The progress of conservation in the Galapagos had a very slow start in its early stages and has gained significant momentum, especially in recent years with the passing of renewed special legislation by the Ecuadorian Government.

The attention of the international community on the scientific importance of Galapagos has been continually high from the days of Darwin, over a century and a half ago. But it's in the 1930s that the scientific community began to take note of real conservation challenges.

Many relevant persons and institutions began voicing concerns about the future of Galapagos and proposed several conservation measures including legal measures and a scientific research station. Among notable people with deep interest in the Galapagos was President Roosevelt, who visited the islands in 1938.

Early on the Ecuadorian government enacted legislation aimed at the protection of the islands, but this legislation lacked substance and the political will to enforce it.

In 1959, in commemoration of Darwin's "Origin of the Species" centennial, the Ecuadorian government declared the Galapagos Islands a National Park (except the already populated areas).

In this year the Charles Darwin Foundation was incorporated with the auspices of UNESCO and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

To this day, the CDF, with base in Santa Cruz Island, has become a pillar of scientific research in the Galapagos and of a hearty, practical player one behalf of their conservation. The Charles Darwin Research station works hand in hand with the Galapagos National Park Service.

There are many challenges for Galapagos conservation efforts. Perhaps one of the biggest ones is the eradication of introduced species. Oceanic islands such as the Galapagos have an ecosystem which is particularly vulnerable to introduced species which compete for food and vital space with native animals.
Rats, dogs, cats, goats and pigs, among other, define the panorama of introduced animals and the threat this represents. Controls to prevent the introduction of animal and plant species is also of utmost importance.

There are many success stories in the Galapagos regarding the control and eradication of introduced species.

For example, Santa Fe Island was once plagued by goats, but they were eradicated in 1971. This is an island on its way to recovery. Pigs have almost been completely eradicated in Santiago Island. This will help many of the native species, including tortoises, sea turtles, dark-rumped petrels, and Galápagos rails. It will pave the way for a goat eradication campaign, and it will be a major step towards the restoration of Santiago.

As important as conservation is, it should be noted that restoration is also a key element. This is, to restore as much as possible the habitats to the conditions that existed before human borne impacts came along.

A good example of restoration efforts is with Española tortoises, which after breeding programs in the Charles Darwin Research Station they were brought back from the brink of extinction, with hundreds of them having already been repatriated to Española Island.

Also, iguanas have been repatriated by the dozens to Baltra island, where their population had faded.

The Galapagos Islands were declared a marine reserve in 1988, constituting the second largest marine reserve in the world, and special legislation was passed in 1998. Legislation with more reach, and which highlights an important political will to face Galapagos conservation issues with more substance

This has prompted renewed international support for the conservation of Galapagos. Nowadays there are dozens of different conservation programs being studied or implemented with the support of numerous organizations, ranging from small foreign foundations to world known institutions such as Wild Aid and the World Wildlife Fund.

There are many encouraging stories of successful research and restoration activities. Today's visitors can become a

part of this success. This should encourage the active continuation of conservation efforts and the implementation of the many improvements that are still required to confront the many threats the Galapagos face.