Innovation Leader: Santiago Dunn, Executive President, Ecoventura

Nominated by: Doris Welsh, Director of Sales and Marketing, Ecoventura (Individual Category)

Project Description:

Darwin’s Enchanted Isles are one of our planets most precious and unique ecosystems, home to an extraordinary profusion of exotic, often endemic flora and fauna. Tourism to this remote volcanic archipelago is both part of the solution and also part of the problem. Humans have unwittingly brought alien species that compete with native plants and animals. The growing number of settlers migrating from the mainland of Ecuador to the islands has put pressure on a fragile environment that imperils the entire ecosystem. As a result in 2007, UNESCO declared Galapagos as a World Heritage Site at risk.

Ecoventura is a family-owned expedition cruise company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador and operate a fleet of four expedition vessels; the Eric, Flamingo & Letty, identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts and the 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard, the Galapagos Sky. Scheduled departures are offered every Sunday from San Cristobal Island on comprehensive 7-night itinerary including the most spectacular islands. In small groups of ten guests per guide, passengers enjoy intimate visits on shore with expert naturalists while treading lightly on the environment and participate in activities including nature walks, snorkeling, kayaking, photography, bird-watching and scuba diving.

Our mission is to safeguard the environment by offering environmentally friendly cruises that minimize the environmental impact of its operations while supporting sustainable tourism and local community involvement. Ecoventura was one of the first recipients of SmartVoyager, a voluntary environmental program developed by Corporacion y Desarollo from Ecuador and The Rainforest Alliance from New York. In order to comply, all Ecoventura boats meet a strict set of conservation and social standards that were designed by scientists, conservation experts and tour operators. As a result of several initiatives of President and Owner Santiago Dunn, Ecoventura has become a leader in sustainable tourism in Galapagos.

Highlights of 2009 initiatives and programs include:

Ecoventura was the first company in Galapagos (and Ecuador) to become Carbon Neutral. Carbon emissions from the company’s four yachts (and offices including business travel) are reduced, then offset by a portfolio of projects through US-based company Native Energy Travel Offsets. What is really significant is that Ecoventura is not waiting for passengers to “opt-in” to an offset program, rather the company is covering the full amount for offsets upfront to ensure the company is carbon neutral. Passengers are also encouraged to offset other portions of their trip and Ecoventura partners with other sustainable travel providers such as airlines and hotels.

In 2009, Ecoventura offset 4435 Short TONS of CO2 to lower carbon emissions by 10% and help combat global warming. In late 2008 and early 2009, 40 solar panels and two wind generators were installed to the M/Y ERIC, thereby operating the first hybrid energy yacht in the Galapagos. The goal is to produce 9kw per day or the equivalent of 17% of the energy previously supplied by diesel generators.

Ecoventura, together with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), established the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF) with the objective to strengthen the local communities’ ability to manage natural resources. Through two strategies; conservation education and marine conservation, GMBF puts donated funds to work supporting local projects through grants and addressing critical issues, reversing ecological damage and conserving Galapagos for the future.

Through the deployment of the Tiburon Martillo in 2009, a permanent floating station near the Islands of Wolf and Darwin, park rangers can patrol the area for illegal shark finning and long-line fishing activity within the protected marine reserve. Hammerhead and other shark species around the world are being harvested primarily for their fins and the Galapagos Marine Reserve remains one of the last regions where these creatures can be seen gathered by the hundreds. It is vital to establish a local and permanent surveillance and patrolling platform that will deter illegal fishing vessels from entering these waters.

The fund has provided 23 scholarships to local students to attend a two year technical career program at the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts & Sciences (GAIAS), part of the University of San Francisco de Quito’s Galapagos campus located on the Island of San Cristobal. The grantees pursue careers in environmental management, tourism and business administration. The objective is to form community leaders to help manage conservation and be prepared to take a stand against illegal fishing that threatens the Islands ecosystem. The first students to complete their two year program graduated in August 2009.

Funds from GMBF have also been allocated to benefit families of local fishermen by development of a micro-enterprise for the fisherman’s wives to manage. This provides them with an alternate means of income and also set an example to create other tourism related businesses and reduce the need to fish. This particular project involved converting a fishing boat into a restaurant and boutique and training the women to manage and market their business. A 30-year lease was secured from the municipality and is located along the boardwalk on San Cristobal Island providing a service for tourists as well as benefiting community development.

Through the foundation “Gotitas de Esperanza” (drops of hope), Ecoventura has pledged to sponsor the salaries for teachers and Physical Therapists who work at a local school called Alejandro Alvear on San Cristobal Island. During the day, the school provides therapy for children with Down’s Syndrome and other physical disabilities. In the evenings, the school serves the adult population of the Island through programs such as teaching sign language for the hearing impaired.

As one of the more well-established tour companies based in San Cristobal, Ecoventura has supported various initiatives that benefit the local population living in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal including employment of the local population. All Ecoventura guides hired by Ecuadorian are nationals; 65% are Galapagos residents and 25% are native Galapaguenos. Out of 61 crew members, 37% reside permanently in the Galapagos Islands and of those 15% are native Galapaguenos.

Graduating Class of 2009

Ecoventura Crew

Eric: Solar and Wind Powered Galapagos Ship

Awards & Recognitions:

In 2008, Ecoventura was presented with the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism – Best in a Marine Environment award during World Travel Market in London. Distinguished judges noted Ecoventura’s contribution toward improving conditions for local people in Galapagos and for being among the first operators to be independently audited.

In 2009, Ecoventura was featured by the Conde Nast World Savers Award 2009 as the top scoring cruise line. The panel of judges noted the company was exceptional in education, preservation, poverty and health. In November 2009, Ecoventura received Travel + Leisure’s 5th annual Global Vision Award for Green Cruising.

Opportunity to Get to Know Santiago and Ecoventura

Santiago Dunn, Executive President of Ecoventura will be presenting at this year’s Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) – being held from September 8th to 10th, Portland, Oregon, USA. Santiago will be speaking on the panel “Tour operators roundtable on sustainable tourism business strategies” (Thursday, September 9th, 2010 – 1:50-3:40pm). To learn more about the conference and to register, please see the conference website: www.ecotourismconference.org.