In Galápagos, 97% of the land mass is protected as part of the Galápagos National Park. On the remaining 3% of the land live more than 35,000 people who will shape the future of this unique place. Heat and intense rainfall threaten these urban hubs, putting individuals at risk of health complications and threatening the integrity of infrastructure and an economy dependent on tourism.

Nestled near the mountains of Chimborazo, the livelihood of the indigenous Santa Catalina community hangs in the balance as droughts ravage the country. In addition to investigating water management, securing this community’s future also requires empowering the community to gather local knowledge to better understand the risks they face.   

Humans are not the only ones in Guatemala that face climate threats: the endangered turtles face pressures from increased heat, intense rains, and storm surges. Working together with the community towards mangrove restoration may be the key to protect the human and non-human inhabitants.   

The Galápagos Education and Research Alliance (GERA) aims to support communities in Ecuador and Guatemala in building resilience against climate change, protecting biodiversity, and promoting the health of humans and non-humans alike. GERA is a partnership among members of these communities and faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and Rutgers University. Our work focuses on addressing the most pressing issues facing the global community: How will climate change affect our lives and the lives of those around us? How can communities prepare for the coming climate emergency? How can the tools of community science be used to increase civic engagement with these issues and empower the local community to protect their home?

We address these crucial questions by partnering with the people of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, in addition to the community of Santa Catalina near Chimborazo on the Ecuadorian mainland, and the coastal community of El Garriton, Guatemala. GERA is predicated on the idea that the only way to balance growth and conservation is to work in concert with communities like these.