Galápagos snapdragon population recovers on Isabela Island

Conservation efforts have successfully increased the population of the critically endangered Galápagos snapdragon (Galvezia leucantha subsp. leucantha) on Isabela Island. After the species was thought to be nearly extinct, with only six individuals found in 2007, a long-term recovery program has helped the population grow to 28 healthy adult plants.

As part of the Galápagos Verde 2050 program, researchers collected seeds from the remaining plants and cultivated 94 young plants in nurseries between 2017 and 2024. These plants were reintroduced to the volcanic terrains of Playa Tortuga Negra and Caleta Tagus.

A significant milestone occurred in 2021 when researchers identified four new seedlings sprouting spontaneously in the wild. This provides the first evidence that the species can produce seeds and establish new generations in its natural habitat without human intervention.