Monday 21 May 2018

THE JONES VISIT THE CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION

Some Jones at Charles Darwin Research Station
Today, The Jones are visiting Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island, one of The Galápagos Islands. They are in the island to visit The Charles Darwin Foundation and meet the scientists who are working here.

Santa Cruz Island is one of the Galápagos Islands with an area of 986 km2 and a maximum altitude of 864 metres. Situated in the center of the archipelago, Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela. Its capital is Puerto Ayora, the most populated urban centre in the islands. 

On Santa Cruz there are some small villages, whose inhabitants work in agriculture and cattle raising. This island is a large dormant volcano. It is estimated that the last eruptions occurred around a million and a half years ago. There is a gigantic lava tunnel that is over 2000 meters long on the island that many tourists visit and walk through. 

More information: Ecuador Volunteer

As a testimony to its volcanic history there are two big holes formed by the collapse of a magma chamber: Los Gemelos, or The Twins. Named after the Holy Cross, its English name, Indefatigable, was given after a British vessel HMS Indefatigable. Santa Cruz hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of Puerto Ayora, with a total of 12,000 residents on the island. 

Claudia Jones in Tortuga Bay
Tortuga Bay is located on the Santa Cruz Island, a short walk from center of Puerto Ayora where you can view marine iguanas, birds, galapagos crabs and a natural mangrove where you can spot white tip reef sharks and the gigantic galápagos tortoise.

The Charles Darwin Foundation was founded in 1959, under the auspices of UNESCO and the World Conservation Union. The Charles Darwin Research Station serves as headquarters for The Foundation, and is used to conduct scientific research and promote environmental education.

Lonesome George at the Charles Darwin Research Station, estimated to be over 100 years old at his death in 2012.

More information: Trip Advisor

The Charles Darwin Foundation is based in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos.

Charles Darwin
The Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) is a biological research station operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation. It is located on the shore of Academy Bay in the village of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos Islands, with satellite offices on Isabela and San Cristóbal islands.

In Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Ecuadorian and foreign scientists work on research and projects for conservation of the Galápagos terrestrial and marine ecosystems. 

The Research Station, established in 1959 and dedicated in 1964, has a natural history interpretation center and also carries out educational projects in support of conservation of the Galápagos Islands, and in support of external researchers visiting the islands to conduct field work.

More information: Charles Darwin Foundation

The objectives of the CDRS is to conduct scientific research and environmental education for conservation. The Station has a team of over a hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students, and support staff from all over the world.
Scientific research and monitoring projects are conducted at the CDRS in conjunction and cooperation with its chief partner, the Galápagos National Park Service (GNPS), which functions as the principal government authority in charge of conservation and natural resource issues in the Galápagos.

The work of the CDRS has as its main objectives:

-To promote, facilitate, design, and implement the scientific investigation necessary for the understanding of biological principles, better understanding of ecosystems, and adequate management of the islands’ natural resources.


Some Jones at Charles Darwin Research Station
-To advise the Ecuadorian authorities on the subject of conservation and management of natural resources in the Galápagos Islands.

-To collaborate with Ecuadorian institutions on the implementation of programs involved in scientific investigation and education.

-To contribute to the development of scientific and technical personnel from Ecuador who are specialized in natural sciences and natural resource management.

-To contribute and collaborate on educational programs related to the conservation of the islands.

-To compile the results of the scientific investigations and the other activities of the organization and to disseminate this information regionally, nationally, and internationally.


More information: Galápagos Conservation


 I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, 
if useful, is preserved, by the term of Natural Selection. 

Charles Darwin

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