50TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION AND GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK

The Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park have completed 50 years of invaluable service to the global community. During the past half-century, these institutions and their dedicated employees have worked tirelessly to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren by protecting the unique ecosystem and natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands.

Since its creation, the Darwin Foundation has sponsored groundbreaking research on the evolutionary biology and ecology of the Galapagos that has changed our understanding of how ecosystems evolve all over the world. At the same time, both organizations have collaborated closely with the governments of Ecuador and the United States to help to promote sustainable, environmentally-friendly economic development that directly benefits the residents of the islands.

The United States has been behind these efforts from the beginning, contributing more than $30 million to a variety of programs managed by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, and other U.S. Government agencies that benefit the islands. The results of our collective efforts are a testimony to what can be achieved when private research and conservation organizations, agencies representing various governments, local businesses, and educational institutions work together to achieve a goal that benefits all of us. We look forward to continued cooperation with the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park, and wish them continued future success.