GCT ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT

We are delighted to welcome journalist, broadcaster and political commentator Andrew Marr as GCT's new President. He began his career at the Scotsman in 1981 and until last year was Political Editor at BBC News. These days he is found hosting Sunday AM on BBC One and BBC Radio 4's Start the Week each Monday.

"The pressure on the Galapagos Islands is greater than ever. External markets for tourism and shark fins are driving business growth in the Galapagos, which in turn has seen the local population double in the last five years," says Marr. "In this context there are increased threats to biodiversity through higher probabilities of arrival of invasive species, over harvests of natural resources and more frequent pollution events. Some of the new potential threats to biodiversity, including avian malaria, West Nile Fever and Bird Flu, may have highly damaging and unpredictable consequences."

Andrew first visited the Galapagos filming a special programme on Charles Darwin in 2002. He was so moved and inspired by the beautiful landscape and bizarre wildlife of the islands that the following year he agreed to speak to an audience at Galapagos Day 2003, held at the Royal Geographical Society's headquarters in London. Andrew is also remembered as Charles Darwin's champion in the BBC series of programmes that aimed to select the Greatest Briton. His talk ranged beyond the realms of animal and plant life, and considered what might be termed social and political Darwinism.

"We are honoured and delighted that Andrew Marr has agreed to become our President for the next 3 years," said Richard Robinson, Chairman of the Galapagos Conservation Trust. "If we are to protect the Galapagos, we must ensure that people understand that the Galapagos is under threat. Having such an experienced and high profile President as Andrew Marr will help us achieve that."

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