Green/Eco: People: A Galapagos Guardian

A Galapagos Guardian

The Galapagos Islands pose a dilemma for travelers. With its amazing wildlife, the region easily makes the list of the world’s natural travel wonders. Yet increased tourism—and the inevitable pollution that accompanies it—has helped place the “Enchanted Islands” on another list: World Heritage Sites in Danger. Fortunately, for green travelers who dream of seeing blue-footed boobies and Galapagos tortoises up close and personal, there’s Ecoventura (www.ecoventura.com), a travel company that leads 100% carbon neutral cruises into the Galapagos (they purchase carbon offsets from a provider called Native Energy).

The carbon-neutral aspect, though, is just the beginning. The company’s president Santiago Dunn, who took the reins from his father in 1995, co-founded Smart Voyager, an eco-certifying agency that works specifically with travel businesses in the Galapagos (and has some very high certification standards). He also helped establish the Galapagos Marine Biodiveristy Fund, which raises money to educate Galapagos residents about conservation. Cruises are seven nights long and take place on one of four vessels: the Eric, the Letty, the Flamingo or the Sky Diver. The first three are luxury yachts that accommodate no more than 20 people, while the fourth is a 16-person boat, designed specifically for diving. And while passengers might be required to use only biodegradable soaps, these eco-friendly voyages still feature the usual highlights of a Galapagos adventure: hikes with naturalists, clear-bottomed kayak rides and swimming and snorkeling sessions with sea lions.

Indagare caught up with Santiago Dunn, named an Individual Sustainable Standard Setter by the Rainforest Alliance, to learn more about his company.

The Galapagos Islands face a number of threats today—the introduction of alien species, poaching, pollution from tourists and new residents alike. What would you say is the greatest threat?

Introduced species are still the greatest threat as they bring with them the potential for viruses such as West Nile or Avian Flu. Also, the education system in Galapagos is lacking. We have partnered with the World Wildlife Fund to create the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund, which targets environmental education and marine conservation. The fund awards scholarships to local students so they can study for two years at the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts & Sciences (GAIAS), which is part of the University of San Francisco de Quito’s campus on the Island of San Cristobal. The objective is to form community leaders who will be prepared to manage conservation and to take a stand against illegal fishing and other actions that threaten the islands’ ecosystem.

You both founded and became certified by SmartVoyager, a certifying agency that has some pretty rigorous standards.

Yes, there is a laundry list of requirements: we had to purchase water maker (i.e. reverse osmosis) systems for all our yachts, and we now treat our waste water with purified ozone. Bacteria based liquids are also used in the holding tanks to accelerate the biodegradable process before the waste is released into the ocean 12 miles from the coast. All the engines on our dinghies were replaced with four stroke engines as they are quieter, use less fuel and emit less fumes; we only use lead-free or TBT free paint on the outer structures; varnish is never applied to the wood decks; cooling elements are free of R-12 gas which adds to the greenhouse effect; we only use biodegradable soaps and detergents and finally only yellow lights are used so that we do not attract insects. There are others as well; all employees, for instance, must be provided with medical insurance.

Why do you recommend Native Energy for carbon offset purchases?

They have a good reputation—they were credited in the movie An Inconvenient Truth, for instance—even though they are a for-profit organization. Plus, they have been pro-active in helping us market our sustainability.

What sorts of programs are there to help island residents manage their natural resources?

The GMBF helps provide alternative methods of income for fisherman. At the moment, one project involves converting a fishing boat into a restaurant and boutique to be managed by the fisherman’s wives. The women will be trained to manage and market their business and technical assistance will be provided to improve the quality of the artisan products sold. The boat was purchased after it was confiscated for illegal fishing. A 30-year lease was secured from the municipality and it’s now located along the boardwalk by Wreck Bay on San Cristobal Island, providing a service for tourists as well as benefiting community development.

What is something most people are surprised to learn when traveling to the Galapagos for the first time?

People are often surprised by how close they can get to the animals (though they aren’t allowed to touch them) and how unafraid the animals are of human visitors.

What are some of the “age-appropriate” activities you offer on your designated family trips?

Younger kids can visit the ship’s bridge and learn about navigational charts and how to tie nautical knots with our captain; they can also learn about astronomy with our guides. In the evening, there are activities like ice cream sundae socials, movie and popcorn nights, games with prizes, drawing contests as well as our King Neptune costume party and talent show. We also provide kid-friendly meals, books and DVDS, and briefings geared toward younger attention spans. In general, though, we have been seeing more families with older teenagers as well as extended multi-generational families.

What should be on one’s “must-do” list for a trip to the Galapagos? On our Sky Dancer ship it is all about scuba diving and we offer up to five dives per day. On the 3 sister yachts, for most people, the highlight of the trip is snorkeling with sea lions.

Are your boats the same? Do you have a favorite?

The Sky Dancer is newer and has a different layout customized for diving gear and accommodates just 16. The yachts (the Eric, the Flamingo and the Letty) are identical and can accommodate 20 passengers in 10 double cabins. My yachts are like children to me. I have three of each and I would never pick a favorite.

What animals would you say are on the must-see list for a Galapagos trip? In other words, does the Galapagos have its own Big Five?

That is a new one, but I would have to say the endemics: the flightless cormorant, the waived albatross, the Galapagos Penguin, the Darwin Finch and, of course, the Galapagos Tortoise.

Read Ecoventura’s tips for Galapagos travelers.