Galapagos Life Fund: A Year of Management to Consolidate Commitment to Galapagos Conservation

By Galápagos Life Foundation, Jul Mon, 2024

The Galápagos Life Fund (GLF), a non-governmental organization (NGO), held its tenth Board of Directors meeting on May 28. Established in May 2023, GLF aims to conserve marine ecosystems by providing grants to government and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals based in Galápagos.

In its first year, the Galápagos Life Fund has established its governance structure, which includes a Board of Directors made up of 5 government representatives and 6 private sector members, including individuals from various sectors of the Galápagos community. Operational processes have been put in place, and since December 2023, GLF has been officially registered as an NGO in Ecuador, allowing it to operate within the country, including setting up an office and hiring local staff in Galápagos.

GLF has developed technical processes and requirements, including accounting and auditing procedures, which will enable it to issue grants in the last quarter of 2024. These grants will support the implementation of the Hermandad Marine Reserve Management Plan and fund sustainable conservation initiatives in both Galápagos Marine Reserves. The protected marine area of Galápagos spans 202,758 km² (with the Galápagos Marine Reserve covering 142,758 km² and the Hermandad Marine Reserve 60,000 km²), representing 79% of Ecuador’s continental territory.

We are pleased to announce that the organization now has an institutional identity, created through a participatory process with young people from the islands. This identity is symbolized by the tail fins of two migratory marine animals from Galápagos—a whale and a hammerhead shark—which now represent the Galápagos Life Fund.

GLF is committed to serving the Galápagos community, Ecuador, and the world by sharing information about our efforts to protect this unique archipelago through innovative sustainability initiatives.