Volunteers share their experiences
Dedicated Earthwatch volunteers were honoured for their contributions to environmental research at an Earthwatch 'Share Your Experience' event held in London in July.
Without volunteers, who play a crucial part in gathering scientific data on Earthwatch's 130 projects worldwide, the charity's scientific field research simply would not be possible.
During the evening of 12 July, Executive Director of Earthwatch Institute (Europe), Nigel Winser, thanked the volunteers for their contributions. He said: "For more than 35 years, Earthwatch volunteers have been helping us to carry out research into some of the world's most pressing environmental problems. The contribution our volunteers make in helping us devise global solutions to these problems is invaluable. We couldn't do it without you."
The volunteers who had been on ten or more Earthwatch projects were presented with framed certificates, and specially designed photograph albums containing images from Earthwatch projects were given to six volunteers who had been on 15 or more projects.
Ornithologist Taku Awa from the Earthwatch project Saving Cameroon's Rock Fowl delighted guests with a presentation about his work in Africa; he related the history of his involvement with Earthwatch and expressed his gratitude for Earthwatch's support.
The evening concluded with a short film about Earthwatch's African fellowship programme. Since 1994 Earthwatch has helped to train and develop 1,000 African conservationists, NGO staff and scientists who have taken part in projects across the continent. The programme offers participants the opportunity to learn new skills and provides a valuable forum for networking and the exchange of ideas across countries and organisations in Africa.
If you would like to donate to the African fellowship programme, please contact Jennifer Lewis, Head of Development, at jlewis@earthwatch.org.uk or call +44 (0) 1865 318292.
Images © Crispin Zeeman