Preserving biodiversity:
Earthwatch volunteers identified 50 new plant species in the rainforests of Cameroon, a boon to conserving these rare forests. In Kenya, nearly two decades of Earthwatch-supported research at Lake Naivasha has charted a course for the sustainable management of this world-class wetland. In Ecuador, Earthwatch data supported the establishment of the coastal Colanche hills as an Important Birding Area, bringing this biodiversity resource to the attention to conservationists around the world.
Protecting marine mammals:
After Earthwatch scientists drew attention to a mass stranding of 17 cetaceans in the Bahamas, the United States Navy admitted that sonar tests caused fatal trauma in the marine mammals and planned policies to prevent such injuries. Data collected by Earthwatch volunteers have been crucial in the effort to protect orca whales in Puget Sound, Washington, under the Endangered Species Act, and contributed to the development of a marine protected area off the coast of Spain.
Documenting the effects of climate change:
Earthwatch volunteers working in the Canadian Arctic find that the permafrost is melting at a rate of 1 percent a year, with drastic implications for northern ecology and climate change around the world. Earthwatch-supported data from Ecuador and Costa Rica show that extreme weather patterns associated with global warming can lead to outbreaks of damaging insects, while teams in Madagascar demonstrated how local climate change can contribute to infant mortality in lemurs.
Identifying social components of sustainability:
Earthwatch teams collected oral histories of residents of the Skagit River watershed, from tribal elders to fishermen, to identify the history of natural resource use and help future conservation decisions. Volunteers in Arizona found that ancient Hopi villages relied on driftwood from large floods for building, providing a valuable record of flood events, while teams in Wyoming unearthed valuable data for modern bison management from prehistoric bison-kill sites.
Conserving natural resources:
The following national parks and wildlife preserves were created as a direct result of information gathered by Earthwatch volunteers: Tram Chim National Park, Vietnam; Sandy Point National Wildlife Reserve, St. Croix; Ischigualasto Valley World Heritage Site, Argentina; Spanish River Provincial Park, Ontario; Playa Grande National Park, Costa Rica. Reserves were also set up and legislation passed for their protection in Australia, Canada, Hawaii, Fiji, Madagascar, the Philippines, Chile, and the Canary Islands, based on Earthwatch results.
Protecting natural and cultural heritage:
The following museums were either built by Earthwatch volunteers, had exhibits designed by Earthwatch volunteers, and/or feature artifacts, cultural materials, and fossils collected by Earthwatch volunteers: Carthage Museum, Tunisia; Deya Museum, Mallorca; Swaziland Museum; The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota; Chinchero Museum, Peru; Rehoboth Museum, Namibia; Chamacoco Museum, Paraguay; The Museum at Copan, Honduras.