A giant Galápagos tortoise inspired biologist Linda Cayot's career conserving the Galápagos Islands. Arturo de Frias Marques / Wikipedia / CC by 3.0
By Jane Braxton Little
Linda J. Cayot's scientific focus for the day was a male giant tortoise, part of her dissertation research on the ecology of these iconic Galápagos reptiles. When her study animal lumbered into a swirling torrent of muddy El Niño waters, the intrepid scientist jumped in, too. Together they banged against rocks, his carapace and her daypack catching on tree branches as they thumped in tandem down the river to the lowlands of Santa Cruz Island.
<p>Cayot's epic 1983 journey launched a 40-year career devoted to conserving the <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Galápagos Islands</a>. She supervised giant tortoise and land iguana breeding programs; organized campaigns to eradicate invasive species; and coordinated repatriation of tortoises to their native islands. When she began working in the Galápagos, the islands' giant tortoise populations were down to less than 10% of their historic abundance. They've grown since then, bolstered by programs she helped put in place.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc3ODAyOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNjk2NDQxOH0.XWgznIUQpwPGqR_MSu-IVrWMMMeWhPhV4A5D3uDUXYY/img.jpg?width=980" id="4e12f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e577060e7e16114aa15a5e52c70e4130" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Cayot studied Galápagos giant tortoises on many islands during her 40-year career. This 1982 photo is from Pinzon Island. (© Theresa Kineke Brooks, used with permission)
<p>The goal remains to restore tortoise populations to their historic numbers and distribution. At the current rate, that might be achieved within two centuries.</p><p>For Cayot, who thinks of conservation in terms of <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/10/aeon-deep-time/505922/" target="_blank">deep time</a>, it's the trajectory that's critical.</p><p>She <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/blog/linda-cayot-retirement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">retired</a> early this year and has just completed co-writing and editing <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/books/galapagos-giant-tortoises/gibbs/978-0-12-817554-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Galápagos Giant Tortoises</em></a><em>, </em>a synthesis of knowledge of these island endemics, including the 60-year history of their conservation. Cayot was honored in October with the <a href="https://turtlesurvival.org/2020-symposium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prichard Turtle Conservation Award for Lifetime Achievement</a>.</p><p>Cayot is a visionary with a practical, one-step-at-a-time approach. If she hadn't fallen in love with Galápagos, she says, she would have been conserving species somewhere else.</p><p>When I asked her about the lessons she's learned from a lifetime of conservation, it came as no surprise that her succinct responses made little mention of tortoises or the Galápagos. Instead she focused on universal elements that speak to the human element of conservation.</p>
Respectful Relationships: Value Everyone’s Input
<p>"You accomplish much more conservation by having good relationships with everyone," says Linda Cayot.</p><p>As a scientist Cayot worked with <a href="https://www.galapagos.gob.ec/en/national-park/" target="_blank">Galápagos National Park Directorate</a> rangers who were fresh out of high school, as well as some of the world's leading herpetologists and geneticists. She sought out people with the tools and ability to solve problems, regardless of their credentials.</p><p>Wacho Tapia is among of them. When he was a 17-year-old Galapagoan volunteer Cayot recognized his passion for giant tortoises and determination to save them. Now director of Galápagos Conservancy's <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/conservation/our-work/tortoise-restoration/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative</a>, Tapia's years of working with Cayot ensure continuity in the tortoise restoration projects she initiated.</p><p>The respect Cayot demonstrated throughout her career is reflected in a small incident on Pinta Island. She asked <a href="https://www.houstonzoo.org/blog/houston-zoo-chief-veterinarian-helps-restore-giant-tortoise-population-in-galapagos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Flanagan</a>, an American collaborator and chief veterinarian at the Houston Zoo, to document the repatriation of tortoises by photographing the park rangers carrying them to their release sites. One after another refused to be photographed. But when he said the photos were for Cayot, each ranger agreed. Some even primped.</p><p>"Linda recognizes that most conservation problems are caused by people, but she strongly believes that people are also the solution," Flanagan says.</p>Long-term Vision: Conservation Happens Slowly
<p>"Projects can take 50 years," says Cayot. "That's a hell of a long time! But those are the projects that push conservation forward."</p><p>Cayot has always maintained a long-term vision. But working in the Galápagos honed it from years to decades and centuries.</p><p>The successful projects she worked on included repatriating tortoises to Española, the southernmost island. In the 1960s park rangers found just 14 tortoises there.</p><p>They took them to the <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/conservation/our-work/tortoise-restoration/tortoise-breeding-and-rearing-programs/" target="_blank">Santa Cruz breeding center</a>, added a male from the San Diego Zoo, and launched a breeding program Cayot later supervised. When young tortoises born at the center were old enough to survive out of captivity, they were released on the island of their ancestors.</p><p>In June Galápagos Park marked the successful conclusion of the <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/newsroom/espanola-tortoises-return-home-following-closure-of-successful-breeding-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">project</a> by returning the original tortoises to Española — 55 years after removing them — to join their progeny and the offspring they in turn had produced.</p><p>Cayot also had a central role in eradicating <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/conservation/our-work/ecosystem-restoration/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">invasive species</a> from the islands. When she first arrived in Galápagos, the southern rim of <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/about_galapagos/about-galapagos/the-islands/isabela/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alcedo Volcano</a> was covered with <em>Zanthoxylum</em> trees. By the early 1990s, invasive goats were destroying the forest, a critical area for giant tortoises. Cayot coordinated <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/conservation/our-work/ecosystem-restoration/project-isabela/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Project Isabela</a>, the largest invasive species eradication ever attempted anywhere.</p><p>It took nearly a decade. Today the vegetation is slowly regenerating. Full restoration will take decades more, but that's not a problem in her mind: Cayot views Galápagos conservation in 100-year increments.</p><p>"I worked on the everyday details of Project Isabela, but I was thinking ahead to a century and beyond," she says.</p>Serendipity: Learn From Surprises
<p>"Don't worry if it takes a long time," says Cayot. "Emerging knowledge may result in significant changes and greater success in the end."</p><p>In 1972 <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/6/120625-lonesome-george-tortoise-last-extinct-galapagos-science-animals/" target="_blank">Lonesome George</a>, the last Pinta Island tortoise, was taken to a Santa Cruz Island pen for his protection. Scientists later decided to return tortoises to Pinta, where the habitat was declining without them. Although they would not be the endemic Pinta species, they would still disperse native plant seeds and modify habitat to help other animals and plants thrive, scientists reasoned.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc3ODA1OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyODcwNDQxMH0.MpR9xjgJl8_DJmv_59gU3bNy0Zt3gYrHl19xX0wonbo/img.jpg?width=980" id="79af7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6386ce9d297025bec60c1d78f7807d38" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Lonesome George in 2008. Photo: Arturo de Frias Marques (CC BY-SA 3.0)
<p>But the herpetologists working on Galápagos tortoise conservation disagreed, and breeding tortoises were never moved to Pinta.</p><p>It ended up being a fortuitous delay. Soon <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/12/150812-Galapagos-lonesome-george-tortoise-extinct/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">expeditions</a> to <a href="https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/wolf.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wolf Volcano</a>, a remote island where a variety of tortoise species roamed, discovered living tortoises with mixed ancestry, including the Pinta tortoise. That sparked hope that scientists might eventually find others more closely related to Lonesome George — a better option for release on Pinta.</p><p>For now, though, this northernmost island remains without the tortoises that evolved there. And that may be for the best.</p><p>"We don't know everything," says Cayot. "The more knowledge we get the more carefully we can find the right tortoises for that island."</p>
Collaboration: One Solution From Many Agendas
<p>"You can see the excitement growing when you come up with solutions no one had thought of before," says Cayot.</p><p>When Cayot began coordinating Project Isabela, she knew it would only succeed if Galápagos Park Directorate and <a href="https://www.darwinfoundation.org/en/about/cdrs" target="_blank">Charles Darwin Research Station</a> worked together.</p><p>Because they'd never officially co-run a project, Cayot spent an evening sewing. She took a park hat and a station hat — each of which bore an image of a tortoise — cut them both in half and stitched them back together, making the bisected embroidered tortoise whole again. Cayot wore that hat when she gave talks, pulling it on if discussions became contentious.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc3ODA2Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzOTAyOTA4Mn0.HX9Qm52dhoRlOkFbR5q_DRazV193nT66ypWVriF8l6I/img.jpg?width=980" id="ae0d8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6bd384586c49e7d64583ea3265436359" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Linda Cayot made this hat out of a Galápagos Park cap and a Charles Darwin Research Station cap to symbolize and promote the cooperation required for the projects they shared. (© Jane Braxton Little, used with permission)
<p>The grand plan to restore giant tortoises to their historic numbers and distribution included an international workshop in 2012 that she facilitated. Scientists and rangers were beginning to design expeditions to Wolf Volcano. The geneticists focused on finding animals with genetic material from two extinct species and breeding them, a process that would involve multiple generations and take at least 100 years. Conservationists also wanted to find the highest genetic matches possible, but their priority was getting tortoises onto the islands, where they're key to habitat restoration; they couldn't wait a century.</p><p>These differences challenged geneticists and conservationists alike to be creative. The solution they adopted is the basis for an <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/blog/gtri-tortoise-center-review/" target="_blank">ambitious plan</a> to revive extinct species and restore island ecosystems. They're using the knowledge of the geneticists to select the best animals to breed in captivity. Those with lesser genetic material will be released to the islands of their ancestors, satisfying the conservationists' goal.</p><p>"With everyone willing to think outside the box, we ended up with novel solutions, ones that we all liked better than our own individual plans," Cayot says. "That can only happen when everyone values each other's input and respects each other's knowledge."</p>
<p><a href="https://therevelator.org/author/jblittle/" target="_blank"><em>Jane Braxton Little </em></a><em>is an award-winning independent journalist who writes about science and the environment for publications that include The Atlantic, Audubon, Bay Nature, Discover, and Scientific American. Little is based in rural Plumas County, where she arrived years ago fresh out of Harvard graduate school for a summer that has yet to end.</em></p><p><em><a href="http://twitter.com/JBraxtonLittle" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/JBraxtonLittle<br/></a></em><em><em><a href="https://www.janebraxtonlittle.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.janebraxtonlittle.com/</a></em></em></p><p><em><em><a href="https://www.janebraxtonlittle.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a></em>Reposted with permission from </em><em><a href="https://therevelator.org/cayot-lessons-conservation/" target="_blank">The Revelator.</a></em><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2648893022#/" target="_self"></a></p>
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‘The World That Darwin Never Saw': Scientists Discover 30 New Marine Species in the Galapagos
05 September
Science
Researchers found diverse and colorful cold-water coral communities and associated fauna at 400 m depth. Ocean Exploration Trust / Nautilus Live
International marine scientists have discovered 30 new species in the deep waters off the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, highlighting how unique the ecosystems of the islands are as well as how little we know about the deep sea.
<p>After Charles Darwin first visited in 1835, the Galapagos became famous for their <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/biodiversity">biodiversity</a> and for their endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Darwin, then 26, spent five weeks surveying the archipelago, reported <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-evolution-of-charles-darwin-110234034/" target="_blank">Smithsonian Magazine</a>.</p><p>"The natural history of these islands is eminently curious, and well deserves attention," Darwin later said, reported Smithsonian Magazine. "Most of the organic productions are aboriginal creations, found nowhere else."</p><p>At the same time, the plants and animals he studied still showed a "marked relationship" to those on the mainland, leading Darwin to form the seeds of his groundbreaking Theory of Evolution, Smithsonian Magazine said. After publishing "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" in 1859, Darwin's theories cemented the Galapagos Islands as "hallowed scientific ground," a reputation that continues today, Smithsonian Magazine reported.</p>
<p>The magic is in the isolation. The removed geography of the islands from the rest of the world allowed for and forced species to adapt and evolve over time to survive their unique habitats on each island, according to <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/nt1307" target="_blank">WWF</a> and <a href="https://www.discoveringgalapagos.org.uk/discover/life-on-the-islands/wildlife-of-galapagos/animal-plants-galapagos/" target="_blank">Discovering Galapagos</a>.</p><p>Even today, as conditions change, animals and plants continue to develop into new hybrids and species, adding to the islands' rich history. In 2017, a population of finches on the islands were discovered in the process of becoming a new species, reported <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42103058#:~:text=A%20population%20of%20finches%20on,observe%20directly%20in%20the%20field." target="_blank">BBC</a>. In 2019, scientists found a species of giant tortoise on a remote Galapagos island that they hadn't seen alive for 110 years and that they'd feared extinct, reported <a href="https://apnews.com/0bbb65b972734017821dcd9b70cd0bbe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP News</a>. As recently as February of this year, conservationists studied 30 giant tortoises partially descended from two extinct species, <a href="https://apnews.com/1de771cac98613e8d2dbf98236b09a82" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP News</a> reported.</p><p>"Evolution, in general, can happen very quickly," said Roger Butlin, a speciation expert talking about the finches, reported the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42103058#:~:text=A%20population%20of%20finches%20on,observe%20directly%20in%20the%20field." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BBC</a>.</p>
<p>In the latest discovery, scientists from the <a href="https://www.darwinfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Charles Darwin Foundation</a> (CDF), the <a href="http://www.galapagos.gob.ec/" target="_blank">Galapagos National Park Directorate</a>, the <a href="https://nautiluslive.org/" target="_blank">Ocean Exploration Trust</a> (OET) and an international team of deep-sea experts identified 30 new deep-sea invertebrate species within the Galapagos Marine Reserve. They published their results in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70744-1" target="_blank"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a> and called their discoveries "the world that Darwin never saw" in a <a href="https://www.darwinfoundation.org/en/blog-articles/610-the-world-that-darwin-never-saw-30-new-deep-sea-invertebrates-discovered-within-the-galapagos-marine-reserve" target="_blank">CDF press release</a>.</p><p>The species were found on seamounts, underwater mountains that do not break the ocean's surface, the release said. Until recently, these extinct volcanoes and the flourishing communities of organisms that live on them were largely unexplored.</p><p>"The deep-sea remains as earth's last frontier, and this study provides a sneak-peak into the least known communities of the Galapagos Islands," marine scientist and study leader Pelayo Salinas de León said, reported <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/scientists-discover-30-species-galapagos-001010413.html" target="_blank">Yahoo!</a></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYzNTYxNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTQwMjk4M30.ZTUunUnkPjW2ouxi61qhJjCUIBSmvS9TgHoXZd2XZDY/img.jpg?width=980" id="24f2e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a832b9e944d58065986c2f1d3cfd77d3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Researchers measured and observed specimens collected during one of the ROV dives. Ocean Exploration Trust / Nautilus Live
<p>Expedition crews used state-of-the-art Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to explore up to depths of 3400 meters, the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/galapagos-islands-chinese-fishing-2646826662.html" target="_self">CDF release</a> said. According to the release and <a href="https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/26927/20200818/31-new-marine-species-discovered-galapagos-archipelago.htm" target="_blank">Science Times</a>, the new species of marine life include:</p><ul><li>10 new species of bamboo corals and four new octocorals, including the first giant solitary soft coral in the Tropical Eastern Pacific;</li><li>1 new species of brittle star;</li><li>11 new sponge species; and</li><li>4 new species of squat lobsters.</li></ul>
<p>"The many discoveries made on this expedition showcase the importance of deep-sea exploration to developing an understanding of our oceans…" OET Chief Scientist Nicole Raineault said, the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/galapagos-islands-chinese-fishing-2646826662.html" target="_self">CDF release</a> stated.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/26927/20200818/31-new-marine-species-discovered-galapagos-archipelago.htm" target="_blank">Science Times</a> and <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/case-study-galapagos-marine-reserve/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>, the Galapagos Marine Reserve protects these seamounts from fishing activity and deep-sea mining. The discovery came after <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/galapagos-islands-chinese-fishing-2646826662.html" target="_self">Ecuador raised concerns about a massive Chinese fishing fleet</a> operating on the edge of the Galapagos' protected waters, reported <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/scientists-discover-dozens-species-galapagos-depths-200818010642247.html#:~:text=The%20deep%2Dsea%20experts%20discovered,GNP)%20said%20in%20a%20statement." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Al Jazeera</a>.</p><p>Ecuador's former minister of the environment Yolanda Kakabadse told Public Radio International that the Galapagos should be "the last place on Earth to be affected by irresponsible actions of any sort," the news report said.</p><p>Salinas de León added, "These pristine seamounts are within the Galapagos Marine Reserve and are protected from destructive human practices such as fishing with bottom trawls or deep-sea mining that are known to have catastrophic impacts upon fragile communities. Now it is our responsibility to make sure they remain pristine for the generations to come," the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/galapagos-islands-chinese-fishing-2646826662.html" target="_self">CDF release</a> said.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYzNTYxOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNDQ3MTQxN30.Wv07HpcOB7dvQqL6bmmg_HU_bTorH-P9zZJoq0h-dLE/img.jpg?width=980" id="d5274" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b63685476889ec03ca591761fc26c49f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
31 new marine invertebrate species were recently discovered in the Galapagos. Christopher Chilton / Pixabay
From Your Site Articles
- Massive Fleet of Chinese Fishing Boats Threaten Galapagos Islands ›
- Boat Carrying 600 Gallons of Oil Sinks off the Galápagos - EcoWatch ›
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Like many other plant-based foods and products, CBD oil is one dietary supplement where "organic" labels are very important to consumers. However, there are little to no regulations within the hemp industry when it comes to deeming a product as organic, which makes it increasingly difficult for shoppers to find the best CBD oil products available on the market.
<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjI3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTM2NzgzOX0.axY0HjeqRctJsR_KmDLctzDpUBLBN-oNIdqaXDb4caQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="774be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8379f35b1ca8a86d0e61b7d4bfc8b46e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce organic cbd oil" /><p>As one of the best brands in the business, Spruce CBD is well-known for its potent CBD oils that feature many additional beneficial phytocannabinoids. This brand works with two family-owned, sustainably focused farms in the USA (one located in Kentucky and one in North Carolina) to create its organic, small product batches. The max potency Spruce CBD oil contains 2400mg of full-spectrum CBD extract, but the brand also offers a lower strength tincture with 750mg of CBD in total.</p>
$89
CBDistillery
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU4OTM4Nn0.ypRdeDSBcE87slYrFfVrRwtJ2qGIK6FD5jBB4pndTMo/img.jpg?width=980" id="b473b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9930b53c9d58cb49774640a61c3e3e75" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="cbdistillery cbd oil" /><p>All of the products from CBDistillery are <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Hemp Authority Certified</a>, and for good reason. The company only uses non-GMO and pesticide-free industrial hemp that's grown organically on Colorado farms. Its hemp oils are some of the most affordable CBD products on the market, yet they still maintain a high standard of quality. CBDistillery has a wide variety of CBD potencies across its product line (ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle) and offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils to give customers a completely thc-free option.</p>
$35
FAB CBD
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDIwOTEyMn0.MlTjz096FJ0ev_-soK7_Z-FeQeJczWoeh9Qi9SSkHsY/img.jpg?width=980" id="04b26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76aa4862f44603242e318982acea6646" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="fab cbd oil" /><p>For an organic CBD oil that has it all, FAB CBD offers plenty of variety for any type of consumer. All of its products are made with zero pesticides and extracted from organically grown Colorado industrial hemp. FAB CBD oil comes in five all-natural flavors (mint, vanilla, berry, citrus, and natural) and is also available in four strengths (300, 600, 1200, and 2400mg per bottle).</p>
$39
NuLeaf Naturals
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExNTgyMX0.D6qMGYllKTsVhEkQ-L_GzpDHVu60a-tJKcio7M1Ssmc/img.jpg?width=980" id="94e4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3609a52479675730893a45a82a03c71d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="nuleaf naturals organic cbd oil" /><p>As an industry-leading brand, it comes as no surprise that NuLeaf Naturals sources its CBD extract from organic hemp plants grown on licensed farms in Colorado. The comany's CBD oils only contain two ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp seed oil and full spectrum hemp extract.</p><p>NuLeaf Naturals uses one proprietary CBD oil formula for all of its products, so you will get the same CBD potency in each tincture (60mg per mL), but can purchase different bottle sizes depending on how much you intend to use.</p>
$38.50
Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
$60
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A barge containing 600 gallons of diesel fuel sank off the Galápagos Islands Sunday, prompting fears for the island chain's unique wildlife.
<p>The <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oil-spill" target="_self">oil spill</a> occurred off San Cristóbal Island when workers were attempting to load a shipping container onto a barge called the Orca, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/23/world/americas/galapagos-island-crane-collapse-oil-spill.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwAR0_QqHUnsG0rbgUajdpgNf9H4cWVtkYy93gypYoehUwWBw59NHrjJ6nJqU" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>. A video shared on social media shows the container falling onto the boat, pulling the crane holding it with it and tipping the boat on its side as people dive off. One was injured, <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/galapagos-wildlife-spared-in-oil-spill/a-51786513" target="_blank">DW reported</a>.</p>
<div id="dcc9a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6C1TCT1577196309"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1208854956893261824" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Esto pasó hoy en San Cristóbal, muelle El Predial- Galapagos https://t.co/eEc5NfZLxP</div> — Eduardo Emanuele (@Eduardo Emanuele)<a href="https://twitter.com/caedemmo/statuses/1208854956893261824">1577048455.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>"The illegal and dangerous logistics operation carried out on the dock must be moved to another site," <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/conservation" target="_self">conservation</a> group SOS Galápagos <a href="https://twitter.com/galapagos_sos/status/1208878569000177664" target="_blank">tweeted Sunday</a>. The group also warned the oil would reach a popular tourist beach, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/galapagos-oil-spill-600-gallons-san-cristobal-ecuador/" target="_blank">CBS News reported</a>.</p><p>Authorities declared an emergency and began an investigation into the spill, The New York Times reported. Ecuador's Ministry of the Environment shared pictures on social media of cleanup efforts undertaken by the Coast Guard and Galápagos National Park.</p>
<div id="cb2c6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="K7Z9471577196309"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1209212837899489295" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">La máxima Autoridad Ambiental también inspeccionó el sitio del siniestro y evaluó el riesgo ambiental de la contami… https://t.co/4gtgRdnthX</div> — Ministerio del Ambiente de Ecuador (@Ministerio del Ambiente de Ecuador)<a href="https://twitter.com/Ambiente_Ec/statuses/1209212837899489295">1577133781.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>So far, these efforts have paid off. Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno said on Twitter Monday that the spill was under control.</p><p>"Not a single species has been affected by the spill in San Cristóbal," Ecuador's Environment Minister Raul Ledesma said, DW reported Tuesday.</p><p>He said veterinarians had tested several iguanas and two sea lions near the spill site and found they had not been affected.</p><p>However, authorities are still worried about what could happen if they do not recover the oil tanks that sank.</p><p>"We are very concerned about the recovery work of the tanks because there could be a potential spill if it is not done efficiently and swiftly," Ledesma said.</p><p>The Galápagos are home to unique species not found anywhere else on the planet, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/23/americas/galapagos-spill-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank">according to CNN</a>. The islands' unique wildlife and ecosystems helped Charles Darwin develop his theory of evolution, and the chain is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.</p><p>In 2001, a much worse oil spill poured 150,000 gallons of fuel into the water when a tanker hit a reef off San Cristóbal. While most of the oil was blown out to sea, the population of marine iguanas fell from 25,000 to 10,000 on the island of Santa Fe after the spill, The New York Times reported.</p>Oil spills aren't the only way that <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil fuels</a> threaten the Galápagos: UNESCO says their reefs are extremely vulnerable to the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a>.
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He may be well over 100 years old, but Diego the Tortoise still has plenty of charm and he's using it to ensure that his species lives on.
The giant Galapagos tortoise has been "working" since the 1960s—when there were only 14 wild tortoises, two of which were male, left on Española—to save his native species from the brink of extinction. And he's doing an impressive job.
Based on recent genetic studies, Diego has single-handedly fathered an estimated 800 offspring—40 percent of the 2,000 captive-bred tortoises that have since been released into the wild.
Diego the Tortoise saves Galapagos species from extinction by fathering 800 offspring https://t.co/dmugt3GeKa https://t.co/mPwUxcYh9i— AFP news agency (@AFP news agency)1473848406.0
"He's a very sexually active male reproducer. He's contributed enormously to repopulating the island," tortoise preservation specialist, Washington Tapia, from the Galapagos National Park, told the AFP.
Scientists say Diego is the dominant male of the three assigned to repopulate the island, and weighs about 175 pounds, is nearly 35 inches long and 5 feet tall.
While most of Diego's history remains a mystery, scientists do know he was discovered at the San Diego Zoo in the 1950s. After being located at the zoo, Diego was brought back to the Galapagos in 1976 and put in the captive breeding program, AFP reported. He currently lives at a tortoise breeding center on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, where he and six females share an enclosure.