Galápagos Life Fund Marks Its Third Anniversary with More Than USD 14 Million Committed to Marine Conservation and Community Initiatives
, May 22, 2026
The Galápagos Life Fund (GLF) commemorated its third anniversary with a ceremony held on San Cristóbal Island, where it highlighted key advances in the conservation of Galápagos’ marine protected areas through institutional strengthening and the financing of projects implemented across the archipelago.
During the event, the GLF emphasized the consolidation of its presence in Galápagos, including the recent opening of its new office on the island and the strengthening of its technical team, as part of a strategy aimed at enhancing local coordination and supporting community-based initiatives throughout the archipelago.
As part of the achievements presented during the anniversary, the GLF also highlighted the implementation of the first 19 community projects financed through its initial call for proposals, representing more than USD 3.5 million in funding focused primarily on education and sustainable fisheries. Several of these initiatives showcased their progress, impacts, and experiences from across the different islands.
One of the central moments of the event was the signing of the contract for the 2026–2027 phase of the Government Project focused on marine control and surveillance. This investment, totaling approximately USD 10.8 million, seeks to strengthen operational capacities, infrastructure, equipment, and strategic actions for the protection of the Galápagos Marine Reserve and the Hermandad Marine Reserve through the coordinated work of three beneficiary institutions: the Ecuadorian Navy, the Galápagos National Park Directorate, and the Undersecretariat of Fisheries Resources.
In addition, during the 19th session of the GLF Board of Directors, members approved the shortlist of projects corresponding to the Fund’s second call for proposals, representing more than USD 4 million in potential funding for community initiatives in Galápagos. The preselected projects will now move forward to the next stage of the process by submitting full proposals for final evaluation and selection.
As part of the anniversary activities, members of the GLF Board of Directors also participated in the official handover ceremony for the repowered Sierra Negra ocean-going patrol vessel of the Galápagos National Park Directorate. The project, financed by the GLF and technically implemented by WildAid, aims to strengthen operational capacity for marine control, surveillance, and monitoring within the archipelago’s protected areas.
“Three years ago, we began this journey with the vision of building a strong, long-term mechanism to support marine conservation in Galápagos. Today, we are seeing not only concrete results on the ground, but also an organization that continues to grow stronger, consolidate strategic partnerships, and project its work into the future. The funding secured for the coming years allows us to continue promoting sustainable investments and maintain an active and committed presence in Galápagos,” said Mónica Calvopiña, Executive Director of the Galápagos Life Fund.
The event brought together national and local authorities, representatives of partner institutions, cooperation organizations, project beneficiaries, and members of the GLF Board of Directors.
