An ambitious collaboration is transforming ecological restoration and invasive species management through real-time monitoring on Floreana Island.

Cuenca, Ecuador – October 22, 2026 –The Smart Island Monitoring System on Floreana Island in the Galápagos has been selected as a Top 50 Finalist for the 2026 Premios Verdes, one of the region’s most recognized platforms for identifying and amplifying high-impact environmental and social initiatives across Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Developed by Island Conservation with technology partners Wildlife Protection Solutions, Smart Parks, and EarthRanger, the Smart Island Monitoring System was deployed on Floreana through a collaboration with Fundación Jocotoco and the Galápagos National Park Directorate. The system combines an island-wide LoRaWAN Internet of Things (IoT) network with autonomous AI-enabled camera traps, smart traps, animal trackers, and real-time data visualization platforms to deliver vital information to conservationists. By capturing and analyzing more than 8,500 photos each month, it is transforming wildlife monitoring and freeing conservation teams to spend more time working in the field.

“On Floreana, this technology is vital to the work of our park rangers. It helps them monitor the island more effectively and make timely, informed decisions in the field. What we learn here will also strengthen our efforts to protect biodiversity across the Galápagos archipelago,” said Pablo Sánchez Hidalgo, Director of the Galapagos National Park. 

Founded in Ecuador, Premios Verdes identifies, connects, and amplifies high-impact social and environmental initiatives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Each year, it evaluates hundreds of projects for measurable impact, innovation, contributions to sustainable development, scalability, long-term viability, and the potential to generate positive environmental and social outcomes. Recognition places the Smart Island Monitoring System among a highly competitive group of projects and demonstrates that innovations supporting ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection in the Galápagos can offer valuable lessons for protected areas and conservation initiatives worldwide.  

“On Floreana, this technology is vital to the work of our park rangers. It helps them monitor the island more effectively and make timely, informed decisions in the field. What we learn here will also strengthen our efforts to protect biodiversity across the Galápagos archipelago,” said Pablo Sánchez Hidalgo, Director of the Galapagos National Park. 

Founded in Ecuador, Premios Verdes identifies, connects, and amplifies high-impact social and environmental initiatives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Each year, it evaluates hundreds of projects for measurable impact, innovation, contributions to sustainable development, scalability, long-term viability, and the potential to generate positive environmental and social outcomes. Recognition places the Smart Island Monitoring System among a highly competitive group of projects and demonstrates that innovations supporting ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection in the Galápagos can offer valuable lessons for protected areas and conservation initiatives worldwide.  

“Applying to Premios Verdes gave us the opportunity to bring together the results, challenges, and lessons from implementing this technology on Floreana. We wanted to show how a system developed through collaboration and learning in the field can make a practical difference for conservation. Being selected among the Top 50 finalists out of 2,087 projects is a recognition of that collective effort and an opportunity to share our experience with other islands,” said Renato Perez-Loyola, Technology Innovation Coordinator for Jocotoco.   

On Floreana Island, the Ecological Restoration Project is working to address invasive species and create the conditions for 12 locally extinct species to return. As this long-term effort advances,  the network is helping conservation teams access information more efficiently, improve coordination across field operations, and make faster, more informed decisions in support of ecosystem recovery. For example, the process of detecting and tracking down a specific animal on the island—a process that once may have taken weeks or months—can now be accomplished in mere hours or days. Since its deployment in January of 2026, the Smart Islands Monitoring System has captured 603373 images and saved conservationists an approximated 86 days of work.  

“Every restoration effort needs good eyes on the ground. This network is making sure that when Floreana’s bird species return, the island is ready for them. Because the goal is not only to remove threats posed by invasive species, it is to bring life back,” added Rakan Zahawi, Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation who helped finance the initiative and is a co-executor of the island’s Restoration Project. 

The project demonstrates how connected conservation technologies can be deployed in remote landscapes where traditional communications infrastructure is unavailable. The system replaces delayed reporting and disconnected data sources with a shared view of activity across the landscape, enabling conservation practitioners to make faster, more data-driven decisions. The larger impact comes not from the technology alone, but from giving conservation professionals the information and connectivity they need to work effectively in challenging, remote conditions. 

For the Smart Island Monitoring System, recognition by Premios Verdes highlights the potential for partnerships between conservation organizations, protected area managers, and technology innovators to create scalable solutions with global relevance. As restoration efforts continue in the Galápagos, project partners remain focused on expanding the use of innovative tools and collaborative approaches that can help conservation teams achieve greater impact throughout Latin America and the world. 

Media Assets 

Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Yiul-4vFRJhuyA2Yfl7ehSOw8ug1sO2p?usp=sharing    

Interviews available upon request.  

Media Contacts:

Island Conservation  

Sally Esposito, Senior Communications Director  

sally.esposito@islandconservation.org  

Fundacion Jocotoco   

Isabel Grijalva, Communications Coordinator, Fundación Jocotoco  

isabel.grijalva@jocotoco.org.ec 

Other orgs add as needed 

About Floreana Island

 Floreana Island is one of the oldest islands in the Galápagos Archipelago and home to a community of approximately 160 residents. Once rich with unique wildlife, Floreana experienced dramatic ecological decline following the introduction of invasive mammals in the 18th and 19th centuries. The island is historically significant for its role in early human settlement in the Galápagos and is recognized today as a priority site for global biodiversity recovery.  

About the Smart Island Monitoring System

Wildlife Protection Solutions contributed wpsWatch, a platform that simplifies how camera traps are managed across the island. Instead of manually checking equipment, rangers can now see which cameras are working properly and which may need attention. The system automatically reviews images with customized AI to detect wildlife activity and sends alerts to rangers via WhatsApp and EarthRanger when targeted animals are detected, helping teams focus only on what matters most. Smart Parks supported the design and setup of the island’s LoRaWAN communication network and TrapEdge smart trap sensors. This allows conservation staff to see the location and status of traps and tracking devices in near real time, without needing to physically visit each one. As a result, issues can be identified early, equipment stays operational for longer, and field teams can work more efficiently.   

All information from cameras, sensors, and ranger patrols is brought together in EarthRanger, a software platform provided by Ai2, a Seattle-based nonprofit research institute. EarthRanger turns complex streams of data into a clear, visual picture of what is happening across the island, helping rangers and managers make informed decisions quickly and confidently.  

About the Floreana Island Ecological Restoration Project

The Floreana Island Ecological Restoration Project is led by the Galápagos National Park Directorate along with the Biosecurity and Quarantine Agency for Galápagos. It is part of the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge, an international collective with the goal of beginning holistic restoration on 40 globally significant islands from ridge to reef by 2030. It is co-executed by Fundación Jocotoco, the Charles Darwin Foundation, and Island Conservation, with the support of several partner organizations. 

Countless individuals and the following organizations generously supported this monumental project along the way: Bell Laboratories, Inc., Blue Action Fund, Global Environmental Facility, Charities Aid Foundation Canada, Conservation International Foundation, Corporacion Andina de Fomento (Development Bank of Latin America), Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Ecoventura, Fondation Ensemble, Fondo Especies Invasoras Galápagos,Fundación Galápagos, Galápagos Conservation Trust, Global Environment Facility, Konrad Lorenz Research Center – Vienna University, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (German Development Bank), Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund, The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Once Upon a Time Foundation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Silversea Cruises, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, The Conservation Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The International Galápagos Tour Operators Association, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the U.K. Government (through The Darwin Initiative), Tourism Cares, Re:wild, The Raptor Center, Unigalapagos, Willow Grove Foundation, and other anonymous donors. 

About the Collaborators

Island Conservation’s mission is to restore islands for nature and people worldwide. We are a United States–based 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a globally distributed team—often made up of local islanders who bring deep knowledge and connection to the places where we work. Together, we collaborate with local communities, government management agencies, and conservation organizations to holistically restore islands by bringing back biodiversity, the foundation of all healthy ecosystems. We do this by removing a primary threat (introduced, damaging invasive species) and accelerating the return of native plants and animals. We utilize innovative technology and techniques to work more efficiently and showcase the many benefits of holistically restored islands for biodiversity, climate resilience, ocean health, and sustainable development across the globe.  

Fundación Jocotoco is an Ecuadorian conservation organization dedicated to protecting the country’s most threatened ecosystems and species through science-based conservation, habitat restoration, and strong local leadership. Since its founding in 1998, Jocotoco has established and manages a network of protected areas across mainland Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, safeguarding critical habitats for endemic and endangered species.  

In the Galápagos, Fundación Jocotoco plays a key role in large-scale restoration initiatives, including the Floreana Island Ecological Restoration Project, working closely with local communities, government authorities, and national and international partners. Through long-term planning, research, and community engagement, Jocotoco supports the recovery of ecological processes that sustain both biodiversity and human well-being. For more information please visit: https://jocotoco.org.ec/  

Charles Darwin Foundation 

The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands (CDF) is an international non-profit organization that has operated in Galapagos since 1959 under a special agreement with the Government of Ecuador. Its mission, and that of its Research Station, is to address the greatest threats and challenges facing Galapagos through scientific research and conservation actions, to protect one of the world’s most important natural treasures. Today CDF supports more than 25 research, conservation, and education projects across land and sea, and is the custodian of over 137,000 specimens in its Natural History Collections. Its diverse team of more than 140 scientists, educators, and support staff is composed primarily of Ecuadorian citizens, with over 60% from Galápagos. 

For more information, please visit: www.darwinfoundation.org 

Wildlife Protection Solutions  

https://www.wildlifeprotectionsolutions.org/ Wildlife Protection Solutions (WPS) is an international nonprofit that uses technology to help protect endangered species, ecosystems, and the communities connected to them. Through AI-enhanced monitoring, camera traps, remote sensors, real-time alerts, and immersive education experiences, WPS gives conservation teams better tools to monitor landscapes, respond to threats, and build public support for wildlife protection.  

Smart Parks  

https://www.smartparks.org is a nonprofit technology organization that helps conservation teams monitor and protect wildlife more effectively in remote and challenging environments. By developing and deploying open, field-ready systems such as LoRaWAN communication networks and smart sensors, Smart Parks enables real-time visibility into traps, tracking devices, and other critical conservation tools. On Floreana, Smart Parks supported the design and setup of the island’s communication network and TrapEdge smart trap sensors, helping teams detect issues earlier, reduce manual field checks, and keep essential equipment operating reliably. Through practical, scalable technology, Smart Parks strengthens conservation efforts by making it easier for field teams to respond quickly and work more efficiently.   

EarthRanger   

EarthRanger is a data visualization and analysis platform provided at no cost by Ai2, a Seattle-based nonprofit research institute. It gives conservationists the real-time information they need to keep wildlife, habitats, and communities safe. It collects, integrates, and displays remote sensing data and field reports to effectively monitor collared wildlife, rangers, enforcement assets, and infrastructure within protected areas and landscapes. The application of EarthRanger is diverse and varies relative to the primary needs of the area or organization. Among them, the platform is used to monitor vast areas, track and study wildlife, coordinate ranger units, and proactively mitigate human-wildlife conflict.   

The EarthRanger program has been in place for over 10 years and has reduced threats to biodiversity and habitats in over 900 protected areas across 90 countries and on six continents. It has facilitated the reintroduction and restoration of diverse species and ecosystems that deliver global environmental and socioeconomic benefits. Follow EarthRanger’s work on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.   

Galapagos Conservation Trust 

Galapagos Conservation Trust is the only UK-registered charity focused solely on the conservation and responsible stewardship of the Galapagos Archipelago, and was founded in 1995 in response to the growing threat posed by humans. We believe that Galapagos can be a beacon of hope for the world as we tackle the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and we have been supporting the restoration of Floreana for over 20 years. 

Find out more: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/  

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