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" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc3ODAyOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MDAzNjQxOH0.Uy0Kp8GPds0uWGdXUmgHAlrx2gx3mPTlwp6K0wejwc0/img.jpg?width=980" id="2f212" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e577060e7e16114aa15a5e52c70e4130" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1002" data-height="1335" />
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" data-runner-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" data-width="1000" data-height="669" />
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" data-runner-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" data-width="800" data-height="558" />
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 2020
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" data-runner-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" data-width="900" data-height="723" />
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" data-runner-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" data-width="2000" data-height="1499" />
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 ›
- Protecting the Galapagos Islands - EcoWatch ›
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Bringing your own reusable grocery bags when you go shopping is one of the easiest ways to cut down on your plastic consumption — according to the UN Environment Program, up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used globally each year.
The most sustainable option is to use a bag you already have, whether it's an old tote or a laundry basket (thank TikTok for that idea). You can also make your own reusable grocery bags out of T-shirts. But if you'd rather purchase designated reusable grocery bags, here are our recommendations.
<div class="redactor-editor" dir="ltr" placeholder="Start writing..." spellcheck="false"><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p></div>
<h2>Why switch to reusable bags?</h2><p>The <a href="https://www.unep.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UN says</a> people produce 300 million tons of plastic waste each year, and about 60% of the plastic produced since the early 1950s has ended up in a landfill or the natural environment.</p><p>Plastic grocery bags are made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Technically, this type of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-recycling-myth-2647706452.html" target="_self">plastic can be recycled</a>. However, in practice, plastic bags easily clog recycling machinery, so <a href="https://millerrecycling.com/ldpe-out-of-landfills" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">most municipal recycling centers</a> do not accept this type of material. </p><p>A <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-07/documents/smm_2015_tables_and_figures_07252018_fnl_508_0.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">study by the EPA</a> showed that only about 6% of the LDPE generated in 2015 was recycled. Other types of plastic, by comparison, were recycled at 18% and 10% rates.</p><div class="redactor-editor" dir="ltr" placeholder="Start writing..." spellcheck="false"></div><p>Although some grocery stores offer plastic bag recycling, the easiest way to get around this is to refuse plastic bags in the first place. Many cities have instituted <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/new-york-plastic-bag-ban-begins-2645319695.html" target="_self">plastic bag bans</a>, but more often than not, it's up to individuals to choose to make the switch to reusable grocery bags in their day-to-day lives.</p><p><em><em><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/about-ecowatch-2641507575.html?rebelltitem=47#rebelltitem47" target="_self">Melissa Smith</a> is an avid writer, scuba diver, backpacker, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. She graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in journalism and sustainable studies. Before joining EcoWatch, Melissa worked as the managing editor of Scuba Diving magazine and the communications manager of The Ocean Agency, a non-profit that's featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Chasing Coral.</em></em></p><em><em><br></em><ul class="ee-ul"></ul></em>
Best Overall: ChicoBag Reusable Grocery Bag
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTIxNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTMyMDQ2N30.RTnT_sQQbH0ucKu_QvfyFIhavWHa_acNOMrOxiHVsGE/img.jpg?width=980" id="63ab1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e127ef0807a470e3b1d33edd96a646c6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />ChicoBag
<p>Standard reusable grocery bags — foldable cloth "green bags" that typically have company logos on them — are bulky, can't be machine washed, and tend to break down after a number of uses. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ChicoBag-Original-Reusable-Shopping-Grocery/dp/B006WA9LRA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ChicoBag reusable grocery bags</a> solve these problems and more. They hold up to 25 pounds each, can be tossed in the wash, and stuff down into a tiny attached pouch that you can easily keep in your purse or the center console of your car until you need them.</p><p><strong>Customer rating:</strong> 4.8 out of 5 stars with over 1,000 Amazon reviews</p><strong>Why buy: </strong>Machine washable; Certified B Corp; Climate Neutral Certified; Supports 1% For the Planet; Fair Labor Association member
$24
Most Convenient For Shopping: Lotus Trolley Bags
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTIyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDc2NjkxNH0.tdZukrUtxoElloqocyeKnjFia8vFu7oIKd1vFfil0Mo/img.jpg?width=980" id="37f6c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cbb1cc8bb094a1a4d7c09f497ebcbf25" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Lotus Sustainables
<p>If you prefer bigger reusable grocery bags that add convenience to your shopping experience, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trolley-COOLER-Reusable-Grocery-Eco-friendly/dp/B07WTLWF4Z?th=1" target="_blank">Lotus Trolley Bags</a> may be perfect for you. These bags fold flat and nestle in your cart so that you can sort items while you shop. There's a large insulated cooler bag, as well as two standard reusable shopping bags and a bag with pockets for wine bottles and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/brown-eggs-healthier-than-white-eggs-2314254330.html" target="_self">egg cartons</a>. Each can hold up to 50 pounds and has double-stitched seams for added durability.</p><p><strong>Customer rating: </strong>4.6 out of 5 stars with over 3,000 Amazon reviews</p><strong>Why buy:</strong> Machine washable; Removable rod for non-cart use; Supports 1% for the Planet
$50
Most Popular: BAGGU Standard Reusable Shopping Bag
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTI1Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MDY5MTgxM30.weLONkbrGfiRaU-3AjOFfuaO9hVTrvxeSiGhBfg4kMg/img.jpg?width=980" id="ba8f6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="deea1a99acc91840e54d35dad7ae9dbf" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />BAGGU
<p>For another versatile option, try the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N4D829J?tag=ecowatch-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">Baggu Standard Reusable Shopping Bag</a>. This product is modeled after a conventional <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/thailand-plastic-bag-ban-2643538829.html" target="_self">plastic grocery bag</a> but is made with 40% recycled ripstop fabric. Baggu reusable bags can carry up to 50 pounds but stuff down into a five-inch internal pocket for carrying.</p><p><strong>Customer rating:</strong> 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 50 Amazon reviews</p><strong>Why buy:</strong> Machine washable; Made with 40% recycled materials; Ethically manufactured; Packaging made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified material
$12
Best Handmade Bag: Ecodunia Canvas Tote Bag
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTI1MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNTc2NzgwMn0.WY9Zby2RhohlKTOT3nahq38hGn4TATd1jHehxs76btw/img.jpg?width=980" id="5ca43" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ffff86b74fdce3945022712198b15de2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Ecodunia
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ecodunia-Canvas-Tote-Women-Eco-Conscious/dp/B08LY82NYW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Ecodunia&qid=1613051665&sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ecodunia's reusable bags</a> have a sturdier feel than most products on this list. The canvas used to make each bag is produced from 100% renewable resources and natural cotton, plus they have long handles for comfortable carrying over your shoulder. Ecodunia's fun prints will likely make you want to use these bags for more than carting groceries, but they're great for a weekend trip to the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/farmers-markets-coronavirus-safety-2645581711.html" target="_self">farmers market</a>.</p><p><strong>Customer rating:</strong> 5 out of 5 stars with under 5 Amazon reviews</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>Made from natural cotton; Machine washable; Handmade; Provides dignified work for communities in Kenya </p>
$38
Best Tote Bag: Simple Ecology Tote Bundle
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTI1OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MzY0MDE5Nn0.Y9qxNgfCSoO6SowBXX7KbQLWhzPDn2m5mYU5IFT-mG4/img.jpg?width=980" id="38328" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d6ff115df9ceaa39fe785a318c015307" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Simple Ecology
<p>Another canvas bag option comes from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Ecology-Reusable-Shopping-Certified/dp/B086Z7XQ79?ref_=ast_sto_dp" target="_blank">Simple Ecology</a>. This brand's eco-friendly grocery bags are made with Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton and feature pop-out sleeves for more fragile goods and double-stitched seams for extra reinforcement. The large size has about the same capacity as a grocer's paper bag. Simple Ecology also has a reusable bag <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6AUMBG/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01N6AUMBG&pd_rd_w=MA3ZS&pf_rd_p=cbc856ed-1371-4f23-b89d-d3fb30edf66d&pd_rd_wg=hVunQ&pf_rd_r=G6RTQ1Z5DKEY325MAJZ9&pd_rd_r=5d298b3a-1be7-4ebd-a9e1-d5d672a40497&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExMzc4RVAxWjNLOTdCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTc0NTAwMzBDMjFYOVJPTUpWSCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjYyOTM4M0s4Vk81SVBPS1NFSyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=" target="_blank">starter kit</a> that comes with a tote and several reusable produce bags.</p> <p><strong>Customer Rating: </strong>4.6 out of 5 stars with over 900 Amazon reviews</p><strong>Why Buy:</strong> GOTS certified; Machine washable; Biodegradable; Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified packaging when purchased from manufacturer
$33
Best Bulk Bags: BagPodz Reusable Shopping Bags
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTI2NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjk3MTE3Mn0.9zdJfkEbue1iq8Xywwk89-qt0Zcv9wvrDqFUUSzelcE/img.jpg?width=980" id="85dd2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1fa8fd5a709a4d14d797ce4c796efa86" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />BagPodz
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/BagPodz-Reusable-Bag-Storage-System/dp/B00QJ9PBBY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BagPodz Reusable Shopping Bags</a> are all about convenience. You can get a pack of five or 10 bags, all of which fit in a low-profile "pod" that can be stored for use on the go. When at the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/vancouvers-grocery-store-plastic-bags-2638807121.html" target="_self">grocery store</a>, the pod clips to your cart and has an easy-dispense pocket for when it's time to check out. After use, just stuff them back into the pod. BagPodz reusable bags are made with Bluesign® certified materials, which means they're manufactured sustainably.</p> <p><strong>Customer Rating:</strong> 4.8 out of 5 stars with over 2,000 Amazon reviews</p><strong>Why Buy: </strong>Machine washable; Made with Bluesign certified material
$35
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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.