Frente Insular de la Reserva Marina de Galápagos

We are thrilled to partner with Frente Insular, and signed a 'convenio' with its director Alberto Andrade in July 2021 to work together to reduce litter and plastic pollution on the islands and to promote the 'Adopt the World' initiative. This has included volunteering on a number of coastal clean ups in 2021 as listed below.

FRENTE INSULAR

Frente Insular de la Reserva Marina de Galápagos is a community pressure and social action group for the conservation and protection of the Galapagos Marine Reserve led by Alberto Andrade.

It formed in August 2017, as a result of protests on the islands against a ship flying under the Chinese flag in the waters around the Galápagos Islands. The ship was carrying around 300 tons of protected species that had been fished in the marine reserve  including different species of sharks.

It's primary focuses are: 

Campaigning for the expansion of the Galápagos Marine Reserve: It has successfully raised global awareness in this area with President Lasso announcing at the COP 26 summit in Glasgow in November 2021 that the marine reserve is to be be expanded by 60,000 square km.  

Coastal cleanup campaign: Supported the Ministry of the Environment and the Galapagos National Park by providing volunteers, raising awareness about and facilitating various coastal cleanups to mark global conservation days such as Earth Day and the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. 

Uniquely Galapagos has supported the following coastal and urban cleanups in 2021 either with Frente Insular or as a stand alone:

EU Beach Clean Up Day 15th October 2021

World CleanUp Day 18th September 2021

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 26th July 2021

World Recycling Day Monday 17th May 2021

Earth Day Thursday 22nd April 2021

Hope campaign:  During the pandemic it galvanised the local community to distribute food to the disadvantaged, contributing to the circular economy. 

2022

We look forward to continuing to support Frente Insular in the community and in particular with the calendarised coastal cleanups and providing tourists with volunteer opportunities on these and at local farms.