Prince Henri of Luxembourg chose the winners following a selection process conducted by representatives from the Galapagos National Park Service, the Charles Darwin Research Station, the Galapagos Chamber of Tourism and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism. The criteria for the selection and evaluation of the naturalist guides included quality of interpretation and the level of support generated for conservation activities in the Galapagos Archipelago.
There were two winners of the Prince Henri Award for Excellence: Rafael Pesantes and Juan Carlos Sosa. Oswaldo Chapi, one of the first naturalists ever working in the Galapagos, received an honorable mention for his years of work with the community and for his commitment to conservation.
The ceremony was very warm and emotional. All Galapagos authorities were there, and several of the Galapagos Naturalists. This award is a great motivation for all of us to keep working for the islands we love.
Rafael thanked Prince Henri of Luxembourg, the representatives of the Park Service and the Station for the prize, as well as everyone in the Galapagos, noting that Galapagos is each and every one of us. He said that at the beginning he did not want to accept the honor, since there are many other good naturalists dedicated to the islands; however he finally decided to consent because this award is a good incentive for all other Naturalists to give back to the islands at all times, by being directly involved in the conservation of their unique biota.
He pointed out that human beings have to always keep going a step further, continuously learning. This prize he has received is one more step, but he will keep giving more and more to the place where he was born and raised. Rafael will use his award to pursue professional development, in order to re-invest his acquired knowledge in the children from his home islands.
We celebrated the winners with a cocktail at the Hotel Angermeyer. Everyone present that evening shared the same passion for Galapagos. Back on the Polaris we privately congratulated our colleague and friend Rafael. He has made us, both as a team of guides and as a company, very proud. And as Rafael said in his speech: "I feel it is my love for the islands that shines through my work and helps to emphasize the endless knowledge one can gain from this archipelago." That love is contagious, and the energy to work for the future of this unique place is contagious as well, so we'll all keep giving the best of ourselves for the conservation of these enchanted islands.
