On July 4, a ceremony was held at the Miguel Cifuentes Arias Community Center on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Galapagos National Park.
The Galapagos Islands are renowned for their rich biodiversity. However, it's essential to raise awareness about the significance and vulnerability of these ecosystems, particularly among local residents. Providing opportunities for environmental education and fostering a deeper understanding of the natural environment and ecosystems are crucial for sustainable conservation efforts in the Islands.
The Miguel Cifuentes Arias Community Center was built as part of JICA’s technical cooperation project, Conservation of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, which ran from 2004 to 2009. The center aimed to promote environmental education for locals, in collaboration with the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park. Over time, the facility deteriorated due to frequent use, the hot and humid Galapagos climate, and damage from El Niño. Consequently, renovation work was undertaken as part of JICA’s follow-up cooperation in fiscal year 2023. The ceremony also marked the unveiling of the newly renovated facility as a venue for local environmental education.
Ecuador’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition, Sade Fritschi, along with representatives from Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation, and various international organizations and universities involved in conservation efforts, attended the ceremony. Minister Fritschi expressed gratitude for JICA’s cooperation, emphasizing the significant contributions of these initiatives to the protection and sustainability of the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands.
Japan prioritizes environmental conservation and disaster prevention in its cooperation policy with Ecuador. JICA continues to provide technical cooperation through projects like the Promotion of SATOYAMA Initiative, which focuses on biodiversity conservation and rural development through sustainable resource management, and the Enhancement of Ecosystem Conservation Capacity in Coastal Areas. JICA remains committed to promoting environmental conservation cooperation in Ecuador.
