Friends of Galapagos New Zealand Incorporated

Like New Zealand, the Galapagos is a world renowned and marvellous natural treasure, home to many extraordinary species of flora and fauna, found nowhere else. Unfortunately, also like New Zealand, the survival of many of these species is being jeopardised by a whole range of threats including invasive pests, diseases and urban development. Saving the Galapagos is vital, for the people of Galapagos and for the world.

Our mission is to help with the conservation of the natural environment and the threatened species of the Galapagos Islands by helping the local agencies to do their work more effectively. We have already helped with a wide range of projects, including setting up a quarantine system, GIS mapping the marine reserve, and working with the locals to conserve bats and several species of birds. Our latest initiative is supporting an Ecuadorian PhD student to undertake his doctorate at Massey University. His topic of research will be the Floreana mockingbird.

We can do this because New Zealand is a world leader in fields such as quarantine, island pest eradications, and threatened species management, and it often has the expertise that the Galapagos agencies need and lack. We can find, financially support and connect New Zealand experts with Galapagos managers on high priority projects that would not otherwise happen.

We need your support to continue:

• Sending New Zealand expert volunteers to the Galapagos to help with management programmes or to train local staff.

• Bringing Galapagos managers here, for training and to see how programmes are run (for example by the Department of Conservation and Biosecurity NZ)

• Providing specialist equipment, if needed for work on the Galapagos projects.

Please donate to our work so you can help ensure that the Galapagos’ wildlife survives and thrives, and the islands remain one of the world’s most important natural treasures.