The Galapagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the
Pacific Ocean, 972 km west of continental Ecuador. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site: wildlife is its most notable feature. The islands and its surrounding waters are part of a province, a national park, and a biological marine reserve. The principal language on the islands is Spanish. The islands have a population of around 23,000.

The islands are geologically young and famed for their vast number of endemic species, which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle. His observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

The first crude navigation chart of the islands was done by the buccaneer Ambrose Cowley in 1684. He named the individual islands after some of his fellow pirates or after the English noblemen who helped the privateer's cause. More recently, the Ecuadorian government gave most of the islands Spanish names. While the Spanish names are official, many users (especially ecological researchers) continue to use the older English names, particularly as those were the names used when Charles Darwin visited.

Shawn Parell, Deputy Communications Director
Sustainable Development - UN Foundation

Shawn is an avid traveler and a communications expert at the United Nations Foundation, where she focuses on conservation and sustainable tourism initiatives that further the United Nations' good work. She works closely with the United Nations Scientific, Cultural, and Education Organization (UNESCO) to protect and preserve our planet’s natural and cultural heritage through the World Heritage Alliance (WHA), a community of businesses, NGO’s, local stakeholders, and individuals committed to World Heritage conservation. Shawn is passionate about protecting and preserving our planet’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations to enjoy.

Murray
photographer, entrepreneur, avid traveler

Murray is an accomplished photographer, a successful entrepreneur, and an avid traveler. Shortly, he will be coming out with a photography book featuring Antarctica. He attributes his love for travel to a quest to experience different world cultures and environments, and is stimulated monthly by National Geographic magazine. He has traveled to dozens of countries on six continents and has gotten something positive from each and every adventure. He and his wife live in Santa Fe, New Mexico and have three adult children "who are all responsible globe trotters in their own right."

Hernan Borreno, Scuba Diver

Hernan is a professional scuba diver, naturalist guide, and biodiversity expert in the Galapagos Islands. He is a native Ecuadorian, and is passionate about protecting the Galapagos Islands World Heritage site while sharing its natural splendor with travelers from around the world.