where do endangered sea turtles thrive?

Transcription

where do endangered sea turtles thrive?
2014
AMAZON
RIVERBOAT
EXPLORATION
P8
57
FEATURED IN 2014
THRILLING
EXPEDITIONS
INCLUDING
Climate Change
at the Arctic’s Edge
AND
Origins of Angkor
RESEARCH AREAS
FOR EVERYONE:
WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS P8
OCEAN HEALTH P18
WHERE DO
ENDANGERED
SEA TURTLES
THRIVE?
CLIMATE CHANGE P24
ARCHAEOLOGY
& CULTURE P28
9 NEW EXPEDITIONS THAT NEED YOUR SUPPORT
JOIN OTHER VOLUNTEERS AND
SCIENTISTS TO HELP PROTECT CRITICAL
HABITATS AROUND THE WORLD
EARTHWATCH EXPEDITIONS 2014
DEAR
EARTHWATCHER
Chances are you’ve opened the
2014 Earthwatch Expeditions
guide for two reasons: First, you’re
interested in doing something
meaningful to help preserve and
protect our planet. And second,
you’re looking for an adventure.
Earthwatch volunteers have contributed to more
than 10 million hours of field research, in over
120 countries on nearly 1,400 expeditions. I am so
proud of our accomplishments over the past year,
and am excited for you to be a part of what’s to
come in 2014.
Join an Earthwatch Expedition and help our
scientists gain a clearer picture of climate change,
make it easier to protect threatened species and
habitats, and protect cultures from losing their
connection with their environmental heritage. On
our expeditions, you will measure, track, record,
camp, hike, paddle, observe, snorkel, climb,
photograph, weigh, sample, smell, touch, listen,
build, teach, tag, and above all learn.
In 2014, we are pleased to offer you nine new and
48 expanded expeditions that need your support.
We’re looking forward to another inspirational,
educational, and adventurous year, and your
support means the world to us.
WANT TO HELP?
HERE’S HOW
DANGRIGA, BELIZE: Scientists need your
help to determine the value of marine
reserves to protect sharks and other
ocean life from overfishing. You will
work on boats to operate baited remote
underwater cameras and tag nurse,
hammerhead, and tiger sharks. Your
research will help scientists guide local
governments in protecting these marine
areas in Central America. PAGE 21
ROBBEN ISLAND, SOUTH AFRICA:
Working with one of the largest colonies
of African penguins, you will help
scientists find out if oil shipping lanes
and fisheries in the area are having an
impact on them. You’ll collect data on
penguin populations and help test a new
system to detect and recognize individual
penguins as they pass near cameras.
This research is hugely important to
ensure the long-term survival of this
species. PAGE 22
HEREDIA PROVINCE, COSTA RICA:
This expedition offers a brand new way
to study climate change and biological
diversity. Understanding the interactions
between species is just as important as
understanding the species themselves.
By collecting caterpillars and recognizing
how important they are within the food
and reproductive chain, you can help
answer key questions about the impact
of climate change as insects and plants
continue to evolve. PAGE 25
OUR EXPEDITION CATEGORIES
Earthwatch Expeditions combine world-class
field research with hands-on learning to inspire
global change. At Earthwatch, we support more
than 50 expeditions around the world designed
for people looking to make an impact.
WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS: P8
Ecosystems and animals all over the world are threatened.
With your help, we can create conservation plans and help protect
our planet and its inhabitants in today’s ever-evolving landscape.
OCEAN HEALTH: P18
With more than 70% of Earth’s surface covered by water, our
oceans need our help more than ever. Help protect coral reefs and
save the threatened species that inhabit our waters from extinction.
CLIMATE CHANGE: P24
Climate change poses one of the greatest threats to our planet.
Support research that helps improve our understanding of how
climate change is affecting the environment, and find ways to help
communities reduce their impacts and adapt to changes.
ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURE: P28
Safeguard our future by uncovering our past. Unearth the
remains of ancient cultures to find out how our ancestors
lived and to help us make informed decisions today.
Larry Mason, CEO
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visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
3
EARTHWATCH EXPEDITIONS 2014
2014 EXPEDITIONS
There are Earthwatch Expeditions all over
the world. Find the spot that’s right for you.
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WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS
3
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OCEAN HEALTH
50
CLIMATE CHANGE
ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURE
4
visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
5
EARTHWATCH EXPEDITIONS 2014
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2014?
OUR
MISSION
JOIN AN
EXPEDITION
Our mission is to engage people worldwide
in scientific field research and education
to promote the understanding and action
necessary for a sustainable environment.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
FOR YOU?
Earthwatch volunteers have contributed
to more than 10 million hours of field
research, in over 120 countries on
nearly 1,400 expeditions.
From unearthing ancient fossils to
discovering new species, research
conducted on Earthwatch Expeditions
helps to plan wildlife reserves, conserve
our oceans, manage climate change,
and understand ancient cultures.
6
visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
This year, take a
one-of-a-kind journey, inspire
change, and help protect our
planet. Swim, dig, discover,
and learn.
DONATE ONLINE
If you can’t take part in an
Earthwatch Expedition, you
can always donate online at
earthwatch.org. We’ll put
your gift to work, helping to
save species, habitats, and
cultural legacies.
JUMP into the warm water of the
Bahamas to track turtle behaviour during
their uncharted teenage years.
HOP aboard a boat to monitor beavers
and understand their role as “water
engineers” in Germany.
PROTECT lions in Kenya by conducting
innovative research on the prey they
feed on.
SAFEGUARD cheetahs, leopards, and
lions in some of Botswana’s most remote
protected land.
MONITOR foxes, badgers, and hedgehogs
to better understand how residents of the
United Kingdom can live alongside these
city-dwelling animals.
TRACK elusive mammals in Costa Rica
to see if sustainable agriculture can
help revive the rainforest.
EVALUATE how climate change is
altering the landscape and wildlife
in the French Pyrenees.
FIND out how human-introduced foods
like rice are literally changing the face
of Galapagos finch populations.
VISIT one of the world’s best wine
regions, the Colchagua Valley in Chile, to
help wine producers live in balance with
the natural world.
Each expedition has only a limited
number of spaces available, so act now!
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
7
WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS
OUR EXPEDITIONS
WILDLIFE &
ECOSYSTEMS
WHY DO SOME FROG SPECIES THRIVE?
3. AUSTRALIA’S VANISHING FROGS
READY TO BOOK?
Visit earthwatch.org
or call us on (0)1856 318838
for more info.
Earthwatch volunteers have discovered
a number of new species and continue
to investigate the issues facing wildlife
in today’s evolving landscape.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Michael Mahony,
University of Newcastle
LOCATION: Barrington
DURATION: 7
FROM:
£1,650
SCIENTIST: Dr
Richard Bodmer,
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology
Samiria, Peru
days
2. ANIMALS OF MALAWI
IN THE MAJETE WILDLIFE RESERVE
March, August,
September, November, December
visit earthwatch.org
FROM:
£2,300
Poaching, logging, and burning have destroyed
the fragile ecosystem of today’s Majete Wildlife
Reserve in Malawi. As a volunteer, you’ll help
answer critical questions about the outcomes of a
major animal reintroduction program. Your work
will include animal tracking and counting, camera
trapping, assessing predator–prey relationships,
and even game capture and release.
4. BLAZING THE BIODIVERSITY
TRAIL IN BRAZIL
Alison Leslie,
University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
LOCATION: Majete
Leandro Silveira,
Jaguar Conservation Fund
Wildlife Reserve, Malawi
LOCATION: Araguaia
DURATION: 12
FIELDING MONTHS: June,
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
£1,875
SCIENTIST: Dr
days
July, August,
September, October, November, December
FROM:
The Araguaia River connects the Amazonian
rainforest with the Cerrado grasslands. Along
the river lies Emas National Park, where jaguars,
pumas, maned wolves, tapirs, and giant anteaters
roam. Help determine whether expanding
sugarcane plantations create barriers for these
animals as they move across the land. Record and
map species, help install camera traps, and work
with trained dogs to seek out animal tracks.
SCIENTIST: Dr
DURATION: 12
FIELDING MONTHS: January,
8
days
FIELDING MONTHS: January
Travel aboard a restored and remodelled river
boat while working alongside a team of skilled
Peruvian biologists. During your journey along
the Amazon River, you’ll collect information about
the wildlife populations in the Pacaya Samiria
National Reserve. You’ll also spend time in a
motorized canoe surveying dolphins, fish, and
turtles while counting macaws and conducting
land surveys of monkeys, tapirs, deer, and game
birds. At night, safely search for caimans
(alligator cousins) with a spotlight.
LOCATION: Pacaya
and Watagan Ranges,
NSW, Australia
Where will you inspire change?
DURATION: 8–15
£1,450
Along the pristine east coast of Australia in World
Heritage temperate rainforests, nine species of
frogs—about 5% of all Australian frog species—have
disappeared in the past two decades, while 20 species
have declined alarmingly. You will monitor frogs to
determine why these populations are declining, camping
alongside mountain streams and working into the
night when most frog species are active. Four past
Earthwatchers even discovered new species!
You can conserve lions in Africa, think with elephants
in Thailand, and rescue baby turtles in Costa Rica.
1. AMAZON RIVERBOAT
EXPLORATION
FROM:
FROM:
£1,850
One of the most ferocious predators on Earth,
the cat-like fosa is found only in Madagascar.
Its habits and population status are virtually
unknown and its habitat is nearly gone. Help
preserve the fosa and its habitat by hiking up to
12 miles a day through the forests of Madagascar
while setting fosa traps, checking trap lines,
and measuring trapped and sedated carnivores.
You’ll stay at a tented research station in
Ankarafantsika National Park.
SCIENTIST: Dr
Luke Dollar,
Duke University
River, Central Brazil
days
FIELDING MONTHS: July,
5. CARNIVORES OF
MADAGASCAR
LOCATION: Ankarafantsika,
DURATION: 13
October, November
Madagascar
days
FIELDING MONTHS: July,
December
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
9
WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS
OUR EXPEDITIONS
6. CONSERVING KOALA COUNTRY
FROM:
8. FOLLOWING DARWIN’S
FINCHES IN THE GALÁPAGOS
£1,895
Great Otway National Park in Australia hosts a
thriving koala population. To conserve koalas,
we must understand their response to climate
change and the impacts of overpopulation on
their habitat and behaviour. On this expedition,
you will work closely with koalas to safely
capture and handle them and use radio-tracking
devices and cameras to record their movements.
You’ll stay in cabins in the Otway National Park
surrounded by koalas.
Desley Whisson,
Deakin University
SCIENTIST: Dr
Luis Fernando De León, Instituto
de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios
de Alta Tecnología
LOCATION: Great
Otway National Park,
Victoria, Australia
LOCATION: Santa
days
FIELDING MONTHS: February,
DURATION: 10
September,
November
HOW ARE MONKEYS ANGERING FARMERS?
7. C
ONSERVING LEOPARDS AND MONKEYS IN SOUTH AFRICA
FROM:
£1,675
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Russell Hill,
Durham University
Mountains,
South Africa
9. INVESTIGATING THREATS
TO CHIMPS IN UGANDA
£1,650
10. EXPLORING LIONS AND
THEIR PREY IN KENYA NEW
July, September,
LOCATION: Budongo
DURATION: 12
FIELDING MONTHS: February,
July, August, October
visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
Jacob Goheen,
University of Wyoming
call us on (0)1856 318838
April, June,
£2,450
SCIENTIST: Dr
Forest, Western Uganda
days
FROM:
On Kenya’s savannahs, zebra populations are
flourishing while other large herbivores, like
waterbucks and hartebeests, have begun to
decline. Join this innovative effort to find out
if domestic cattle can help save these species.
By manipulating the relationships between
cattle, zebras, and lions and other predators,
researchers hope to entice predators away from
rare herbivores so their populations can grow.
Help by tracking lions and checking camera
traps for evidence of other animals. The team
will stay in bandas—round stone huts with
thatched roofs—in the wildlife-rich Ol Pejeta
Conservancy, where a cook will prepare meals
with an international flavour.
Fred Babweteera,
Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
October, December
10
FROM:
SCIENTIST: Dr
days
FIELDING MONTHS: January,
February
The lush Budongo Forest in Uganda is home to
a large population of chimpanzees and other
primates that rely on fruiting trees for their
survival. Now, the trees are bearing less fruit and
chimps are raiding nearby farms, causing conflict
between humans and wildlife. Help researchers
determine what is causing the fruit to dwindle
and how this impacts the primates. You will track
chimps and other primates through the forest to
collect information on their diet and behaviour,
monitor the fruiting patterns of trees, and trap
and identify insects to investigate changes
in pollinator populations. Your work will help
determine how primates can better survive in a
changing climate.
Farmers in this region view leopards, hyenas, and
monkeys as threats to their livestock and crops,
which endangers the survival of these animals and
in turn the biodiversity of the region. Help scientists
understand the behaviour of these species and their
impact on people’s livelihoods so they may improve
the relationship between farmers and wildlife. You’ll
collect data on carnivores from camera trapping,
GPS collars, and scat analysis and observe primates
by following them during the day.
DURATION: 12
Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador
days
FIELDING MONTHS: January,
LOCATION: Soutpansberg
£1,895
In the Galápagos, you can almost see evolution in
action. Take Darwin’s finches. These birds evolved
to have a tight link between beak size and size
of seeds they eat, a link that’s essential to their
survival. But evolution may now be weakening this
link in response to human-introduced foods, like
rice—with unpredictable results. You’ll help study
how new foods are changing finch beak size by
surveying finch populations, catching them in mist
nets, collecting blood samples for genetic analyses,
and investigating available food in different
habitats. In the grand tradition of Galápagos field
researchers, you’ll share a room in the dorms at
the Charles Darwin Foundation field station.
SCIENTIST: Dr
DURATION: 10
FROM:
NEW
LOCATION: Ol
Pejeta Conservancy,
Laikipia District, Kenya
DURATION: 14
days
FIELDING MONTHS: June, July, August, September
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
11
WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS
OUR EXPEDITIONS
FROM:
HOW HAVE LOONS FARED SINCE THE 2010 OIL SPILL?
11. LOONS AND THE GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL
12. LOONS OF THE CANADIAN PRAIRIE
£1,425
15. SCOUTING FOXES, BADGERS, AND
HEDGEHOGS IN ENGLAND NEW
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Jim Paruk, Center for Loon Conservation
at the Biodiversity Research Institute
LOCATION: Port
Sulphur, Louisiana, USA, or
Saskatchewan, Canada
SCIENTIST: Dr
Dawn Scott,
University of Brighton
days
FIELDING MONTHS: February,
£275
Are foxes, hedgehogs, and badgers friends or
foes to people? Help researchers understand
how people perceive these furry and prickly city
dwellers and how we can better coexist with
them. You’ll patrol patches of land for fox and
badger dens and count the animals you see.
To get a sense of hedgehog numbers, you’ll set
up camera traps and monitor tracking tunnels,
and have the chance to interview locals about
how often they see these small mammals in
their gardens. Your team will stay in comfortable
hotels or university dorms and will share picnics,
barbeques, and meals in local restaurants.
Help scientists determine the spill’s impact on a large group
of loons in Louisiana. Or, you can choose to follow this same
group of loons to their summer grounds in Saskatchewan.
At both locations, you’ll help capture birds to tag them, and
take measurements and blood samples and use a GPS unit
and a compass to record the location of individual birds. From
boats, you’ll make behavioural observations and use radio
telemetry to locate signals from loons with transmitters.
DURATION: 7–14
FROM:
LOCATION: Reading
March, June, July
and Brighton,
United Kingdom
DURATION: 3–14
days
FIELDING MONTHS: June,
July, August
TEEN TEAMS
Some of our expeditions have been specially
tailored for teens. Find out more on page 33.
13. MAMMALS OF NOVA SCOTIA
FROM:
£1,250
How is climate change affecting wildlife in
the Acadian forest of Nova Scotia? To find out,
you will learn how to trap and release small
mammals such as mice and voles (the basis of
the predatory food chain) and use evidence from
field signs and camera trapping to study deer,
beavers, porcupines, raccoons, bobcats, and
other more elusive mammals. This research will
help us understand the implications of climate
change for forestry, hunting, and tourism, which
are vital to the local economy.
SCIENTIST: Dr
Christina Buesching, Wildlife
Conservation Unit, University of Oxford
LOCATION: Cherry
DURATION: 7–14
12
May, June, July, August
FROM:
£2,250
Scientists are studying panda behaviour to
determine which individuals will be good
candidates for reintroduction to the wild.
Working at the Ya’an Bifengxia panda base in a
famous tourist area of stunning wild beauty in
the mountains of Sichuan Province, you will help
monitor and record the daily behaviour of captive
and semicaptive pandas to support their effective
management and contribute to the long-term
goal of releasing pandas into the wild.
DURATION: 7
visit earthwatch.org
Mark Nelson,
Institute of Ecotechnics
LOCATION: Patillas,
DURATION: 10
days
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
£1,350
SCIENTIST: Dr
Sichuan Province, China
June, July, August,
September, October, November
FROM:
Can we reduce rainforest destruction by
changing the way we harvest trees? To find out,
researchers cut long slots through the forest,
as if a canopy tree had fallen. They plant tree
seedlings in each slot and harvest the trees
years later with minimal disturbance to the
surrounding forest. You will help determine
which planting methods are working best, and
how they are impacting the surrounding forest.
You’ll also measure trees, count lizards, identify
vine species, and even join a night expedition to
count frogs and birds.
Zhang Hemin,
China Conservation and Research Center
for the Giant Panda
FIELDING MONTHS: May,
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
16. PUERTO RICO’S
RAINFOREST
SCIENTIST: Prof.
LOCATION: Chengdu,
days
FIELDING MONTHS:
Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada
14. ON THE TRAIL OF
GIANT PANDAS IN CHINA
Puerto Rico
days
FIELDING MONTHS: June,
July, December
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
13
WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS
OUR EXPEDITIONS
“I could go on for days about how phenomenal
the expedition was. It truly opened my eyes to
a different and beautiful world and I’ve come
to see the complexity and incredible ambition
of conservation as a whole.”
19. SPOTTING SONGBIRDS
IN THE ROCKIES
FROM:
£1,300
Many songbird populations in the Jackson Hole
area are declining, and you can help researchers
study these birds and their habitats in an effort
to stop the decline. Search for migratory birds’
nests and record the location of colour-banded
birds to provide key information on seasonal
survival rates and productivity. Some teams will
have a chance to observe birds up close as staff
removes them from nets and band them. Other
teams will assist with vegetation measurements.
You’ll stay in rustic cabins at the Kelly Campus
of the Teton Science Schools.
Sara Thornburg, Walking with African Wildlife
Dr Kevin Krasnow,
Teton Science Schools
SCIENTIST:
LOCATION: Jackson
DURATION: 9
Hole, Wyoming, USA
days
20. TRACKING BEAVERS
THROUGH GERMAN WATERS
FROM:
NEW
£1,350
Next to people, beavers can change their
environment more thoroughly than any other
species. In Germany’s Lower Rhine, these
construction whizzes only recently returned after
hunters nearly wiped them out. Researchers need
to know the population size, where the beavers
live, and how they’re reshaping the landscape.
From boats or on the shore, search picturesque
ponds and streams for signs of beaver life
and look for evidence of beaver damage to
dikes or crops. You’ll also take soil and water
samples. Teams will stay at comfortable local
accommodations and can look forward to regional
specialties like sausage and cheese.
SCIENTIST: Dr
William Megill,
Rhine Waal University of Applied Sciences
LOCATION: Cleves
District, Lower Rhine Region,
North Rhine-Westphalia State, Germany
FIELDING MONTH: June
DURATION: 7–13
days
FIELDING MONTHS:
June, August, September
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
17. RESTORING PREHISTORIC
LANDSCAPES ON EASTER ISLAND
FROM:
£2,325
Help recreate this storied island’s ancient
agricultural practices and rebuild its
endangered forests. Searching for prehistoric
gardens, livestock fields, and farms, you’ll help
conduct experiments to evaluate how effective
the prehistoric mulching system was in feeding
the inhabitants of the island. You’ll prepare soil
to better sustain native plants and help create
a botanical garden. You’ll also participate in
reforesting critically eroded areas of the island.
You’ll stay in cosy double rooms at a small
family hotel.
18. SOUTH AFRICA’S HYENAS
FROM:
£2,050
DOES AN ELEPHANT REALLY NEVER FORGET?
21. T
HINKING LIKE AN ELEPHANT IN THAILAND
FROM:
£2,025
We know elephants in Thailand are endangered,
but what we don’t know is a lot about their
behaviour and needs. Your participation will help
future wild elephant conservation initiatives.
Working up close with elephants, you’ll collect
data on their behaviour and intelligence,
help in food preparation, and assist elephant
caretakers in their daily routines. You’ll collect
and input data, help with analysis, and assist in
educational initiatives for Thai, U.S., and other
internationally based communities.
Carnivore scavengers are essential to functioning
ecosystems, but their role is little understood.
Deploy camera traps and monitor brown hyenas
and jackals to help provide a better understanding
of their role in South Africa. You’ll talk to locals
about the presence of carnivores in the area and
conduct spotlight counts at night, where you may
even encounter lions and leopards. Stay in the
heart of the Mankwe Wildlife Reserve in a small
house or a walk-in safari tent.
Dr Joshua Plotnik,
Mahidol University
SCIENTIST:
SCIENTIST: Sonia
Haoa Cardinali,
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
SCIENTIST: Dr
LOCATION: Hanga
LOCATION: Pilanesberg
Roa,
Easter Island, Chile
DURATION: 14
Dawn Scott,
University of Brighton
National Park,
South Africa
days
DURATION: 12
FIELDING MONTHS: July,
August,
September, December
Chiang Saen, Thailand
10 days
IELDING MONTHS: May,
F
days
FIELDING MONTHS: January,
LOCATION:
DURATION:
June, July, August,
September, October
May, July, August,
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
October, November
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
14
visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
15
WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS
OUR EXPEDITIONS
HOW CAN WE PROTECT AFRICA’S MOST ICONIC SPECIES?
22. T
RACKING PREDATORS OF THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH NEW
FROM:
£2,495
Anthony J. Giordano, Society for the
Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and Their
International Ecological Study (SPECIES)
SCIENTIST: Dr
Dave Druce,
Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife
SCIENTIST:
KAZA, Tamafupa Region, Botswana
DURATION:
8 days
FIELDING MONTHS:
FROM:
£1,675
Conservation doesn’t just happen on protected
land. In many places, crops and forests grow
alongside each other, so farmers need to be
engaged to make any conservation plan a
reality. In Costa Rica, farmers receive payments
for planting trees and protecting stretches
of private forests. Help find out if this plan is
working by monitoring vegetation changes
and tracking mammals that roam areas of
land shared by farmers and animals. You’ll
check camera traps and hair traps for evidence
of sloths, tapirs, monkeys, and other exotic
mammals. Teams will stay in cabins surrounded
by lush Costa Rican forest.
Dr Thomas Lacher,
Texas A&M University
S
CIENTIST:
LOCATION: Paso
de Las Nubes Biological
Corridor, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
DURATION:
DURATION:
24. WILDLIFE OF
AUSTRALIA’S RAINFORESTS
July, August
visit earthwatch.org
FROM:
£1,650
The Wet Tropics of northern Queensland are the
last remaining area of Australia’s primeval forest.
This unique ecosystem is home to cassowaries,
parrots, pythons, possums, tree kangaroos,
and primitive-looking reptiles. You’ll work with
a world-renowned ecologist to help shape our
understanding of how changes in our climate
are altering the landscape and what this means
for species in the area. Your work will include
bird, lizard, and frog surveys, nocturnal wildlife
spotting, and insect collecting.
Prof. Stephen Williams,
James Cook University
SCIENTIST:
LOCATION: Wet
Tropics, Queensland,
Australia
7–15 days
FIELDING MONTHS: March,
June, October
Park, South Africa
16 days
FIELDING MONTHS: July,
DURATION:
10 days
FIELDING MONTHS: June,
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
16
LOCATION:Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
June, July, September, October
23. TRACKING COSTA RICA’S
MAMMALS NEW
£2,500
Help protect the diversity of wildlife species in one
of Africa’s oldest reserves. Walk with an armed
guard four to six miles per day through woodland,
bush, and forest, starting at dawn to track rhinos,
giraffes, elephants, and zebras, among many
other species. This is a rare chance to walk
through scenery most people only see from a
Land Rover, while collecting data that will help
support conservation plans.
Visit a place where lions and cheetahs still stalk the
grasslands and packs of wild dogs roam. This is the
Kavango-Zambezi Transboundary Protected Area (KAZA),
a swath of protected land that spans five countries and is
one of Africa’s best hopes for preserving its wilderness and
its declining predator species. The welcoming country of
Botswana will be your home as you monitor camera traps,
sort the images they capture, and survey vegetation. You
may even help track lions and other predators, fit them
with tracking collars, and take tissue samples for genetic
analysis. Stay in a spacious safari tent and enjoy homecooked southern African cuisine.
LOCATION:
FROM:
25. WALKING WITH
AFRICAN WILDLIFE
August, September
26. WILDLIFE OF THE
MONGOLIAN STEPPE
FROM:
£2,150
For years, Earthwatch teams have worked to
conserve Mongolia’s wildlife, including the argali,
the largest mountain sheep in the world. Their
findings have been used to develop conservation
policies and expand the protected area. Now,
you can join researchers in remote, spectacular
areas of Mongolia to study the behaviour of
argali, Siberian ibexes, vultures, hedgehogs,
and prey species, from lizards to snakes and
marmots. Team members share quarters in
traditional Mongolian huts and will be treated to
a traditional Mongolian barbecue cooked with hot
rocks. Interested volunteers may also have the
opportunity to work with another local Earthwatch
Expedition focused on archaeology.
See our Archaeology of the
Mongolian Steppe expedition on page 28.
SCIENTIST: Gana
Wingard,
Denver Zoological Foundation
LOCATION:
Ikh Nart Wildlife Reserve, Mongolia
DURATION:
14 days
FIELDING MONTHS: May,
RELATED EXPEDITION
June,
August, September
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
17
OUR EXPEDITIONS
OCEAN HEALTH
28. COSTA RICAN SEA TURTLES
£1,750
Leatherback sea turtles are an ancient species,
growing up to six feet long and weighing up
to 1,500 pounds. Along the most important
leatherback nesting beaches left in the world,
you’ll monitor, protect, measure, and tag
these critically endangered creatures. During
your nights on the beach, you’ll count eggs
to determine what factors influence nesting
success. Depending on the season, you may
relocate threatened nests to the hatchery,
protect hatchlings as they crawl seaward,
excavate nests to determine hatching success
rates, and rescue stragglers.
OCEAN
HEALTH
“There are no words to describe
the feeling you get when you
witness it all in person. Being part
of this cycle of life that has been
occurring for thousands of years
is incredible.”
Mary Doak, Costa Rican Sea Turtles
SCIENTIST: Dr
Frank V. Paladino,
Indiana-Purdue University
Dive in to answer key
questions about preserving
marine life and take critically
important steps to protect the
world’s oceans.
You can help save penguins in South
Africa, protect whales and dolphins
in Costa Rica, and swim with turtles
in the Bahamas.
How will you protect our largest resource?
READY TO BOOK?
Visit earthwatch.org
or call us on (0)1856 318838
for more info.
LOCATION: Tamarindo,
DURATION: 9
February, October,
November, December
27. CORAL COMMUNITIES
IN THE SEYCHELLES
FROM:
$2,995
£1,950
Curieuse Island hosts some of the world’s most
beautiful reefs and serves as home to hundreds
of giant tortoises, a marine park, and the iconic
coco de mer palm. Scuba-certified divers will
use digital photography to measure biodiversity
and coral growth and to identify biodiversity hot
spots, areas of reef degradation, and areas that
are more resistant to environmental change.
Your data will help to identify the most important
sites for protection and the species that are most
vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Prof. David Smith,
University of Essex
LOCATION: Curieuse
DURATION:
Island, Seychelles
12 days
FIELDING MONTH: April
visit earthwatch.org
Costa Rica
days
FIELDING MONTHS: January,
SCIENTIST:
18
FROM:
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
HOW IS WHALING AFFECTING WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN NORWAY?
29. INVESTIGATING WHALES AND DOLPHINS OF THE NORWEGIAN ARCTIC
FROM:
£1,450
In the Arctic waters of Norway, whaling and fishing
are important industries. You’ll learn about Arctic
whales and help protect marine mammals by
collecting data from whale-watching boats and
the Andenes lighthouse observation station. You’ll
learn to identify whale species, count groups, and
collaborate with the crew to collect data on wind,
temperature, and sea state. You’ll also learn to
interpret behaviour and communication between
killer whales while assessing human impacts on
whales and dolphins.
Dr Iva Kovacic,
Marine Research and Education Fund of Andenes
SCIENTIST:
LOCATION:
Vesterålen region, Norway
DURATION:
8 days
F
IELDING MONTHS: July,
August, November,
December
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
19
OCEAN HEALTH
OUR EXPEDITIONS
30. PROJECT MANTA
FROM:
£2,350
Gentle manta rays are incredibly vulnerable to
fishing practices, but so little is known about
them that it‘s difficult to develop a conservation
strategy. The Manta Identification Database
is working to identify individual rays and then
track them to understand their behaviour and
environmental needs. As an Earthwatch scuba
diver, you’ll photograph rays in their natural
habitat and add them to the database. You will
also assist with plankton sampling and analysis,
and may even take part in filming manta rays.
You’ll stay at the only ecoresort on Lady Elliot
Island in Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef.
SCIENTIST: Dr
Kathy Townsend,
University of Queensland
LOCATION: Lady
DURATION:
Elliot Island, Australia
8 days
FIELDING MONTHS: February,
June, September
CAN WE SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF CORAL DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA?
31. R
ECOVERY OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
FROM:
£2,000
Enrique Oviedo Correa,
University of Hong Kong
David Bourne,
Australian Institute of Marine Science
20
LOCATION: Golfo
DURATION:
Island, Townsville, Australia
Dulce, Costa Rica
9 days
F
IELDING MONTHS: January,
8 days
FIELDING MONTHS: March,
July, August, December
September
visit earthwatch.org
£1,225
SCIENTIST: Lenin
S
CIENTIST: Dr
DURATION:
FROM:
This Costa Rican gulf is home to a large and
vulnerable community of whales and dolphins.
To protect these marine mammals, researchers
must first collect information about the habitat,
the animals, and their interactions. Observe
and record whale and dolphin behaviour and
environmental conditions aboard a motorboat
while taking photos to provide the basis for a
photo ID catalogue. You’ll also hike along rivers
to collect information about nearby mangrove
forests and palm oil plantations. Stay at El
Chontal, an ecolodge run by a local family.
Orpheus Island, a stunningly beautiful tropical
island within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage
Area, lies off the coast near Townsville, Australia.
Even in this pristine area, coral diseases threaten
reef ecosystems. As a scuba-certified member
of this expedition, you’ll perform underwater
surveys, counting new coral colonies and tagging
and photographing diseased areas that will be
monitored over time to assess the condition
of the coral. In the aquarium, you will conduct
experiments to determine the impact that light,
temperature, pH, and nutrient contents of the
water have on diseased corals.
LOCATION: Orpheus
32. SAFEGUARDING WHALES
AND DOLPHINS IN COSTA RICA
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
call us on (0)1856 318838
February, June,
33.SHARK CONSERVATION
IN BELIZE
FROM:
£1,750
Do marine reservations really protect sharks
and other ocean life? Help deploy and operate
baited remote underwater cameras to capture
footage of sharks. Work on research boats to
conduct snorkel surveys, and help capture,
measure, tag, and safely release reef, nurse,
great hammerhead, and tiger sharks. Gather
information on local Belizean and tourist
perceptions of sharks and marine reserves using
questionnaires and short video interviews to help
establish protected areas.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Demian Chapman,
Institute for Ocean Conservation Science,
Stony Brook University
LOCATION: Glover’s
Reef or
South Water Caye, Belize
DURATION:
8 days
FIELDING MONTHS: January,
June, July
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
21
OCEAN HEALTH
OUR EXPEDITIONS
34. SNORKELLING TO PROTECT
REEFS IN THE BAHAMAS
FROM:
£1,650
Critical fish habitats are under threat from
climate change, overfishing, and development.
Your research will determine what
characteristics create better marine reserves.
Snorkel to identify fish species, record their
sizes, and observe their behaviour, and help
maintain fish nets on the coral reef. Measure
water flow rates at mangrove creeks, and tag,
measure, and monitor fish.
Dr Alastair Harborne,
University of Exeter
S
CIENTIST:
LOCATION: Cape
DURATION:
Eleuthera, the Bahamas
10 days
F
IELDING MONTHS: March,
June, July
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
CAN WE SAVE THE SECOND LARGEST COLONY OF AFRICAN PENGUINS?
35. S
OUTH AFRICAN PENGUINS
FROM:
£1,750
Brooks,
Cape Eleuthera Institute
Island, South Africa
12 days
FIELDING MONTHS: March,
visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
Dana Point or Palos Verdes,
California, USA
DURATION:
10 days
DURATION:
call us on (0)1856 318838
£625
Share the waters of California’s Santa Catalina
Island with whales, and help determine how
recreational boating, pollution, and shipping
lanes affect marine mammal populations along
the coast. Work on the water photographing
whales, recording GPS coordinates, videorecording behaviour, and taking water samples.
From the shore, you’ll help spot both whales and
boats using binoculars, track their movements,
and video-record their activities. You’ll use GIS
technology to examine relationships between
marine mammals and humans. Summer teams
will stay in a dorm-style townhouse, and winter
teams will stay at a local hotel.
Eleuthera Island, the Bahamas
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
FROM:
SCIENTIST: Dr Lei Lani Stelle, University of Redlands
LOCATION:
February, April, July, August,
September, October, November
April, May, June,
37. WHALES AND DOLPHINS
UNDER THE CALIFORNIA SUN
LOCATION:
FIELDING MONTHS:
July, August
22
£1,715
S
CIENTIST: Annabelle
Prof. Peter Barham,
University of Bristol
S
CIENTIST:
DURATION:
FROM:
Sea turtles outlasted the dinosaurs, but they may
not survive humans. Snorkel and boat through
tropical waters to find out how we can protect
two species: the green and hawksbill sea turtle.
You’ll explore the habitats where they forage in
their juvenile years, taking measurements and
recording their behaviour to learn what these
ancient creatures need to thrive. You’ll also help
tag turtles so scientists can track their long-term
movements. Teams stay at the Cape Eleuthera
Institute, steps away from beaches and coral reefs,
and share buffet-style meals that feature fresh,
locally sourced Caribbean and American food.
Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was
imprisoned, is home to one of the largest colonies
of African penguins on the planet. Help scientists
determine whether oil shipping lanes and fisheries
in the area are having an impact on the penguin
population. You will monitor seabirds to help reduce
threats to this fragile environment, conduct penguin
population surveys to determine breeding success
and survival rates, and test a new system that detects
and recognizes individual penguins as they pass by
cameras. You’ll share rooms in a simple, comfortable
island house, right near the penguin colony.
LOCATION: Robben
36. SWIMMING WITH SEA TURTLES
IN THE BAHAMAS NEW
3–14 days
FIELDING MONTHS:
January, February, March,
June, July
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
23
CLIMATE CHANGE
OUR EXPEDITIONS
39. CLIMATE CHANGE AND
CATERPILLARS IN COSTA RICA
FROM:
£1,750
Explore the impact of climate change on
the caterpillar and parasite population in
Costa Rica. Caterpillars are a model species
and your findings may help provide the key
to understanding many complex species
interactions. Collect caterpillars and their host
plants, observe their reproduction, and analyse
toxins caterpillars get from plants to ward off
predators. Your findings will help answer key
questions about the impact of climate change.
CLIMATE
CHANGE
SCIENTIST: Dr
Lee Dyer,
University of Nevada, Reno
LOCATION:
Heredia Province, Costa Rica
DURATION: 11
days
FIELDING MONTH: December
The more we know about
climate change, the more we
can do to slow and manage
its impact on our planet.
40. CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE
ARCTIC’S EDGE
You can help measure carbon stored
in permafrost at the Arctic Circle,
study how climate change affects
caterpillars in Ecuador, and venture
into an active volcano in Nicaragua.
What will you do to help slow
climate change?
READY TO BOOK?
Visit earthwatch.org
or call us on (0)1856 318838
for more info.
38. BUTTERFLIES AND BEES
IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAS
FROM:
£2,050
Kullu Valley, nestled in the Himalayas, is
famous for its apple orchards and farms. But
the apple-growing range is shifting north due
to warmer temperatures, and invasive species
are choking out native flowering plants. That,
combined with high pesticide use, has caused
pollinators like butterflies and bees to die off.
Help find out how this region can maintain its
tradition of sustainable agriculture by counting
the insect pollinators in the area, observing
when plants flower and bear fruit, assessing
plant diversity, and sampling soil. You’ll stay in
a comfortable hotel near shops, restaurants,
and cultural attractions.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
L.M.S. Palni, G.B. Pant Institute
of Himalayan Environment and Development
LOCATION: Upper
Kullu Valley, Himachal
Pradesh State, India
DURATION: 12
FIELDING MONTHS: June,
24
visit earthwatch.org
August, October
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
£2,050
41. CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE
MACKENZIE MOUNTAINS
The not-so-perma-frost of the Arctic is thawing.
As this occurs, greenhouse gases are released
that rise and trap more heat, leading to even
more thawing. Measuring this ugly feedback
loop is essential to tackling the climate change
crisis. Help this effort in one of two starkly
beautiful Canadian locations. You’ll collect soil
and permafrost samples, monitor the tree line,
and record information on native plants. In the
evenings, you’ll return to the comfort of either
a cosy cabin (in the Mackenzie Mountains) or a
bustling research centre (in Churchill).
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Steve Mamet,
University of Saskatchewan
Canada,
or the Mackenzie Mountains, Canada
DURATION:
11 days
FIELDING MONTHS: February,
42. WILDLIFE OF THE
FRENCH PYRENEES
FROM:
NEW
£1,875
Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most
fragile, beautiful habitats: the high slopes of the
French Pyrenees. Climate change has already
driven some species farther up the mountains,
but the question of how it will alter this Alpine
world is far from being solved. While trekking
through this striking landscape, your team will
capture, weigh, and measure small mammals;
spot tawny owls and other birds; observe
bumblebees on their rounds; and conduct
an array of other activities that will shed light
on how this ecosystem works now and how
it might change.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
LOCATION: Churchill,
August, September
days
FROM:
June, July,
Bernat Claramunt López,
Centre for Ecological Research and
Forestry Applications
LOCATION: Central
DURATION: 7
Pyrenees, France
days
FIELDING MONTHS: July,
September
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
25
CLIMATE CHANGE
OUR EXPEDITIONS
43. CLIMATE CHANGE IN
THE WOODS OF ENGLAND
FROM:
£75
England’s serene forests store huge amounts of
carbon, a crucial service as the climate becomes
warmer and less predictable. But how will
climate change and urban sprawl change these
forests, and what does that mean for the carbon
they remove from the atmosphere and store?
You’ll help map and measure the diameters of
oak, ash, cherry, and other tree species. You’ll
help quantify carbon storage in the forest by
taking measurements of trees, deadwood, and
leaf litter. You’ll be greeted with coffee, tea, and
snacks on arrival, and can return home or to the
hotel of your choice when the research day ends.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Martha Crockatt,
Earthwatch
LOCATION: Wytham
DURATION: 1
Woods, Oxford, U.K.
day
FIELDING MONTH:
44. CLIMATE AND LANDSCAPE
CHANGE IN BORNEO’S
RAINFORESTS
LOCATION: Malua
LOCATION: La
LOCATION: Masaya,
DURATION: 7–14
Nicaragua
days
FIELDING MONTHS: February,
March
visit earthwatch.org
days
FIELDING MONTHS: May,
46. EXPLORING SAN FRANCISCO’S
URBAN FOREST
£1,525
“After coming home to the
realities of everyday life, I am
trying to hold on to the glow of
a trip that was fantastic from
pickup to drop-off.”
Colleen Casey, Exploring an
Active Volcano in Nicaragua
26
Sassière Reserve, France
DURATION: 7–14
October
Explore life in the shadow of an active volcano in
Nicaragua. Hike the active Masaya Volcano and
survey the surrounding areas to help determine
the effects of volcanic activity on plant, animal, and
human communities. You’ll use GPS technology,
monitor volcanic gases, and deploy instruments to
collect data on gravity, magnetic fields, temperature,
and other features. You’ll also dig holes to collect soil
and water samples and conduct butterfly surveys.
Hazel Rymer,
Open University
Aurélie Cohas,
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and CNRS
Field Centre, Borneo
FROM:
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
£1,450
S
CIENTIST: Dr
days
HOW DOES A VOLCANO SHAPE THE WORLD AROUND IT?
45. E
XPLORING AN ACTIVE VOLCANO IN NICARAGUA
FROM:
What characteristics influence a species’ ability
to cope, or not cope, with climate change? To
find answers, examine the biology of Alpine
marmots by catching them in traps and taking
measurements and samples from them.
Film the behaviour of these small mammals,
observe and identify family groups, help test
new noninvasive behavioural experiments, and
monitor the presence of other mountain flora
and fauna such as the majestic ibex. You’ll stay
in a beautiful Alpine chalet overlooking the lake
of Tignes, one of the most famous ski resorts.
S
CIENTIST: Dr Glen Reynolds, Royal Society SE
Asia Rainforest Research Programme
FIELDING MONTH:
S
CIENTIST: Prof.
48. OF MOUNTAINS AND
MARMOTS: CLIMATE CHANGE
IN THE FRENCH ALPS
£1,350
Can Borneo’s astoundingly diverse rainforests
survive and thrive in the face of climate change
and logging? Volunteers will assess the ability
of the forest and soil to manage the impact
of climate change. Collect plant specimens,
measure seedling survival and growth rates,
and collect and analyse soil samples. Your
findings could mean the difference for the
survival of Sumatran rhinos, clouded leopards,
pygmy elephants, and thousands of other
plants and animals.
DURATION: 10
September
FROM:
FROM:
£50
June, July
49. PROTECTING THE RIVERS
OF CALIFORNIA
FROM:
£1,575
47. EXPLORING BOSTON’S
URBAN FOREST
50. PROTECTING THE VINEYARDS
OF CHILE’S WINE REGION NEW
Live in a city? Those trees outside your window
aren’t just pretty: they provide a wealth of
benefits, from keeping temperatures cool
to filtering storm water. But caring for the
urban forest can be tough for cities with tight
budgets. Help assess the forests in two cities:
San Francisco, California and Cambridge,
Massachusetts. While strolling the streets,
you’ll record the species, trunk diameter, and
other characteristics of each tree. Armed with
this information, researchers can show why it’s
important to protect our urban forests. You’ll get
lunch in the field and can return home or to a
hotel when the research day ends.
California and Chile both yield great wine. Their
wine producers are also known for their focus
on sustainability, which is lucky for everyone
who wants to keep getting great wine as climate
change reshapes the land it comes from. While
exploring the life-rich rivers and vineyards of
Northern California and Central Valley or Chile’s
Colchagua Valley, you’ll survey vegetation, spot
birds, and identify pollinators. Help scientists
understand how the health of the rivers is
connected to the health of the agriculture and
how we can help preserve these regions for the
future. Stay in a hotel at either location and, of
course, sample some of the best wine in the
New World.
S
CIENTIST: Kelaine
Vargas Ravdin,
Urban Ecos; Gitte Venicx, Earthwatch
San Francisco, CA,
or Cambridge, MA, USA
LOCATION:
DURATION: 1
day
FIELDING MONTHS: July,
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Josh Viers, Pacific Agroecology
LOCATION: Colchagua
Valley, Chile,
or Northern California, USA
DURATION: 3–8
August
call us on (0)1856 318838
days
FIELDING MONTHS:
January, September, October
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
27
ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURE
OUR EXPEDITIONS
52. EXCAVATING THE ROMAN
EMPIRE IN BRITAIN
Safeguard our future by uncovering
our past. Unearth the remains of
ancient cultures to find out how
our ancestors lived and to help us
make informed decisions today.
READY TO BOOK?
Visit earthwatch.org
or call us on (0)1856 318838
for more info.
£950
At Arbeia, a large Roman fort first excavated in
the 1870s, survey the remains of ancient British
and Roman cultures to help reconstruct Britain’s
past. You’ll help map pre-Roman and Roman
settlements by excavating jewellery, armour,
game pieces, and ceramics. You’ll also rotate
among many other tasks, including recording
site data, site surveying and photographing,
and cleaning and processing finds. Your team
will stay in a guesthouse close to the site in
this pleasant coastal resort town.
ARCHAEOLOGY
& CULTURE
You can dig up Roman remains
in Tuscany, excavate a fort in
England, and unearth Colorado’s
ancient civilization.
How will you help us to better
understand our past?
FROM:
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Paul Bidwell,
Tyne and Wear Museums
LOCATION: South
DURATION: 3–14
Shields, United Kingdom
days
FIELDING MONTHS: May,
June, July, August
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
51. ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE
MONGOLIAN STEPPE
FROM:
$2,995
£2,150
The Ikh Nart Reserve in Mongolia is a model for
wildlife conservation and is also a significant
archaeological site. As a team member,
you will identify, inventory, and document
potentially important archaeological finds,
including Buddhist rock art, burial landmarks,
and ancient campsite tools, some of which
have not been used by humans for more than
2,000 years. Your descriptions, drawings, and
maps will help to guide future archaeological
excavations. You’ll live in traditional Mongolian
huts or tents. You may also have the opportunity
to work with a nearby Earthwatch team
investigating local wildlife (see Wildlife of the
Mongolian Steppe on page 17).
SCIENTIST: Dr
Joan Schneider,
California Department of Parks and Recreation
LOCATION: Ikh
Nart Wildlife Reserve, Mongolia
DURATION: 14
days
“The scientists clearly made the
connection between the goals
of the expedition and the work
we did. It also helped that we
were working in a fantastically
beautiful place!”
obert Biglin, Encountering the
R
Prehistoric People of New Mexico
HOW DID HUMANS LIVE 10,000 YEARS AGO?
53. ENCOUNTERING THE PREHISTORIC PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO
FROM:
£1,875
Participate in the first excavations ever conducted
at the obsidian quarries in the Valles Caldera
National Preserve in northern New Mexico.
You’ll help excavate and analyse ancient obsidian
artefacts, a volcanic glass used to make tools. The
aim of the project to is to understand how humans
adapted to and transformed the landscape over
10,000 years. Your work will help preserve the
cultural heritage of the region. You’ll stay at the
preserve’s own comfortable lodge.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Anastasia Steffen,
Valles Caldera National Preserve
LOCATION: Jemez
DURATION: 10
Springs, New Mexico, USA
days
FIELDING MONTHS: June,
September
FIELDING MONTH: June
28
visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
29
ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURE
OUR EXPEDITIONS
WHAT CAN THESE 26,000-YEAR-OLD REMAINS TEACH US?
54. MAMMOTH GRAVEYARD IN SOUTH DAKOTA
FROM:
£2,050
The famed Ice Age sinkhole in Hot Springs,
South Dakota, has been under excavation
for more than 30 years, and has yielded
the remains of 60 mammoths. Excavate,
record, and preserve bone fragments from
26,000-year-old remains, and then map your
finds. You’ll share your knowledge with the
many visitors to the site, now a $2.1 million
museum and a national natural landmark.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Larry Agenbroad,
Northern Arizona University
LOCATION: Hot
DURATION: 15
Springs, South Dakota, USA
days
FIELDING MONTHS: June,
July
55. ORIGINS OF ANGKOR
56. UNEARTHING ANCIENT
HISTORY IN TUSCANY
FROM:
£1,400
The village of Ban Non Wat in northeast Thailand
is a key archaeological site for understanding
the origins of the Angkor Empire. Help search
for new prehistoric sites and identify the location
of resources like salt and potting clay. You’ll
participate in ongoing excavations at Ban Non
Wat and possibly other nearby sites. You’ll also
process finds from excavations to help reveal
how Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age peoples
were affected by their environment, changing
climates, the development of agriculture,
technological advances, and contact with those
from other lands. You’ll stay at the Phimai Inn,
with a large swimming pool, air-conditioned
rooms, and delicious Thai meals.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
Carolina Megale,
Archeodig Project
Nigel Chang,
James Cook University
LOCATION: Populonia,
Non Wat, Thailand
DURATION: 7–14
DURATION: 7–13
days
February
visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
June, July, August,
call us on (0)1856 318838
£1,350
Between A.D. 500 and 725, the Basketmaker
people lived in today’s Mesa Verde, Colorado,
laying the groundwork for the future Pueblo
society. Researchers are now excavating
to provide insight into the transformation
of Southwestern hunter-gatherer societies
into agricultural economies. Assist in the
excavation of a Basketmaker site and wash,
sort, catalogue, and label artefacts. Evening
programs will include an introduction to
Crow Canyon’s research and presentations
by staff archaeologists or guest lecturers on
current research in Southwestern archaeology.
Volunteers will stay in Navajo-style log cabins
with wireless Internet access.
LOCATION:
September, October
FROM:
Susan Ryan,
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
Italy
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
30
57. UNCOVERING THE MYSTERIES
OF COLORADO’S ANCIENT
CIVILIZATION
S
CIENTIST: Dr
days
FIELDING MONTHS: May,
FIELDING MONTHS: January,
£1,150
One of the most important archaeological sites
in Tuscany, Populonia is home to a rich record
of Etruscan, Roman, and medieval cultures. As
a member of the team, you will help reconstruct
the history of local cultures by digging with
archaeologists, documenting finds through use
of photography and drawing, and carrying out
experimental archaeology. You will assist in
surveying the area surrounding the dig site to
collect, clean, and document artefacts such as
pottery shards, mosaics, frescoes, metal objects,
and coins. You’ll stay in an apartment in the quiet
village of Populonia Stazione and have a chance
to visit nearby medieval villages.
S
CIENTIST: Dr
LOCATION: Ban
FROM:
Indian Camp Ranch, Colorado, USA
DURATION: 7–14
days
FIELDING MONTHS: July,
August, September
TEEN TEAM AVAILABLE
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31
ADDITIONAL PROJECT EXPERIENCES
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
EXPEDITION
TYPES
HOW LONG WILL I BE THERE?
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS
Earthwatch Expeditions typically run for
about two weeks, which allows volunteers
the opportunity to get involved with hands-on
research, often with teaching and community
interaction. We also have shorter expeditions,
involving volunteers in meaningful research
when they can spare only a week or 10 days,
or even just a weekend.
WHO AM I TRAVELLING WITH?
Perhaps you’re travelling alone, as a couple,
or with friends. Or maybe you know a teen who
is eager to travel to the ends of the earth. From
retirees to high school students, Earthwatch
Expeditions are a unique vacation alternative,
and we’re sure to have an expedition to suit
your needs.
WHERE WILL I SLEEP?
Are you happiest sleeping in a tented
bungalow, surrounded by the sounds of the
jungle? Or do you prefer a small inn, run by
a local family and offering modern facilities?
Earthwatch Expeditions feature a wide range
of accommodations, including standard hotels,
local inns, guesthouses, safari-style tented
bungalows, research stations, rustic camping,
and dorm-style shared rooms and baths.
32
STANDARD EXPEDITIONS
Our standard expeditions are appropriate for
adult volunteers of all ages. Participants aged
15 to 17 are also welcome when accompanied
by a parent or guardian.
HOW PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
IS THIS EXPEDITION?
Earthwatch Expeditions cater to a variety
of fitness abilities. From hiking miles through
a cloud forest, scuba-diving a coral reef,
or drifting down a coastal river aboard
a motorboat, you can choose the level of
physical exertion that’s right for you.
HOW IS EARTHWATCH
COMMITTED TO MY SAFETY?
Every Earthwatch Expedition is subjected to
a rigorous safety process by our international
program team, and all project staff is
trained in appropriate emergency response
procedures and field safety standards. All
projects have comprehensive risk assessment
and emergency response plans, including
emergency communications and transportation
to major medical facilities. We are committed
to the safety and welfare of our volunteers
around the globe.
visit earthwatch.org
VISIT US ONLINE
Earthwatch Teen Expeditions, mentored by
scientists and assisted by Earthwatch facilitators,
allow teens aged 15 to 18 to perform hands-on
scientific research in all corners of the globe.
Find more information at
earthwatch.org/teenteam
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SCHOOL GROUPS
Teachers can lead their students on a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and discover
what it means to be a working scientist
engaged in field research that helps protect
and conserve our natural world.
Find more information at
earthwatch.org/groups
CUSTOMIZED GROUP EXPEDITIONS
Earthwatch works with universities,
community organizations, businesses, zoos,
and aquariums to design specialized group
expeditions. These expeditions offer valuable
in-the-field science training and team-building,
and serve as a complement to classroom and
workplace learning.
WWW.EARTHWATCH.ORG
More than 50 expeditions all over
the world, but just one destination
online. Head to the newly redesigned
earthwatch.org to book an expedition,
interact with other volunteers, and
learn how you can change the planet.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions about
Earthwatch or an expedition,
please call us. Our knowledgeable
staff is here to assist you.
WEB: earthwatch.org
EMAIL: info@earthwatch.org.uk
PHONE: (0)1856 318838
Contact info@earthwatch.org.uk
to start exploring the possibilities.
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
33
#
2014EarthwatchExpeditions
1
AmazonRiverboatExploration
2
AnimalsofMalawiintheMajeteWildlifeReserve
3
Australia’sVanishingFrogs
4
BlazingtheBiodiversityTrailinBrazil
5
CarnivoresofMadagascar
6
ConservingKoalaCountry
7
ConservingLeopardsandMonkeysinSouthAfrica
8
FollowingDarwin’sFinchesintheGalapagos
9
10
11
InvestigatingThreatstoChimpsinUganda
ExploringLionsandtheirPreyinKenya
LoonsandtheGulfofMexicoOilSpill
Wildlife&Ecosystems
12
13
14
15
16
17
LoonsoftheCanadianPrairie
MammalsofNovaScotia
OntheTrailofGiantPandasinChina
ScoutingFoxes,Badgers,andHedgehogsinEngland
PuertoRico’sRainforest
RestoringPrehistoricLandscapesonEasterIsland
18
19
20
SouthAfrica’sHyenas
SpottingSongbirdsintheRockies
TrackingBeaversThroughGermanWaters
21
ThinkingLikeanElephantinThailand
22
23
24
25
26
TrackingPredatorsoftheAfricanSavannah
TrackingCostaRica’sMammals
WildlifeofAustralia’sRainforest
WalkingwithAfricanWildlife
WildlifeoftheMongolianSteppe
27
CoralCommunitiesintheSeychelles
Seychelles
28
CostaRicanSeaTurtles
CostaRica
29
InvestigatingWhalesandDolphinsoftheNorwegianArctic
Norway
30
ProjectManta
31
32
33
RecoveryoftheGreatBarrierReef
SafeguardingWhalesandDolphinsinCostaRica
SharkConservationinBelize
34
SnorkellingtoProtectReefsintheBahamas
35
SouthAfricanPenguins
36
37
SwimmingwithSeaTurtlesintheBahamas
WhalesandDolphinsUndertheCaliforniaSun
38
ButterfliesandBeesintheIndianHimalayas
39
ClimateChangeandCaterpillarsinCostaRica
40
ClimateChangeattheArctic’sEdge
41
42
43
ClimateChangeintheMackenzieMountains
WildlifeoftheFrenchPyrenees
ClimateChangeintheWoodsofEngland
44
ClimateandLandscapeChangeinBorneo’sRainforest
45
ExploringanActiveVolcanoinNicaragua
46
ExploringSanFrancisco’sUrbanForest
USA
KelaineVargasRavdin
27
1day
47
48
49
ExploringBoston’sUrbanForest
OfMountainsandMarmots:ClimateChangeintheFrenchAlps
ProtectingtheRiversofCalifornia
USA
France
USA
GitteVenicx
Dr.AurelieCohas
Dr.JoshViers
27
27
27
1day
7-14days
3-8days
50
ProtectingtheVineyardsofChile’sWineRegion
Chile
Dr.JoshViers
27
7days

51
ArchaeologyoftheMongolianSteppe
Mongolia
Dr.JoanSchneider
28
14days
52
ExcavatingtheRomanEmpireinBritain
England
Dr.PaulBidwell
TEEN
29
3-14days
53
54
55
EncounteringthePrehistoricPeopleofNewMexico
MammothGraveyardinSouthDakota
OriginsofAngkor
USA
USA
Thailand
Dr.AnastasiaSteffen
Dr.LarryAgenbroad
Dr.NigelChang
29
30
30
10days
15days
7-14days


56
UnearthingAncientHistoryinTuscany
Italy
Dr.CarolinaMegale
TEEN
31
7-13days
57
UncoveringtheMysteriesofColorado’sAncientCivilization
USA
Dr.SusanRyan
TEEN
31
7-14days
Archaeology&Culture
ClimateChange
OceanHealth
Country
Scientist
Alsofor
Page
Duration
Jan
Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul
Aug Sep
Oct
Nov DecFrom
Peru
Dr.RichardBodmer
8
8-15days






£1,650
Malawi
Dr.AlisonLeslie
8
12days







£2,300
Australia
Dr.MichaelMahony
9
7days

£1,450
Brazil
Dr.LeandroSilveira
TEEN
9
12days



£1,875
Madagascar
Dr.LukeDollar
9
13days


£1,850
£1,895
Australia
Dr.DesleyWhisson
10
10days



SouthAfrica
Dr.RussellHill
10
12days





£1,675
NEW
Ecuador
Dr.LuisFernandoDeLeon
11
10days


£1,895
NEW
Uganda
Kenya
USA
Dr.FredBabweteera
Dr.JacobGoheen
Dr.JimParuk
11
14
12
12days
14days
7-14days














£1,650
£2,450
£1,425
Canada
Canada
China
England
USA
Chile
Dr.JimParuk
Dr.ChristinaBuesching
Prof.ZhangHemin
Dr.DawnScott
Dr.MarkNelson
SoniaHaoaCardinali
TEEN
12
12
12
13
13
14
7-14days
7-14days
7days
3-14days
10days
14days

























£1,425
£1,250
£2,250
£275
£1,350
£2,325
SouthAfrica
USA
Germany
Dr.DawnScott
Dr.KevinKrasnow
Dr.WilliamMegill
TEEN
TEEN
14
15
15
12days
9days
7-13days











£2,050
£1,300
£1,350
Thailand
Dr.JoshuaPlotnik
TEEN
15
10days






£2,025
Botswana
CostaRica
Australia
SouthAfrica
Mongolia
AnthonyGiordano
Dr.ThomasLacher
Prof.StephenWilliams
Dr.DavidDruce
GanaWingard
TEEN
16
16
16
17
17
8days
10days
7-15days
16days
14days

















£2,495
£1,675
£1,650
£2,500
£2,150
Prof.DavidSmith
18
12days

£1,950
Dr.FrankPaladino
19
9days





£1,750
Dr.IvaKovacic
19
8days




£1,450
Australia
Dr.KathyTownsend
20
8days



£2,350
Australia
CostaRica
Belize
Dr.DavidBourne
LeninOviedoCorrea
Dr.DemianChapman
TEEN
TEEN
20
21
21
8days
9days
8days











£2,000
£1,225
£1,750
TheBahamas
Dr.AlistairHarborne
TEEN
22
10days



£1,650
SouthAfrica
Prof.PeterBarham
22
12days






£1,750
TheBahamas
USA
AnnabelleBrooks
Dr.LeiLaniStelle
23
23
10days
3-14days












£1,715
£625
£2,050
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
TEEN
TEEN
TEEN
India
Dr.L.M.S.Palni
24
12days



CostaRica
Dr.LeeDyer
25
11days

£1,750
Canada
Dr.SteveMamet
TEEN
25
11days





£2,050
Canada
France
England
Dr.SteveMamet
Dr.BernatClaramuntLopez
Dr.MarthaCrockatt
25
25
26
11days
7days
1day








£2,050
£1,875
£75
Borneo
Dr.GlenReynolds
26
10days

£1,350
Nicaragua
Prof.HazelRymer
26
7-14days


£1,525










£1,575

£2,150




£950




£1,875
£2,050
£1,400






£1,150



£1,350
£50
£50
£1,450
£1,575
Expeditioncontributions,dates,durations,andscientistsaresubjecttochange.Pleaseseewebsiteformostup-to-dateinformation.
34
visit earthwatch.org
follow us on twitter @earthwatch_org
call us on (0)1856 318838
find us on facebook.com/earthwatch
35
ARE YOU READY TO
TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN
RESEARCH THAT COULD
CHANGE THE WORLD?
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