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Conservation

WildAid

San Francisco, CA - United States
Strengthening Law Enforcement and Quarantine Mechanisms in the Galapagos Archipelago
$705,463; three years

The Helmsley Trust is supporting a three-year effort by WildAid to increase the capacity of the Galapagos National Park Service to control and monitor the activities of all vessels operating within the Galapagos Marine Reserve. This project will establish strict quarantine procedures in cooperation with local authorities and expand satellite monitoring capabilities in order to protect the biodiversity of the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Illegal fishing, pollution, development, and the introduction of destructive alien species by increased traffic threaten the unique and spectacular marine biodiversity of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The integrity of Galapagos ecosystems and their evolution are at a crossroads, necessitating increased vigilance and patrolling. WildAid assists the GNPS in ensuring the uninterrupted patrolling of the GMR by providing training, equipment, personnel, funding, and the maintenance of oceanic vessels and a patrol plane. As a result of the organization’s efforts, the number of illegal fishing seizures within the Galpagos Marine Reserve has increased 700% since 2006, and it has facilitated the prosecution of sixty cases.

Founded in 1999, WildAid raises public awareness to support wildlife conservation and to reduce the demand for threatened and endangered species products.

World Wildlife Fund

Washington, DC - United States
Sustainable Tourism Management and Marine Management
$450,000; three years

Through the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Trust is supporting a three-part effort aimed at managing tourism in the Galapagos Archipelago: the development of a new tourism management system that is capable of controlling and promoting tourism; the design and implementation of a new management system for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Galapagos Marine Reserve; and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the management system for the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

While remote and well-known for harboring some of the world’s most unique biodiversity, the Galapagos islands are increasingly threatened by unsustainable development, tourism, and inadequate management systems. Without strong management regimes in place to help control human use and impact on the islands, the iconic archipelago is at risk of environmental degradation and decline. This grant will help the organization put in place the standards and management protocols necessary to preserve the unique ecosystems and biodiversity of the Galapagos over the long term through improving and controlling tourism, fisheries management, and more stringent governance of marine resources.

Founded in 1961, WWF’s mission is the conservation of nature. Using the best available scientific knowledge, WWF works to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth and the health of ecological systems.

International Documentary Association

Los Angeles, CA - United States
The Birds of Isla Rasa
$116,559; one year

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust is supporting the completion of a high-quality documentary, The Birds of Isla Rasa, to raise awareness among the local population of the need for conservation. Funds will be used to hire outside professionals to assist with the editing and post-production work.

The Gulf of California is located in Mexico and is a threatened region for reasons ranging from increased tourism, to sport fishing, to over fishing. Unfortunately, many Mexicans do not appreciate the region because it is difficult and expensive to get to and some do not have a true understanding or sense of pride in the region. In addition, the focus of the region has been primarily on tourism and its economic benefits, regardless of the environmental degradation. This is not a viable long-term strategy, as over fishing will eventually take its toll on sport fishing and tourism overall will suffer. The Birds of Isla Rasa traces the breeding season of two species of seabirds that nest on a tiny island in the middle of the Gulf of California. It is a remarkable tale of the birds’ survival, a true story of one of the most successful conservation efforts in the Gulf of California. The filmmakers plan to work with schools and communities in the region to show them the beauty of the region, hoping to galvanize community engagement and support for sustainable, environmental practices.

The International Documentary Association (IDA) was founded in 1982 as a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to supporting the efforts of nonfiction film and video makers throughout the United States and the world; promoting the documentary form; and expanding opportunities for the production, distribution, and exhibition of documentary film.

Conservation International

Los Angeles, CA - United States
Conservation and Sustainable Development
$330,000; three years

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust is supporting two Conservation International projects in Galapagos: the installation of fixed mooring systems in sensitive visitor sights of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, and the reforesting of farmland with native Scalesia forests.

Conservation International is addressing issues which involve tourism management, invasive species, and threatened marine life. By establishing fixed mooring lines at sensitive visitor sites and requiring boats to use these moorings, Conservation International will help limit tourist boats at these sites and protect the seafloor from anchors and dragging lines. Separately, Conservation International will also help reforest endemic Scalesia trees in place of harmful, invasive plant species. By reforesting land, not only will populations of endemic birds and tortoises benefit, but the Galapagos National Park will benefit since it will deter invasive species from gaining a foothold on land adjacent to the national park.

Conservation International was founded in 1987 with a mission of empowering societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature for the well-being of humanity. CI believes that by protecting nature and its gifts – a stable climate, fresh water, healthy oceans and reliable food, it can ensure a better life for everyone, everywhere.

International League of Conservation Photographers

Arlington, VA - United States
Enhancing Institutional Capacity
$450,000; three years

 With this grant, the Trust is providing the International League of Conservation Photographers with core staffing support for three positions for its RAVE (Rapid Assessment Visual Expedition) Program, as well as general support for ILCP operations to support its mission of furthering environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography.

The International League of Conservation Photographers launched its RAVE Program to address the need for visual depictions of issues in conservation. RAVE places a multi-disciplinary team - including specialized ILCP photographers (landscape, wildlife, macro, camera trapping, portraiture), writers and cameramen – into the heart of an area in need of conservation, often an area facing a significant environmental crisis. In the course of a few days, the RAVE team captures tens of thousands of striking images of a region. RAVE photographs depict the human, animal, and environmental aspects of conservation issues and transform abstract issues into concrete, visual stories.

ILCP was founded in 2003 by photographer Cristina Mittermeier to support the pivotal role photography can play in addressing the increasing challenges in conservation. ILCP provides compelling images to conservation campaigns to attract attention to the causes for which these organizations are working.

Through the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), The Trust is supporting photographic and multi-media fieldwork in the Galapagos archipelago and Baja California and the development of a website focusing on conservation issues.

Increased development in the Galapagos (Ecuador) and Baja California (Mexico) is threatening areas which are precious in terms of their natural beauty, their importance to research in areas ranging from species adaptation to climate change, as well as the survival of animal species, plant species and the threatened areas themselves. There is a need for more compelling photographs and video to support conservation campaigns. By using professional conservation photographers, the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), has found success by drawing attention to critical conservation issues. Their campaigns have stopped harmful development from occurring and have harnessed the public will for change.

The International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) was founded in 2003 by photographer Cristina Mittermeier to support the pivotal role photography can play in addressing the increasing challenges in conservation. ILCP provides compelling images to conservation campaigns to attract attention to the causes for which these organizations are working.

The Helmsley Trust is supporting a three-year matching fund partnership with the Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Fund for grantmaking to local projects in the Galápagos Islands. These projects will support capacity building, sustainability in tourism and local businesses, education, and ecosystem restoration in the Galápagos Islands.

The Galapagos islands face several challenges to conservation and sustainability including: increased population and tourism resulting in increased development; invasive introduced species and illegal fishing. Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Society believe that conservation and tourism can go hand in hand. For this reason, they created an onboard giving program for guests, allowing them to support the implementation of education, conservation, and research programs in destinations they visit, such as the Galapagos. The fund in the Galapagos has been active since 1997 and has raised nearly $5 million for critical work in the islands.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company providing voyages in the Galápagos, Antarctica, Baja California, Alaska, the Arctic, and beyond.