National Park, stated that the planned maintenance works at the nursery would facilitate an improved technical plant propagation by park rangers. These actions will ensure the success of restoration efforts and enable park rangers to carry out their work more effectively.

The Santa Cruz nursery produces 20,000 to 25,000 seedlings each year, including Scalesia, Coffee Senna, Darwin’s Giant Daisy, and Galápagos Croton. Jibson Valle, a GNPD park ranger, said, “I’ve loved plants since childhood, and now that I work to conserve key species for Galápagos, I’m proud to do so in this nursery.”

The forest nursery in Santa Cruz plays an essential role in the conservation and restoration of Galápagos ecosystems, and its upgrade will further enhance these contributions. Support from Galapagos Celebrity Cruises Fund for such conservation efforts exemplifies how tourism can be educational and sustainable for visitors to the Islands. 

Galápagos Conservancy looks forward to its continued partnership with Celebrity Cruises and the involvement of Celebrity’s guests and employees in our conservation and community initiatives. Construkgal, a local company, signed the contract for the nursery maintenance, represented by Mr. Alfonso Criollo.