Earthwatch Institute

Earthwatch Institute
Formation1971
Legal statusFoundation
PurposeEnvironmental Research
HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts, United States
Region served
Worldwide
President & CEO
Gitte Venicx
Websitewww.earthwatch.org

Earthwatch Institute is an international environmental charity. It was founded in 1971 as Educational Expeditions International by Bob Citron and Clarence Truesdale. Earthwatch Institute supports Ph.D. researchers internationally and conducts over 100,000 hours of research annually using the citizen science methodology. Earthwatch's mission statement states that the organization "connects people with scientists worldwide to conduct environmental research and empowers them with the knowledge they need to conserve the planet." As such, it is one of the global underwriters of scientific field research in climate change, archaeology, paleontology, marine life, biodiversity, ecosystems and wildlife. For over fifty years, Earthwatch has raised funds to recruit individuals, students, teachers, and corporate fellows to participate in field research to understand nature's response to accelerating global change.

Earthwatch Citizen Science Projects are peer-reviewed, Ph.D.-led scientific field research that allow everyday citizens to join research teams around the world to collect field data in areas such as climate change, wildlife conservation, rainforest ecology, marine science, and archaeology.

Earthwatch staff also lead many in-house projects, such as their Climate Change Masterclass, a virtual education program centering on corporate sustainability, Operation Healthy Air, which provides tools and training for air quality monitoring in vulnerable areas and supports action to improve air quality, and Global Pollinator Watch, a partnership with iNaturalist that supports pollinator research by enabling citizen scientists to observe pollinators in their habitat. Global Pollinator Watch participants have recorded over 495,000 pollinator observations as of 2024.

By paying to spend time on a project ranging from a few days to several weeks, volunteers, corporations, and foundations support critical field research both financially and by providing a workforce to collect data. Participants gain first-hand experience with science, the scientists, and the research areas.

Organization and history

Earthwatch headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts. They also have offices in Oxford, England; Melbourne, Australia; Gurgaon, India; and Tokyo, Japan.

Earthwatch was started as Educational Expeditions International in 1971 by Bob Citron, who was a Smithsonian Institution employee, and Clarence Truesdale, the superintendent of Vermont public schools. In 1972, Brian A. Rosborough joined Educational Expeditions International as a volunteer and six months later became president of the newly named Earthwatch. The organization quickly expanded, partnering with scientists around the world to confront threats to wildlife and the environment.

Since 1971, Earthwatch has made notable achievements in environmental research and policymaking. These include

Earthwatch Australia is a partner in Bush Blitz, operated by Australian Biological Resources Study with co-funding by Bush Blitz founding partner BHP Billiton.

Research focus areas and impacts

Earthwatch prioritizes support for research projects that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

All projects must contribute to one or more of the following SDGs below and incorporate actions "to combat climate change and its impacts." (SDG 13)

Earthwatch-supported research has impacted scientific progress and environmental policy in a number of areas. Below are a few relevant examples.

Earthwatch expeditions

Recent research expeditions being fielded by Earthwatch scientists and volunteers from around the world include:

Previously funded expeditions

Earthwatch has been successful in completing environmental scientific research throughout its history. Some recently completed research includes:

  • Animals in the Outback - Investigating the impacts of integrated pest management strategies on native fauna species in an open (non-fenced) system in Australia for development of an optimal predator control program.
  • Arabian Leopards on the Edge in Oman - Build national capacity for safeguarding the long-term viability of the Arabian leopard and its habitat in Jebel Samhan through provision of baseline habitat and population data to establish a conservation plan for mitigating human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss and other threats, and to set up a framework for long term population and habitat monitoring.
  • Australia's Vanishing Frogs - Assessing the status of seriously threatened frogs in the rainforests of eastern Australia and investigating frog populations that may be resistant to a fungus contributing to amphibian decline in Australia.
  • Before and after in Belize: Testing a Marine Reserve - Providing information needed for local conservation and management of queen conch (Strombus gigas) and lobster (Panulirus argus) and testing the effectiveness of marine reserves for conserving and managing fisheries.
  • Canopies, Climate, and Critters of the Ecuadorian Rainforest - How many species of plants and animals make their home in the magnificent rainforests of the Ecuadorian Andes?
  • Cheetah Conservation in Namibia - Securing habitat for the long-term survival of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and its ecosystem through multi-disciplined, integrated programs in research, conservation and education.
  • Climate Change in Brazil's Atlantic Forests - Part of the HSBC Climate Partnership which aims to find methods of managing forests that will maximize the benefits we derive from them into the future. Investigating effect of fragmentation and the history of forest management systems with respect to climate change in a tropical biodiversity hotspot, at Rio Cachoeira Reserve.
  • Climate Change in Chesapeake Bay Forests - Part of the HSBC Climate Program which aims to find methods for managing forests that will maximize the benefits we derive from them into the future. Investigating the effect of management history on response of mixed deciduous forest to climate.
  • Climate Change in China's Gutianshan Forests - Part of the HSBC Climate Program which aims to find methods of managing forests that will maximize the benefits we derive from them into the future. Investigating the effect of fragmentation and management systems on response of broad-leafed forests to climate change.
  • Climate Change in India's Western Ghat Forests - Part of the HSBC Climate Program which aims to find methods for managing forests that will maximize the benefits we derive from them into the future. Investigating the effect of fragmentation and management systems on response of mixed forests to climate change in a biodiversity hotspot.
  • Conserving Grevy's Zebra in the Samburu District - Monitoring the distribution, population dynamics and interactions of Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), in Samburu, Kenya for conservation and management of the species.
  • Costa Rican Coffee from Community to Cup - Exploring the value of forest fragments to pollination and the conservation of biological diversity in the Tarrazu coffee agroecosystems, as well as exploring the relationship between farmer management practices and soil quality, coffee productivity and quality, and the surrounding environment in the Los Santos/Tarrazú region.
  • Daintree Hidden Coastline - Protecting Australia's fragile Daintree River coastline from land clearing, pesticides, and climate change.
  • Darwin's Finches and Natural Selection in the Galapagos - Earthwatchers helped protect the iconic Darwin's finches of the Galapagos Islands.
  • Digging for the Deep World of Devon's Roman Ruins - Earthwatchers investigated the function of a rich archaeological site from Roman times discovered in Devon, England.
  • Discovering Italy's Ancient Roman Coast - Filling key gaps in the knowledge of the industrial history and coastal economy of Populonia and its territory, from the early Roman period (250/200 BCE) to the early Middle Ages (600 CE).
  • Dolphins of Greece - Studying the behavior and ecology of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) in the Ambracian Gulf and investigating how human activities - mainly fisheries and pollution - affect the dolphins.
  • Dolphins of the Egyptian Red Sea - The project seeks to provide the necessary scientific information to develop targeted policies and strategies for cetacean conservation.
  • Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Cultural Heritage - Investigating the changing nature of agricultural production and development on Rapa Nui, learning the roles of climate and human-induced factors in causing the civilization's failure.
  • Encountering the Prehistoric People of New Mexico - This project aims to increase knowledge of long-term human use of this unique high elevation volcanic environment in northern New Mexico, and to use that knowledge to better understand how humans have adapted to and transformed the landscape over 10,000 years.
  • Exploring San Francisco's Urban Forest - Why, exactly, do cities like San Francisco need trees? Help us discover the true worth of the benefits they bring.
  • Fort Arbeia and the Roman Empire in Britain - Archaeological excavations of a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall, in South Shields, UK - part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site - to inform development, management and conservation of the site.
  • Freshwater Turtles of the Kimberley - Determining the population status and conservation needs of freshwater turtles of the Kimberley Plateau, Western Australia, and provide insight into the freshwater biodiversity of the region.
  • Geology and the Shaping of the American Southwest - Advancing understanding of the geometry of the faults that characterize the Rio Grande Rift basin. Yielding data on how to manage water supplies, particularly in light of industrial pollution.
  • Great Ape Conservation in Cameroon - Working to protect endangered great apes outside of protected areas and support alternative local livelihoods.
  • Into the Al Hajar with the Arabian Tahr - Using the Arabian Tahr as a focal 'umbrella‘ species. The project will work closely with in-country scientists, to develop in-country conservation research capacity and provide pathways for the implementation of conservation management, including the development of a workshop mediated Arabian Tahr Conservation Action Plan.
  • Leopards, Hyaenas and Primates: Mammal Conservation in South Africa - Understanding the ecology and status of biodiversity within the Soutpansberg Mountain Range and developing management strategies for conservation and mitigation of human/wildlife conflict.
  • Mangroves and Reefs of the Bahamas - The Bahamian archipelago is a fast-developing region where the marine environment is highly impacted by human activities. This research is studying connectivity between mangroves and patch reefs, to determine fish movement between the two habitats and the factors important for ensuring good connectivity and therefore healthy fish populations on Bahamian reefs.
  • Meet the Meerkats of the Kalahari - Understanding the dynamics of cooperative breeders and the impacts of disturbances on populations through research on Kalahari meerkats (Suricata suricatta).
  • Melbourne's Microbats - Trapping and recording bats to establish baseline data on critical habitat requirements and enable management of urban landscapes for bat habitation in Australia, for their conservation.
  • Monitoring Brazil's Wildlife Corridors - One of the largest threats to biodiversity is the fragmentation of natural habitat and the resulting isolation of small populations of animals. This research project aims assess the potential of the Araguaia River valley as a functioning wildlife corridor between the grassland Cerrado and the Amazon through a study of five key species (jaguar, giant river otter, giant piraiba catfish, Amazon River dolphin, and the black caiman), with the aim of recommending and implementing management policies along the corridor based on the results.
  • Mountain Waters of the Czech Republic - Evaluating trends related to pollution, climate change, and alternative watershed practices in the decline and recovery of the Jizera mountain ecosystems and the services they provide.
  • Orangutans, Gibbons, and Borneo's Bawan Rainforest - The island of Borneo is one of the most bio-diverse regions on Earth. It also suffers one of the highest rates of deforestation. By describing the biodiversity of the Bawan forest, this research project aims to justify its protection, and support local community livelihoods.
  • Paradise Wood: Experimental Plantation in England - Studies to help forest managers grow trees successfully in light of predicted climate change.
  • Protecting the Rivers of California's Wine Country - How can nature and people coexist successfully in California's threatened wine country?
  • Protecting the Rivers of the California Delta - How can ecologists help to restore riverside habitats in Central California's agricultural Delta?
  • Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife in Ecuador - The project monitors large animal and bird populations of the Santa Lucia Reserve in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Because these animals need high quality forest habitat to survive, they act as “umbrella species” whose protection will also ensure the conservation of other animals and plants. Data collected will help determine whether existing areas offer sufficient protection in the face of climate change.
  • Restoring Easter Island's (Rapa Nui's) Forests - Examining the role of prehistoric rock mulching and rock placement in gardens and agricultural fields by the Rapa Nui as a way of creating a sustainable. agricultural system.
  • Sampling Vineyard Ecology and Biodiversity in Bordeaux/Wildlife and Wine in Bordeaux - Enhancing and monitoring biodiversity in wine-producing landscapes through the development of more sustainable practices and farmscaping methods.
  • Saving Kenya's Black Rhinos - Quantifying the impact of either increased or reduced herbivore density on the distribution of black rhino (Diceros bicornis) and on the ecosystem at the Olpejeta Conservancy.
  • SCAP SW Earth and Skies Through Time - Characterizing planetary surface processes and mapping the geology of northern Arizona locations using remote sensing data from Mars Odyssey or the Lunar Reconnaissance Obiter.
  • Spotting Songbirds in the Rockies - Avian, pika and alpine, and mountain lion research in the Rocky Mountain region. Resident and migratory songbirds have been declining for the past 30 years. Earthwatch scientists are monitoring their populations and working to understand the cause these declines.
  • Sydney's Hidden Mammals - Study of the ecology, behavior and social habits of the rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster) – a type of water rat - in Chowder Bay, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Tagging the Terrapins of the Jersey Shore - Determining the effects of anthropogenic habitat disturbance on population dynamics and reproductive biology of the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) in New Jersey, United States, for conservation development.
  • Tidal Forests of Kenya - Community conservation project working to restore mangroves in Kenya.
  • Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles - Trinidad supports one of the last 3 largest leatherback colonies in the world. This project continues to evaluate the ecology and population trends of the Trinidad population of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), as well as investigating the effects of ecotourism on nesting turtles and the vulnerability of the colony and nesting beaches to climate change.
  • Turtles in Trouble - Generating information for policy makers on how waste becomes dispersed in the sea and advising pollution legislation, through researching the impacts of pollution on endangered (IUCN Red List) marine turtles in Australian waters.
  • Volcanology and Ecology in Iceland - Iceland's Eastern Volcanic Zone is one of the most geologically active areas in the world.
  • Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides - Identifying particular areas of importance or “hotspots” for whales, dolphins and porpoises through monitoring their distribution and relative abundance throughout the waters of western Scotland.
  • Whales and Otters of British Columbia - Understanding the interdependency between the southern feeding aggregation of grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) and their food supply (especially mysids).
  • When Archosaurs Attacked and Reptiles Ruled Texas - The Arlington Archosaur Site (AAS) is unique in producing hundreds of fossils from a relatively unexplored section of Cretaceous rock, approximately 95-100 million years in age. This fossil site provides important information on ancient coastal ecosystems during a period of Earth history that was very different from today. With funding from Earthwatch, researchers continue to explore the site.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Earthwatch Institute - Our Partners". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  2. ↑ "Earthwatch: About Us". au.earthwatch.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  3. 1 2 Darling, Birt (Nov 1984). "Vacation Scientists". The Rotarian. 146 (5): 18–21.
  4. ↑ "Mission & Values | Earthwatch". earthwatch.org. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  5. ↑ Post, Stephanie (May 6, 2014). "How to Help Endangered Animals". petergreenberg.com. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  6. ↑ House, Stock (April 28, 2014). "HSBC Band". Stockhouse. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  7. ↑ Priestleyy, Andrew (2014-04-23). "Shelly Beach". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  8. ↑ Houtman, Nick (May 2, 2014). "The Carnivore Way". PHYS.ORG. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  9. ↑ Von Hagen, Lynn; Schulte, Bruce A.; Dunning, Kelly; Steury, Todd D.; Githiru, Mwangi; Zohdy, Sarah; Lepczyk, Christopher A. (2023-08-01). "Farmer Attitudes On Climate Change, Farming Practices, and Livelihood Threats, and the Impact to Conservation in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor, Kenya". Human Ecology. 51 (4): 685–697. doi:10.1007/s10745-023-00426-9. ISSN 1572-9915. S2CID 259906970.
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  11. ↑ McKenna, Arin (May 4, 2014). "Valle Caldera has rich human history". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
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  13. ↑ "Air Quality | Earthwatch". earthwatch.org. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  14. ↑ "Global Pollinator Watch". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  15. ↑ Mohn, Tonya (May 9, 2014). "Travelers Inspired to do Good". NBC News. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Research Outcomes | Earthwatch". earthwatch.org. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  17. ↑ "Earthwatch Partner Profile: BHP Billiton". au.earthwatch.org. Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  18. ↑ "Research Focus Areas | Earthwatch". earthwatch.org. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  19. ↑ Martinez, Ricardo N.; Sereno, Paul C.; Alcober, Oscar A.; Colombi, Carina E.; Renne, Paul R.; Montañez, Isabel P.; Currie, Brian S. (2011-01-14). "A Basal Dinosaur from the Dawn of the Dinosaur Era in Southwestern Pangaea". Science. 331 (6014): 206–210. Bibcode:2011Sci...331..206M. doi:10.1126/science.1198467. hdl:11336/69202. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 21233386. S2CID 33506648.
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  23. ↑ Oviedo Correa, Lenin (December 2018). "Marine Mammals and Predators in Costa Rica" (PDF). Earthwatch Institute.
  24. ↑ "Golfo Dulce IMMA". Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
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  26. ↑ "Chapter 2: High Mountain Areas — Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate". Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  27. ↑ "Earthwatch FreshWater Watch". Earthwatch FreshWater Watch. Archived from the original on 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
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