Global Relevance

If there’s one thing that COVID-19 has laid bare, it’s that we cannot separate human health from the health of all other life on Earth. The coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is thought to have reached humans from a bat host, through an intermediary animal vector probably traded as a source of protein for the growing human population.

Wildlife, livestock and humans live side by side in Galapagos © GTMEP

The pandemic is a real wakeup call, reminding us that the way we interact with other species and the wider environment matters a lot. This is the simple message behind One Health, the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines — working locally, nationally and globally — to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment. This movement highlights the health connections of the three arms of the One Health triad – animals, humans and environments – and asks us to work together to solve the many health crises of today. By way of an illustration, I give you Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a fungus that was first detected in the United States in 2006 that infected and killed North American bats in their millions. What has this got to do with human health and wellbeing? Bats control insect pests, feeding on many species that plague human crops and vectors like mosquitoes that carry viruses such as West Nile virus and Zika virus. So, without bats, we may be at increased risk of infectious diseases and we become more reliant than ever on pesticides. Bats are also pollinators, with a role in the fertilisation of some 300 fruit varieties. Indeed, it’s been estimated that the ‘ecosystem services’ provided by bats contribute almost $4 billion to US agriculture every year. We cannot continue to ignore the web of ecological connections. Put simply, a healthy planet equates to healthy humans.

In Galapagos, as elsewhere, the health of humans, animals and environments are connected, and we need to pay attention to the three sides of the triangle. The overuse of antibiotics to treat human and livestock bacterial infections, for example, allows for strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics to evolve. With humans in Galapagos living so close to protected areas, it’s very likely that these strains will find their way into the wider ecosystem, with consequences that may have serious negative health impacts on the endemic wildlife of Galapagos, the livestock species raised on the Islands, and the human inhabitants and tourists. With many of us now living in cities and away from nature, it is easy to ignore the importance of the profound connections between the health of humans, other species and the wider environment, but to do so is to invite a planetary heart attack. The COVID-19 pandemic provides the opportunity to reimagine a post-pandemic future. We each have a responsibility to ourselves, our communities and other species to embrace the One Health approach to ensure healthy humans, healthy animals and healthy environments. There are many ways to weave One Health into our daily lives. Buying less and reusing and recycling more will reduce your ecological footprint in an instant. Eating less meat and sourcing food from local, sustainable producers will reduce the movement of plants and animals, and hence the incidence of new zoonoses – diseases shared between human and non-human animals. Avoiding toxic chemicals when treating pests will minimise the introduction of disruptive chemicals into the environment. Picking up litter, particularly plastic waste, will contribute to the health of the oceans. And, of course, respecting the air and water on which we all depend will not only make you healthier, it also may just make you happy.

© Nige l Pu tt ic k

Everyone has been affected this year, with many lives changed owing to the global pandemic. The charity sector has been hit hard but your support has been overwhelming – even at a time when things will not be easy for many of you. As staff, we are always struck by your passion for the Islands. Whether recalling a trip made 30 years ago, planning a possible future trip or, in some cases, having never even set foot in Galapagos, the conversations we have with you evoke the same emotions – joy, wonder and affection.

We thought it would be nice to share some of the comments we have received recently, which keep us going when times are hard. Many of these we have left as anonymous because they echo so many other similar comments from others. Together we make a strong force for change in Galapagos - thank you.

© Elena Sabella

Glad you are such a dedicated group of caring people and hope things get back to normal with your vital work ASAP. Good luck to you all.

Travelling round the Galapagos Islands was a once in a lifetime experience for me. I joined Galapagos Conservation Trust on my return and have supported it ever since. Good luck with everything you do!

Keep up your excellent work - you are a brilliant example to us all in terms of how we should all be protecting our wildlife.

“Having been supporters for several years, we have decided that the donations we will make in the next two years will be unrestricted – meaning that you can spend the money according to your most pressing needs. We believe that this type of flexible support is vital for charities in these uncertain times. “

Hoping to revisit that magical place one day.

I am a member but want to donate this small amount to help you keep up the good work.

Hoping that you and your families will stay well and safe, and thinking of those on the Islands who are ill. Wishing and hoping they recover and thrive.

Lucky enough to have visited - an amazing group of islands - will live in my memory for ever!

In these challenging socially-distanced times, The Evolution Education Trust is delighted to be able to offer a grant to help GCT develop and deliver vital nature conservation education to children on the Islands.

I was hoping to fulfil a lifetime’s ambition and visit this year. Obviously, that’s not happened so hopefully this donation will help the Islands stay safe so I can visit in the future.

A critical time for the Galapagos Islands and for GCT.

Blue-footed boobies © Mia Taylor “I was very grateful to receive your magazine which really cheered me up during this strange time. Consequently, I bought one of your lovely t-shirts.”

Waved albatrosses © Jose Rui da Cruz Moura Santos

The overwhelming sense we get from people who have visited Galapagos is that the experience lives with them forever. Memories of Galapaagos sea lions, frigatebirds and the comical blue-footed boobies are often mentioned by you. It is indeed “a magical place” as many of you say. Kelly Hague, Head of

CONSERVING GALAPAGOS On the Backs of Tortoises: Darwin, the Galapagos, and the Fate of an Evolutionary Eden by Elizabeth Hennessy, Yale University Press, 2019, £20 ISBN 9780300232745 Reviewed by Henry Nicholls

Galapagos is often viewed as a last foothold of pristine nature. For sixty years, conservationists have worked to restore this evolutionary Eden after centuries of exploitation at the hands of pirates, whalers and human settlers. With the giant tortoises as the keystone species of the Islands and an iconic flagship, Elizabeth Hennessy explores their position “at the crux of an alliance uniting science, conservation, and tourism” to show how deeply human and nonhuman life are entangled. On the Backs of Tortoises renders the history of Galapagos conservation in unprecedented detail and then begins to work away at questions that few visitors to the Islands will have given much thought to. In particular, Hennessy argues against the idea that conservation in Galapagos (or elsewhere) should be about restoration of species, ecologies and landscapes to some pre-human baseline and asks what it is that we are actually trying to conserve and for whom. Highly recommended.

BREATHTAKING PHOTOGRAPHY A Lifetime in Galapagos by Tui de Roy, Bloomsbury, 2020, £40 ISBN 9780691194998 Reviewed by Sharon Johnson

What a joy it was to receive Tui de Roy’s book ‘A Lifetime in Galapagos’ in the post whilst in lock-down in London, particularly at a time when I was meant to be in Galapagos myself, perhaps even catching up with Tui in person. Her beautifully illustrated book features the most breathtaking photographs that only Tui could capture after being raised on the Islands by her pioneering parents. The introduction, which provides an unique insight into her life growing up in Galapagos and receiving her first SLR camera, sets the scene for the following chapters which bring you up close and personal to the spectacular wildlife captured through Tui’s lens. I was captivated towards the end of the book by the story of ‘Abuelo’ the marine iguana, which illustrates Tui’s deep connection with the wildlife she has grown up with. I am sure this connection cemented her destiny to become the world-renowned wildlife photographer that is she today. If you wish to be transported to Galapagos, this book of personal close encounter images of the wonders of the Islands, will certainly take you there.

world, the effects of lockdown are emerging. There have been immediate impacts, such as the pause in the management of invasive species. Others will be longerterm, including the economic pressure on the natural resources of the Islands and the waters within, and surrounding, the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

The Charles Darwin Foundation’s Mangrove Finch Project team had to rapidly leave the field suddenly, in the middle of the breeding season. This meant they had to abandon the finch nestlings at the mercy of the Philornis downsi fly larvae, which was present in all the nests they came across (see page 11). There is nothing they can do but hope they will find breeding adults ready to nest again next season. They need your help to make sure that they can return to the field in 2021 to ensure that next year’s nestlings survive.

With the lockdown in Galapagos, came a pause in tourism – which makes up more than 80% of the local economy. This lack of employment prompted worries that illegal fishing would increase in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR), which is home to one of the highest densities of sharks in the world. However, a more immediate threat came from outside of the GMR. In June, industrial fishing boats descended on the boundary of the GMR, providing a perilous journey for migratory species, such as whale and scalloped hammerhead sharks. We need to ramp up our efforts to provide safe corridors for these majestic creatures outside of the GMR by providing the evidence needed to create protected swimways through these dangerous waters – but we need your support to do so more urgently than ever.

For more information about events and to book your tickets, simply visit galapagosconservation.org.uk/events or call us on 020 7399 7440

GALAPAGOS DAY WEBINAR AUTUMN 2020

Due to exceptional circumstances surrounding COVID-19 we are sad to have cancelled our usual Galapagos Day at the Royal Geographical Society. However, we are thrilled to be able to offer, instead, a special webinar. We are gathering a panel of experts to discuss what we are learning about the unique marine species in Galapagos, and what we can do about the threats that they face including industrial fishing and plastic pollution.

For more details, please visit our Events webpage galapagosconservation.org.uk/events or email gct@gct.org.

© Wild Tracks

JOIN OUR CRUISE OF A LIFETIME

Our bespoke Galapagos Conservation Trust cruise has been postponed to June 2021 so there is still an opportunity to join this unique way to see the Archipelago. We are pleased to be offering two options with the following dates: 8 day cruise: 18 – 25 June 2021; 17 day cruise: 8 – 25 June 2021. There are still two cabins available for both options.

GCT supporters Gordon and Marilyn Plant have joined us on two cruises. This is what they had to say. “Quite apart from the satisfaction of knowing that we were supporting the work of GCT, the cruises themselves were exceptional with respect to the likeminded fellow passengers, the superb guides and the itinerary. The opportunity to meet individuals active in conservation and research added an extra dimension. If you plan to visit Galapagos, this is the way.” For more information please contact Kelly Hague at kelly@gct.org or visit: galapagosconservation.org.uk/gct-cruise

Felice Fiestas” and come in packs of 10 with envelopes. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to send a unique Christmas card this year. Our two designs are the humorous Santa Jaws and a beautifully illustrated little vermilion flycatcher card. Each design is £5 for a pack, or £9 for two.

Our 2021 calendar is now ready to pre-order! Filled with stunning photos of underwater scenes, Galapagos’ animals in action and fabulous landscapes, this year’s calendar features images from our 2020 Galapagos photography competition, including the winning image ‘Waiting For a Meal’ by Marcos Miranda Correia. Only £10! (Pre-order shipping date planned for early October).

Adopting an animal is a great way to help conserve Galapagos – and makes a great Christmas present! Our adoptions come with a certificate, a collectable fact file, a soft toy and updates on our conservation work. This year we have also made our digital adoptions available to download immediately! Find our more here:

Name: .......................................................................................... Address: ...................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... Post code: .................................................................................... Telephone: ................................................................................... Email:............................................................................................ If you are happy for us to contact you by email (including our monthly enewsletter) or telephone, please complete the field(s) above. You can unsubscribe at any time.

METHOD OF PAYMENT Please tick one:

Cheque (payable to Galapagos Conservation Trust)

Credit card Debit card CAF voucher

NB: We do not accept American Express or Maestro.

Name on card: ....................................................................... Card no: ................................................................................. Expiry date: ............................................................................. Issue no / Start date:............................................................... Security code: .........................................................................

Yes I am a UK taxpayer and I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to the Galapagos Conservation Trust. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

GCT DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SURVEY The pandemic has given us an opportunity to re-evaluate how we do things at GCT, including how we send our communications. We know that many of you enjoy receiving a printed copy of the magazine but as technology improves, we are considering providing a digital copy in addition. As well as helping us to reduce costs a digital copy would mean that we can provide more varied content, linking to other sources of information should you wish to learn more. Please help us shape our future by letting us know your views on receiving digital communications. It is important

You can do so online via this link bit.ly/GCTdigitalsurvey or by filling in this form and returning it using the FREEPOST envelope included with the magazine.

I like to receive a printed copy of the magazine I would like to receive a digital copy of the magazine only (please ensure that we have your email address using the contact details form above) I would like other GCT communications materials (e.g. appeals, event invites) to be sent via post I would like other GCT communications materials to be sent via email (please ensure that we have your email address using the contact details form above)

There are several easy ways to place an order or donate in support of our work. 1. Via our website galapagosconservation.org.uk 2. By telephone on 020 7399 7440 3. By completing the details on this form and returning with your preferred payment method using the FREEPOST envelope provided.

Make a donation to our Endangered Species Appeal I would like to give £30/£50/£100/£300/Other (please circle) to help protect Galapagos’ wildlife Total Price £

GCT Calendar

Santa Jaws Christmas cards

Vermilion flycatcher Christmas cards Price £

10.00

5.00

5.00 Qty

Recipients Details

Name on certificate: Galapagos Sea Lion

Email for updates:

Name on certificate: Giant Tortoise

Email for updates: Name on certificate:

Scalloped

Hammerhead Shark

Email for updates:

Floreana Mockingbird (£25 including pin badge)

Name on certificate:

Email for updates: Total Price £

Total Price £

Total Price £

1.50 5.00 10.00

All donations will go towards supporting conservation in Galapagos.

Thank you for helping us to ensure that our next underwater research trip can go ahead. While we can interpret satellite data remotely, it is crucial that we deploy new tags to continue to understand the mysteries of the world’s largest fish.

Galapagos Whale Shark Project Founder and Director

With your help, I have been able to continue with online education activities in Galapagos including working on virtual education toolkits. Education is vital to the future of the wildlife of Galapagos, so thank you for your ongoing support.

Galapagos Conservation Trust Outreach Coordinator

Due to the pandemic, we had to unexpectedly leave the field in the middle of the mangrove finch breeding season, meaning we were unable to protect this year’s fledglings from Philornis downsi. Please continue to help our work.

Mangrove Finch Project Leader

COVID-19 has affected GCT’s income this year and will likely do so in 2021 as well. Without your loyalty, we would not be able to support the people that are protecting the unique wildlife of Galapagos. Please continue helping us to ensure that some of the rarest species in the world do not disappear forever.