Responsible tourism in the Falkland Islands
Wildlife & environment
Conservation of the Falklands
Conservation goes back a long way in the Falkland Islands. The first British governor, Richard Clement Moody, introduced tussock grass in 1845 from Great Britain, for which he received the gold medal of the Royal Agricultural Society. The grass is now a feature of the islands’ Coat of Arms.The Falkland Islands have long been a beacon of self sufficiency so it is not surprising that the community has come together to create a leading hub of conservation. Falklands Conservation is the go to place, and you can actually visit their headquarters in Stanley to learn about their work in protecting habitats, monitoring migratory birds, undertaking scientific research, rehabilitating oiled penguins, and working with young islanders to ensure that there are plenty of conservationists for tomorrow.
There are private landowners seriously committed to conservation too, and you may visit some of the private islands during your stay that are good examples of this, such as West Point. Indeed, the majority of beaches in the Falklands are privately owned. In the 1990s, Steeple Jason Island and Grand Jason Island, were bought by American Michael Steinhardt, who later donated them to the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society. There are lots of stories of this nature in this vast archipelago.
What you can do
First and foremost, support the work of Falklands Conservation by donating to it. You can adopt a king penguin for £25 for a year, become a member from £30 for a year, or for a lifetime for £1,000. You can also become a corporate member, which is definitely worth proposing in the workplace. There are ongoing volunteering projects going on all the time, so do get in touch with them prior to your travels to see if you can help out with any work while on vacation. And, read their Falklands Countryside Code. They are gentle reminders of how a little care can go a long way.
Our Falkland Islands Vacations
Falkland Islands wildlife tour
10 day Falklands birds and wildlife adventure
Falkland Islands tour, birds and wildlife
A comprehensive Falklands birds and wildlife adventure
Antarctica small ship cruises
Ultimate Antarctica South Georgia small ship wildlife cruise
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica cruise
The Ultimate Antarctica Experience!
Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia cruise
Embark on a cruise across the Antarctic Circle and cross the Drake passage
2022 Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands cruise
Delve into this in-depth polar expedition across Antarctica.
Total Antarctic highlights cruise, epic Antarctica
Explore the world’s seventh continent
Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia wildlife cruise
Enchanted worlds of icebergs and ice-covered mountains
Antarctic wildlife cruise and penguin safari
Highlights of South Georgia and the Antarctic peninsula
Antarctic wildlife cruises via Buenos Aires
Highlights of South Georgia and the Antarctic peninsula
New Year Antarctic cruise to South Georgia
Mark the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton's passing
Antarctica, South Georgia & Falklands luxury cruise
Cruise Antarctica in Luxury - Small ship luxury cruising
Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands cruise in 2022
Follow the trail of Sir Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica
Total Antarctic highlights cruise via Buenos Aires
An adventure-packed, 23-day voyage
Antarctica Peninsula, Falklands & South Georgia wildlife vacation
An in-depth exploration of the Antarctic region
2021 solar eclipse cruise in Antarctica
Witness a rare total solar eclipse in Antarctica
Antarctica ultimate expedition
Follow the routes of bold & historic explorers to Antarctica
Antarctic photography cruise, South Georgia & Falklands
A must for photographers and wilderness fans
Total solar eclipse in Antarctica cruise 2021
Witness a rare total solar eclipse in Antarctica
People & culture
Don’t go near the war zone
Politics are never that far from the agenda in the Falklands Island. One thing is pretty sure, however, and that is the desire of the people to stay under British sovereignty. In their 2013 referendum, over 90 percent of the electorate came out to vote, and 99.8 percent of them voted to remain British.Don’t assume history is all about the 1982 ten-week long Falklands War between UK and Argentina. The heritage ranges from the ranching gauchos of the early 19th century and the influx of Scottish sheep farmers in the early 20th to the proliferation of whalers, thankfully now consigned to history. Most people refer to themselves as Falkland Islanders, rather than British. Their families have lived here and maintained self sufficient lifestyles for generations, so, it’s not just a matter of ‘don’t mention the war’, it’s remembering that island history stretches way back before it. And indeed, at the moment, with the controversial discussions around island oil reserves, history is possibly in the making once again.
What you can do
Read a wonderful article by leading journalist Matthew Teller on the BBC website on this subject, entitled “The Falklands penguins that would not explode”. And don’t cross the minefields line. Ever. Do some reading up on the history of the islands before you go. We have a history section on the 2 Minute summary of this travel guide. However, we also recommend The Battle for the Falklands by Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins (Pan Macmillan), just one of an array of books out there on the subject. If you are a Spanish visitor, it is worth remembering to avoid using Spanish names for places as you may risk offending local people.