Project Summary:
Sustainability of the Galapagos
Graduate students involved in this project will be hosted by the Charles Darwin Foundation in the Galápagos, Ecuador. Since being established as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site of outstanding value to humanity, the Galapagos have undergone an exponential increase in terrestrial and marine biodiversity loss, climatic disturbance, ocean acidification, acute pressure of commercial and illegal fishing, freshwater depletion, agricultural expansion, international tourism arrivals, and population growth. These islands thus serve as a microcosm of the challenges being faced around our finite planet. Just as they have inspired lessons for evolution and natural science, these islands are well-poised to inspire sustainability thinking in other sites of treasured natural heritage. Several potential research projects may be explored, depending on the background and interests of the participating graduate student(s), as described in Table 1. Students are strongly encouraged to reach out to Dr. Carter Hunt (drcarterhunt.youcanbook.me) to discuss project development and permitting requirements. Note that proficiency in Spanish is required for this location.
Table 1: Overview of Prospective Research Opportunities with the Charles Darwin Foundation
Areas of Action |
Solutions of Interest |
Related Research Themes |
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use |
Conservation agriculture, Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders, Plant-rich Diets, Multistrata forestry, Silvopasture, Regenerative Annual Cropping, Farm Irrigation Efficiency, or Tree intercropping |
Role of tourism in food security and sovereignty*; food demands of both resident & visitor populations |
Transportation |
Walkable Cities, Bicycle Infrastructure, Electric bicycles, Electric Cars, and Public Transportation |
Implement & model socially and environmentally healthy alternatives |
Land, Coastal, and Ocean Sinks |
Abandoned farmland restoration, Tree plantation on degraded lands, Tropical forest restoration, Coastal Wetland Protection/Restoration |
Facilitate direct & indirect incentives to shift practices & policies for both marine sector and land use |
Industry |
Reduced food waste*, Composting, Recycling, Recycled paper, and Waste to Energy, Improved Tourism Management |
Model efficient management waste and recycling, including e-waste and its life cycle in the islands* |
Improve Society |
Health care capacities, educational access, equity and inclusion, local recreational infrastructure |
Enable livelihoods associated with better outcomes for women, improved fitness and quality of life for local residents |
*particularly lacking and of interest