Ford Donates $5 Million to Earthwatch Institute
A grant from the Ford Motor Company Fund will help launch Earthwatch's new Conservation Research Centers around the world.
MAYNARD, MA November 27, 2000. Earthwatch Institute announced today a donation of $5 million from the Ford Motor Company to promote further research into the conservation of natural resources in some of the world's most threatened habitats.
The donation, made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund, will support operations and research at Earthwatch's Latin America Conservation Research Center, launch an Africa Center replicated after the Latin America Center and establish other Conservation Research Centers in the U.S., North America and Asia.
This funding will support at least 20 new research projects and at least 40 scientists for five years at key conservation sites of highly threatened biological hotspots. The money will also be used to fund at least 150 Ford Conservation Fellowships.
"Ford Motor Company is committed to being a good corporate citizen. We are set on making an impact that is replicable and sustainable for today's environment and tomorrow's future," said John Rintamaki, Group Vice President and Chief of Staff, Ford Motor Company. "I believe very strongly that corporations could be and should be a major force for resolving environmental and social concerns in the 21st Century, including climate change."
The initial relationship between Ford and Earthwatch began two years ago, and included a cooperative study with Conservation International, offering an opportunity for the organizations to broaden scientific study, coverage and research in the Pantanal wetlands in Brazil. Coming
off of this success, Earthwatch is looking to partner once again with other environmental organizations and local not-for-profit environmental partners in the U.S., Latin America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific for research and fellowship opportunities..
"Earthwatch is a world leader in leveraging partnerships between people and scientists and through this exciting initiative we aim to bring local stakeholders together with major international organizations in a powerful alliance to investigate and protect the world's biological hotspots," said Roger Bergen, President of Earthwatch. "Ford has shown exceptional vision in allowing us to play to our strengths in launching this program and to contribute to the challenge of saving these uniquely valuable environments."
The Conservation Research Centers will become the focal point for unique conservation, education and corporate training programs managed by Earthwatch Institute. The fellowship program will be developed to enable educators, scientists, and staff from corporations to work on frontline conservation projects in the field at the centers. Participants will initially be selected from the United States and host country nationals where the Conservation Research Centers are located. The aim will be to build awareness of conservation issues amongst teachers, students and corporate employees, but also to transfer skills and build professional capacity in developing nations. Alongside these groups, thousands of adult volunteers from all walks of life will be offered the opportunity to serve as field assistants on projects studying and protecting these threatened habitats by contributing their skills, labor and also financial donations to the projects they work on.
"Time is not on our side. Species are disappearing 10,000 times faster now than at any time in the last 65 million years. We need a new approach", said Andrew Mitchell, Earthwatch Institute's Vice President of International Program Development. "The key to conservation is people. We believe we can significantly accelerate the conservation process by getting more people into the frontline alongside the world's dedicated scientists to help them come up with solutions."
The first Conservation Research Center will be situated in the remote Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. This region of flooded lakes, rivers and islands covera an area the size of Iowa and boasts the largest concentration of wildlife in South America. Rare birdlife, yellow anacondas, 30 million caiman, giant otters and the world's largest jaguars can all be found there. In a local partnership with Conservation International, Earthwatch Institute will work together with Brazilian scientists and agencies to gather data for a series of conservation corridors and to create a sustainable development plan acceptable to the local communities and government of the region. Other partnerships along the same model are being developed in Kenya, Botswana, Australia, and the United States.
This donation is one facet of the partnership between Ford Motor Company and the Earthwatch Institute that has been ongoing. Ford's donation promotes sustainable conservation of natural resources and cultural heritage by creating joint ventures between scientists, educators and the general public. Earthwatch's scientific field research and data collection has been a long-term effort to better understand threatened environments and seek solutions for a sustainable future.
Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.
Media Contact (for press only):
Blue Magruder, Director of Public Affairs,
Earthwatch Institute, 1-800-776-0188 ext 136