|
With summer half gone (yikes!), many of you are likely returning from or preparing for your latest Earthwatch expedition. Whether or not you were able to make it out into the field this summer, we’re bringing Earthwatch to you with our summer Expeditioner!
In this issue, we’re thrilled to announce the opening of our Living Reef Center in Belize and to report on Earthwatch’s record of success—and the challenges ahead—in the region. Be sure to check out our Featured Summer Event, highlighting next month’s Beat the Heat 2climate change event in Boston, and learn what we have planned for 2009 in our Expedition Sneak Peek. You’ll have a chance to see how busy our scientists and volunteers have been by reading about exciting adventures and research results in our In the News and Findings in the Field sections. We also reflect on the legacy of George Frederick “Fritz” Jewett, Jr., a strong supporter of Earthwatch’s Educator Fellowship Program.
As always, we want to thank you for being part of the Earthwatch community.
Enjoy!
|
|
Banner photo: Herd of Grevy's zebras, photo © Emily Kinney. |
| Expeditioner Society Exclusive - New Task Force Brings Hope for a Disappearing Species |
|
The population range of the endangered Grevy’s zebra has been shrinking for decades. In fewer than 30 years, its population has dropped by 85%. It is no longer found in Somalia or Eritrea, where it used to roam freely, and is near extinction in Ethiopia.
In the Samburu region of Kenya, home to most of the remaining population of Grevy’s, teams of Earthwatch volunteers and scientists are researching the reasons for this species’ drastic decline. But to find answers, they must first solve a series of mysteries.
First and foremost, where do these zebras go when the Samburu plains dry up and force them to retreat? What threats do they face during their journey in search of food and water? What’s happening to the vulnerable foals along the way?
Led by Dr. Paul Muoria, Earthwatch teams try to answer these questions by studying the seasonal densities and foal survival rates of Grevy’s on land used by local communities for their homes and livestock. The study is part of Earthwatch’s Samburu Wildlife and Communities regional initiative, directed by Dr. Nicholas Oguge.
The results of this study, in addition to those of another Grevy’s project conducted by Earthwatch scientist Dr. Daniel Rubenstein in the nearby Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, will contribute to a new five-year management plan for the species—a long overdue attempt to increase its population and enhance conservation efforts.
Though the IUCN has listed Grevy’s as Endangered since 1986, this designation is not recognized locally.
“The Grevy’s zebra is essentially considered a game animal in the region and doesn’t have locally legislated protection,” says Oguge. “With the new strategy, there will now be very deliberate efforts by the government to be involved in conservation.”
Officially launched on June 25th, the strategy is in development by a Grevy’s zebra task force designated by the Kenya Wildlife Service. The task force includes both Oguge and Muoria, who will draw from the results of the Earthwatch studies to inform the plan.
To conserve Grevy’s in the Samburu area, the task force aims to design and implement disease management and community education programs, while continuing to monitor the zebras and their survivorship.
Many factors have contributed to the decline of this species over the years, among them drought and disease—two problems that have increased as seasons become less predictable and more extreme due to climate change.
With longer and more frequent droughts, the zebras must travel longer distances to reach water. Dr. Oguge suspects that some foals may be unable to make this journey and may be dying along the way. But while the research teams typically observe 300-400 Grevy’s in the area during the wet season, they aren’t able to locate any of these animals once the land goes dry, and can’t know for certain what’s going on.
“We are trying to follow young zebras to see what is happening to them,” says Oguge. “This information will feed into the management strategies.”
Risk of infectious disease also increases during times of drought. According to Dr. Muoria’s studies, during a drought in the area between December 2005 and October 2006, at least 70 Grevy’s zebras died as a result of two separate anthrax outbreaks.
While poaching has also contributed to the overall population decline in other areas, in Samburu the local community lives closely and peacefully among the Grevy’s.
“The Samburu people actually like having the zebras around,” says Oguge. “When the zebras are close to the community and the plains, this indicates that it’s going to rain and that there aren’t any carnivores nearby.”
According to Oguge, a recent survey among the locals revealed that 95% of the community’s population believes it is important to conserve Grevy’s zebras, which bring money into the local economy and provide employment opportunities through tourism.
With local support and interest already in hand, Oguge believes the task force is well on its way toward meeting its goals. And his hope has precedent—in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a previously declining population of rare black rhinos has increased by nearly 10% each year since 1994 as a result of direct species-focused conservation efforts.
Similar success for the Grevy’s zebra will bring good news to other animal populations throughout Kenya, and to the local community.
“The Grevy’s is a flagship species for the region,” says Oguge. “If we conserve the Grevy’s zebra and the resources it needs to survive, this will help other populations of grazing animals. The community will also improve its livelihood through wildlife enterprises such as ecotourism.”
Stay tuned for updates on this exciting new management strategy and the future of Grevy’s zebras.
Support the research of Dr. Oguge, Dr. Muoria, and their team.
|
| In the Samburu region of Kenya, Grevy’s zebras mysteriously vanish each dry season—and only the lucky return to the plains when the grass again turns green. |
Grevy's zebra. Photo © Jean Stumpf.
Dr. Nicholas Oguge, Field Director of Earthwatch's Samburu Regional Initiative.
Earthwatch volunteer collecting data in the field. Photo © Earthwatch.
Grevy's zebras. Photo © Paul Muoria.
|
| Earthwatch's Belize Regional Initiative |
|
The spring of 2008 has been an important time for Earthwatch’s Belize Regional Initiative. In the past few months alone:
-
Earthwatch-supported scientists working in the region have earned doctorates, been published in peer-reviewed journals, and presented at international conferences;
-
The Living Reef Center was dedicated and officially handed over to the University of Belize;
-
Earthwatch hosted a major conference on best practices for the region with a historic mix of key stakeholders.
In just three years, Earthwatch and supporting funders the Oak Foundation and Tyco International have built a model for joint government and non-governmental organization (NGO) efforts to increase the ability of local communities to study, protect, and benefit from their local natural resources.
Such “capacity building” avoids the dependency that has too often characterized traditional efforts to help developing communities. In Belize, (as in similar projects in Belarus, Brazil, Costa Rica, Kenya, Malawi, and Sri Lanka), Earthwatch demonstrates the value of a different approach.
The Belize Regional Initiative connects local conservationists and scientists to its field staff, larger regional NGOs, and governmental resources, helping create structures that promote local scientific achievement. In this way, Earthwatch and local partners keep an eye on sustainability not only in the environmental context, but also in the context of a locally run infrastructure supporting research and resource management.
The results of these connections have been impressive. The May, 2008 issue of Marine Environmental Research published the findings of multi-year study into the ways hurricanes and other severe storms limit the ability of corals in Belize to "recruit" new coral larvae into their communities, and thus weaken coral reefs over time. The study was authored by Dr. James Crabbe, whose early research into the topic in both Jamaica and Belize was supported by Earthwatch, and by Dr. Edwin Martinez, Director of the Belize Regional Initiative, joined by younger scientists from local NGOs such as the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) and by researchers from the Belize Department of Fisheries.
At the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, held this July in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Drs. Crabbe and Martinez and their team presented the results of this study—and its implications for marine management in an age when global warming is predicted to produce more such storms. They also presented their separate investigation into the effects of such research partnerships upon the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Belize. Their case study found that the involvement of both local NGO workers and a government fisheries officer in the same management plans—a relatively new approach—resulted in the direct transfer of information and expertise. Similarly, they determined that the merger of two NGOs with similar missions but disparate monitoring areas within several MPAs will increase the capacity to monitor illegal fishing practices.
The success of any capacity-building enterprise is measured in the ability of local stakeholders to continue—and improve upon—the work after agencies such as Earthwatch have moved on to similar projects elsewhere. Earthwatch and local partners hope to pursue the following key areas of capacity building in Belize:
-
Increasing the number of national researchers partnered with and mentored by international scientists studying the conservation of highly endangered species and threatened ecosystems;
-
Increasing the extent and ease of information and resource sharing;
-
Fostering the direct application of research results to management decisions and policy recommendations;
-
Providing Belizean researchers access to relevant journal articles and sophisticated laboratory facilities for Belizean researchers;
-
Ensuring the transfer of administrative skills and procedures to Earthwatch Belizean partners.
To accomplish these goals, Earthwatch hopes to continue to run multi-agency workshops in Belize, as these workshops have been repeatedly cited by prominent marine biologists as contributing significantly to their research programs in coral reef, mangrove, and marine organism study and monitoring. More than forty people representing the public and private sectors across the region attended the most recent workshop, held in May and facilitated by Earthwatch’s Dr. Jeanine Pfeiffer, Program Director for Social Sciences.
Expressing his hopes for the partnership, renowned Punta Gorda fisherman and guide Dennis Garbutt says, “There’s a lot I’d like to see, such as the networking become much stronger. We can do better in working together, complementing each other. I’m really concerned about the decline in fishing catch. We need to work together to conserve the reef, but also to build local capacity—so we can have local people conduct the research—not just folks from the outside. “
For Mr. Garbutt and for all those in Belize who treasure and depend upon its marine resources, Earthwatch hopes to build upon its past successes to ensure their future leadership.
Support Earthwatch’s capacity building projects and scientific research in Belize. |
Gaspar Vega, Belize’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, cuts the ribbon to signify the opening of the Living Reef Center with Dr. Mark Chandler, Earthwatch’s International Director of Research.
Dr. Santos Mahung, President of the University of Belize, at the dedication ceremony of the Living Reef Center.
Earthwatch Belize Field Director, Dr. Edwin Martinez delivers the welcoming address at the dedication.
Readers of scientific journals and conference attendees aren’t the only ones who’ve been paying attention to Earthwatch’s efforts in Belize. On May 17, 2008 at the dedication ceremony of the Sapodilla Cayes Living Reef Center (LRC), Belize’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Gaspar Vega called the event “a major milestone in the conduct of marine scientific research in Belize.”
Vega also noted that the LRC will “increase Belize’s contribution to the growing body of research on the effects of global climate change on reef systems [and will] benefit local communities.” The LRC is now officially managed by the University of Belize as a hub for marine research and education, and was made possible through a generous grant from an anonymous donor.
|
CONNECT WITH OTHER EARTHWATCHERS ONLINE!
Concerned about the health of our planet? You’re not alone! The Earthwatch community gets larger every day, and now you can connect with Earthwatch enthusiasts, scientists, and staff.
Just returned from an expedition and dying to share stories, photos, advice and videos? About to head into the field and have questions for Earthwatchers who’ve been? Looking for others who share your values and concerns?
 Earthwatch has also partnered with a new company called TurnTo. Their idea is great – when you need advice about an organization or product, it’s nice to have a friend to turn to. That’s what TurnTo is all about – when you go to a website, TurnTo connects you with your friends who have already done something with that organization. We’ve put the TurnTo widget on a few of our pages, so try it out and let us know what you think!
|
|
|
| Findings in the Field |
|
From our Amazon Riverboat Exploration expedition, Dr. Richard Bodmer reports that this season’s Earthwatch volunteers have helped determine that the population of red uakari monkeys in Peru’s Lago Preto Conservation Area is indeed on the rise, collecting census data that adds to previous years’ observations and reveals the trend. While good news—for now—for the red uakaris, the data also suggests that they may be out-competing other primates in the area, whose numbers are in decline. Dr. Bodmer will now investigate whether the reds’ numbers are approaching the area’s carrying capacity.
From the same expedition—which has obviously had a busy season!—Dr. Bodmer also reports what seems to be the discovery, once again aided by Earthwatch volunteers, of a fish new to the region. The fish is so unfamiliar, in fact, that species identification hasn’t yet been made. Stay tuned, Earthwatchers!
Support Dr. Bodmer’s research.
For 2010, all teams will travel to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, via the Ucayali, Maranon, and Samiria Rivers. Volunteers should be aware that the threatened uakari monkey, studied on previous expeditions to the Yavari River, does not inhabit this National Reserve. Other species of monkey however, such as the capuchin monkey and spider monkey, may be encountered.
Earthwatch Scientist Wallace “J” Nichols reports from Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico that he and his research partners—working on a project that grew out of Earthwatch-supported studies—were able to apply satellite tracking tags to three individual members of the critically endangered Eastern Pacific hawksbill turtles species in June, the first time such tags have been attached to any of these turtles. Congratulations, J! The resulting data should significantly advance the study and protection of these gentle and beautiful sea turtles.
Support Earthwatch’s ongoing research on behalf of sea turtles.
Explore Earthwatch’s partnership with the Ocean Conservancy on behalf of sea turtles worldwide. |
|
Join Dr. Bodmer aboard the Ayapua in the Amazon. Photo © Malene Christensen.
Earthwatch volunteers heading out at dawn to check turtle nets, © David Barron, Oxygen group.
|
| Volunteer Profile: Warren Stortroen Celebrates his 50th Earthwatch Expedition! |
|
|
 Seventy-six-year-old Warren Stortroen may have started his relationship with Earthwatch late in life, but he’s more than made up for lost time. In May, Stortroen journeyed to Canada as a volunteer on the Mammals of Nova Scotia project—his 50th Earthwatch expedition since he first joined us just 12 years ago!
“I retired in 1996 with a firm resolve that I would do meaningful volunteer work,” says Stortroen, “but as far removed from my career office work as possible.”
And he stuck to that resolve, leaving the office and his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota, to travel the world over. In 2008 alone Stortoen will add another five expeditions to his resume, including a back-to-back stint on the Mexican Megafauna project, one of his favorites.
“For those looking for adventure in exotic places, or those wanting to make a difference working with endangered species or other global problems,” he says, “Earthwatch is the ideal choice!” |
Earthwatch volunteers digging for fossils on the Mexican Megafauna expedition. Photo © Sheila Crowley
|
| Expedition Sneak Peek |
|
|
We’re thrilled about our lineup of upcoming expeditions, from the tried-and-true to the brand new! Here is just a sampling of experiences we plan to offer in 2009:
|
Dolphin spotted on the Dolphins of Greece Earthwatch expedition. Photo © Tethys Research Insitute.
|
| Philanthropist’s Legacy of Support for Environmental Education |
|
 George Frederick Jewett, Jr., Chairman and Trustee of the George Frederick Jewett Family Foundation, died on May 23, 2008; he was 81. Mr. Jewett—“Fritz” to his family and to many friends, colleagues, and admirers—was a longtime supporter of Earthwatch’s Educator Fellowship Program, first partnering with Earthwatch in 1985. Along with his wife, Lucy, Fritz marshaled the Foundation’s resources to provide transformative field research experiences to more than 75 educators in the San Francisco Unified School District.
The Jewett Foundation’s support enabled these Earthwatch fellows to journey to field sites in a diverse array of countries, including Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Ireland, Kenya, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as well as in US states and territories such as Alaska, California, Montana, and Puerto Rico, and to bring their experiences back to their students and colleagues.
Jewett-funded fellows have participated in research projects on Bahamian coral reefs and coastal areas; manatees in Belize; otters, bats, and reptiles in Brazil’s wetlands; hippos in Ghana; rainforests in Peru; whales in British Columbia; turtles, dolphins, and whales in the Caribbean; sharks and rays in Monterey Bay, CA; and dozens of others.
Earthwatch’s Educator Fellowships expose science teachers and other educators to cutting-edge field science, connect them with leading scientists and peers, and allow them to share their experiences with their classrooms, colleagues, and communities back home.
Funding a program with this built-in magnifier effect was consistent with Fritz’s other philanthropic efforts, which often focused on bringing the wonders of the arts and the environment to large numbers of people. His love of the ocean and the wider environment led him not only to support Earthwatch, but also to serve on the Board of Directors of San Francisco’s Academy of Sciences, and on the Advisory Boards of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. His skill and enthusiasm as a sailor and organizational leader allowed him to chair five America’s Cup syndicates, including victory seasons in 1980 and 1987.
Fritz’s environmental education legacy may well find its greatest expression in the lives of the thousands of students who have been touched by an Earthwatch expedition via their teachers’ participation. As 2007 fellow Maria Acosta (who joined the Costa Rica’s Sustainable Coffee expedition) puts it in a letter thanking the Foundation:
“This experience really connected me to the planet. I feel there is a disconnect in the modern world between nature and people, between our food sources and the market, between cultures whose actions affect each other. This expedition highlighted these connections for me. I saw what a sustainable farm looks like, I met the families who owned them, and I have seen how their farms have a positive impact on the environment around them…I want to give my colleagues and students the same thing Earthwatch and your fellowship gave me – an experiential learning journey.”
Earthwatch joins Ms. Acosta—and all the fellows supported by the Jewett Foundation over the past 23 years—in her thanks to Fritz, and looks forward to continuing to work with the Foundation to ensure his legacy of connecting people to the world around them and to each other. |
Photo © Heather Chambers
The Jewett Foundation has been a valued supporter of Earthwatch's Educator Fellowship Program for more than twenty years. Some Educator Fellowships also provide teachers the technology to teach their students Live From the Field.
|
| EARTHWATCH IN THE NEWS |
Earthwatch is everywhere! Here are a few places our expeditions, research, volunteers and scientists have popped up recently:
Newsweek.com: This article on volunteering to aid wildlife conservation features our Diamondback Terrapins of Barnegat Bay project, including a video in which lead scientist Hal Avery shares his thoughts on the natural world and the importance of Earthwatch volunteers.
TimesOnline: New technology helps researcher Peter Barham, lead scientist on the South African Penguins project, identify individual penguins and collect data on penguin lifespans, lifestyles, and the effects of climate change on these sea birds.
Conde Nast Traveler: In this article on volunteering, you can follow reporter Alison Humes as she snorkels above stunning coral and colorful tropical fish on the Bahamian Reef Survey expedition.
Telegraph.co.uk: Telegraph reporter Sara Evans joins Dr. Alison Leslie in a nighttime search for Nile crocodiles in Zambia, as a participant on the Crocodiles of the Zambezi expedition.
Earthwatch scientists report on their research: Our scientists conduct exciting studies on wildlife, habitats, and cultures all over the world. In just the past few months, reports on research conducted by Earthwatch teams have been published in Elsevier: Marine Environmental Research, Elsevier: Mammalian Biology, Journal of Mammalogy and Journal of Zoology, on topics ranging from coral reefs to mice, to dolphins, peccaries and more!
Volunteer checking radio transmitter on a terrapin turtle. Photo © Dr. Hal Avery.
|
| FEATURED SUMMER EVENT |
 Beat the Heat 2 to Kick Off the Earthwatch Climate Change Campaign!
The event: On August 14th at Boston’s beautiful Washburn Pavilion on the Charles, 400 of Boston’s hottest young professionals will enjoy icy cocktails, hot hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and live entertainment, while learning about climate change and what we can do to help.
Tickets are still available! Visit our website, call Earthwatch Events at 978-450-1212, or email events@earthwatch.org.
The cause: Climate change is the single greatest environmental challenge of our time. That’s why we’re racing to raise money to go toward critical climate change research and to help spread the word about ways to face this issue head on.
The campaign: All over the nation and the globe, people are joining together to fight climate change before it’s too late. Become an Earthwatch member, join a climate change expedition, or connect with other Earthwatchers concerned about climate change. Check back after the event to learn about other exciting climate-related events going on in your area.
|
|
| Until Next Time |
|
We’d like your feedback on the Expeditioner! Email us with your ideas, concerns, stories, comments, etc.— and thanks for reading about Earthwatch!
Forward this email to a friend!
Donate Join
an Expedition Attend an Event
Earthwatch
Institute
3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100
P.O. Box 75, Maynard, MA 01754
1-800-776-0188
|
Sunset over the tidal creeks on Diamondback Terrapins of Barnegat Bay.
All photos © copyright
Earthwatch
and their respective owners, all rights reserved. |
|