Earthwatch Institute offers 23 trips/accommodations
Dolphins of Greece
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs April-October
In the waters of Ionian Greece, within sight of landmarks of ancient Hellenic history, bottlenose dolphins congregate in unusually high numbers. The nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf sustain a rich biodiversity where charismatic animals--including sea turtles and a variety of birds--can be easily encountered. Bottlenose dolphins in the Amvrakikos Gulf are threatened by human activities bringing about ecosystem change. Scientists who monitor these dolphins have been able to identify most individuals and have estimated that 150 dolphins live in the… more |
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Mountain Waters of the Czech Republic
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs May-July
By the time the Eastern Bloc collapsed in 1989, acid rain from coal-fired power plants from countries to the west had already damaged more than two-thirds of these forested headwaters. Forests were dying, water quality was diminished, and mountain streams had been without fish for 40 years. Now, 17 years later, conditions are improving. Sulfur deposition has dropped and forestry practices have improved. Mountain ecosystems, streams, and lakes are recovering. Researchers Dr. Josef Krecek and Zuzana Horicka started working with… more |
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Ancient Britain: Romans on the Tyne
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs June-August
Two millennia ago, the Roman Empire stretched all the way to northern England, which the Romans considered the very edge of civilization—and perhaps the world. Arbeia , the Roman fort overlooking the river and harbour from Lawe Top, became part of one of the largest and busiest supply depots in the northern Roman Empire, as it was less than four miles from Hadrian’s Wall, which the Empire built to mark its northern boundary and protect its settlements from the region’s… more |
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Whales and Dolphins of Moray Firth
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs May-September
This 5,000-square-kilometer embayment, surrounded by majestic cliffs, rolling farmland, and heritage fishing villages, is fed by both warm and cold waters from the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Its productive waters attract an abundance of fish, providing rich feeding grounds for marine mammals and seabirds. As many as 22 species of whales and dolphins have been sighted here, and the firth is a key habitat for harbor porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, and minke whales, all of which have suffered from declines in… more |
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Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs April-June, August, September
This cluster of 550 scenic islands, covering an area of more than 40,000 square kilometers, is one of the most important habitats for whales, dolphins, and porpoises in Europe. Here the warm Gulf Stream mixes with colder seas to make highly productive waters, supporting around 24 species of cetaceans as well as countless seals, seabirds, and other ocean life. Many of the cetacean species found here, including harbor porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, and beaked whales, are national and international conservation priorities. You… more |
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Climate Change at the Arctic's Edge
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs June, September
Global warming is most dramatically visible at the edge of the Arctic, where peatlands run in a broad strip around the globe. These wetlands contain as much as 20% of the world’s carbon, usually locked in permafrost. But as the permafrost thaws, carbon dioxide and methane — the most pernicious greenhouse gases — may be released, which in turn could increase the rate of global warming, with devastating implications for the planet. What happens to the peat here will not… more |
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Amazon Riverboat Exploration Aboard the Ayapua
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs March, June, August, September, November, December
The vast, relatively untouched Amazonian forests of northeastern Peru harbor an incredible diversity of wildlife. Pink river dolphins and caimans still swim these waters, while extraordinary birds fly through the canopy. Uakari monkeys abound along the Yavari River and manatees swim in the lakes of Samiria. Rare giant river otters can sometimes be seen hunting and playing in area lakes and rivers. In this remote and isolated region of the Amazon, scientists Dr. Richard Bodmer , Tula Fang , and… more |
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Climate Change and Caterpillars in Ecuador
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs July
Perched on the eastern slope of the Andes above the Amazon basin, the cloud forest of Ecuador hosts thousands of different caterpillar species, and an equally impressive diversity of plants. Caterpillars in Ecuador and elsewhere have a variety of strategies designed to break through plant defenses and protect against parasites and predators. Whether they grow stinging "hairs," develop immunity to specific plant toxins, or frantically wiggle their way to freedom, caterpillars must figure out how to keep the food coming… more |
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Carnivores of Madagascar
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs July
Madagascar’s lemurs are famous the world over, but their rare predator the fossa remains a mystery. One of the most ferocious predators on Earth, the cat-like fossa is actually a large relative of the civets. Seven of the eight civet-like carnivores that stalk Madagascar's forests are found nowhere else in the world. The habits and population status of many civets are virtually unknown. Dr. Luke Dollar and Leon Pierrot Rahajanirina , working with veterinarian Dr. Julie Pomerantz , are monitoring… more |
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Cheetah
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs March-November
Cheetahs can run 110 kilometers per hour, yet they can't run away from habitat loss, a reduced gene pool, and conflicts with humans and their livestock. Namibia is home to the world's largest remaining cheetah population, with 90 percent of its cheetahs living on livestock farmlands where conflict with humans is the greatest threat. The survival of the Namibian cheetah lies in the hands of about 1,000 commercial farmers, who generally view this predator as a threat to their livelihoods.… more |
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Coral and Coastal Ecology of the Seychelles
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs April
In 1979, Curieuse Island and its surrounding waters were declared a Marine National Park by the Seychelles in order to protect the native wildlife. Today it is home to a diverse array of habitats, ranging from open grasslands to tall lush woodland to a species-rich coastal ecosystem. Your help in studying the reef and the coastal ecosystem will allow researchers to provide invaluable data to the Seychelles government, to the local community, and to conservation groups, engaging them in promoting… more |
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Elephants of Tsavo
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs April, June, July, October, December
The Tsavo ecosystem harbors Kenya's largest and most important single population of elephants, numbering 10,000. But not all of this ecosystem is protected, and fragmentation of the elephant's original range has resulted in the disruption of traditional routes. Human-elephant conflicts are occurring with increasing frequency. The Kenya Wildlife Service needs accurate information on the seasonal movements of elephants to provide safe access to their dispersal areas and protect local communities and their crops. You can help Drs. Barbara McKnight and… more |
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Meerkats of the Kalahari
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs March-May, July, August, October
Cooperative breeding, in which animals help others raise their young, occurs in many animal species. It appears to be common in the Kalahari Desert, where extreme conditions have molded cooperative breeding in meerkats, those inimitable relatives of mongooses that stand upright to peer across the landscape. The explanation for this behavior has been that related animals benefit by having shared genes passed on in the young they helped nurture. However, renowned behavioral ecologist Dr. Timothy Clutton-Brock and his colleague Dr.… more |
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Saving Kenya’s Black Rhinos
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs July-October
In the past 30 years, poaching has reduced Kenya's black rhinoceros population from 20,000 to a mere 400. Fenced-in, scout-patrolled sanctuaries like this 100-square-kilometer reserve have kept rhinos on the map, even bringing their number back to about 500. But in the wake of this success, new concerns have arisen: potential competition with giraffes and elephants, calf predation by hyenas and lions, even having too many rhinos in enclosed reserves. Only a close examination of interactions between these competing large… more |
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South Africa's Brown Hyenas
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs January, August, November
Despite their bad reputation, brown hyenas are actually social mammals that live in tight-knit clans, where members will even help suckle each other's young. Like other carnivores, brown hyenas are suffering from shrinking habitats and conflict with humans. The land around protected areas is being increasingly developed, and hyenas that venture into neighboring farmland and game ranches are at risk of being poisoned, trapped, or hunted down as pests. Finding a way to live peacefully on land outside of parks… more |
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South African Penguins
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs March-July
Infamous as Nelson Mandela's former incarceration site, this island is a hotspot for seabird biodiversity, including threatened bank cormorants, African black oystercatchers, and 15,000 African penguins. It also lies in the middle of major shipping lanes, and the risk of oil spills to local seabirds has been well documented. The worst oil spill occurred in 2000, when 13,000 penguins were "oiled" on Robben Island alone. Most of these were cleaned and released, but the future of this penguin population (reduced… more |
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Tidal Forests of Kenya
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs June, July
Mangrove forests are among the most productive wetland ecosystems on Earth. These tropical coastal woodlands provide crucial habitat, protect coral reefs from sedimentation, and, as demonstrated by the tsunami of 2004, play a critical role in protecting tropical coastlines. They are also one of the most threatened habitats. Historically, mangrove forests lined three-quarters of all tropical and subtropical coasts. Today, less than half of these forests remain, and an estimated 2 percent more are degraded each year for firewood, building… more |
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Climate Change and Caterpillars in Costa Rica
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs December
Caterpillars have developed an impressive repertoire of defenses to protect themselves from predators and parasites. Some eat plant toxins to keep parasites off, others “bungee-jump” out of harm's way. Understanding why one caterpillar is a diner and the other is dinner is an important part of learning how to conserve forests and other habitats. Working in one of the world's richest tropical rainforests, you can help sort out the tangle of offense and defense in Costa Rica. more |
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Wildlife of the Mongolian Steppe
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs May, June, August, September
This magnificent region of semi-arid grasslands and rocky outcrops is one of the best hopes for wildlife in central Asia. Argali sheep, lesser kestrels, cinereous vultures, and other animals threatened throughout their range find a stronghold here. Herds of graceful Mongolian gazelles and goitered gazelles roam freely through the reserve. For five years, Earthwatch teams have worked to study and conserve the area’s wildlife, including the threatened argali—the largest mountain sheep in the world with huge, curling horns. Their efforts… more |
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Bahamian Reef Survey
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs February, June, November
Coral reefs are at serious risk due to climate change, coastal development, over fishing, and other environmental stressors. One of the first signs that corals are in trouble is coral bleaching, when algae living within the reef organism fail during environmental stress, leaving the coral colorless and leaving area fish without nutrition. Prolonged bleaching kills coral, with drastic impacts on marine biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and shore protection—and bleachings are on a dramatic rise worldwide. Coral diseases have also been increasing… more |
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Coastal Ecology of the Bahamas
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs March, August
The Bahamas are everyone's image of a tropical paradise: warm, light blue waters, colorful oral reefs, gentle breezes, and white sand beaches that go on forever. Just off the coast of Florida, stretching across the Tropic of Cancer, this island chain has been surprisingly unmarred by development until recently. But with development pressures mounting, biologists Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Sealey and Everton Joseph are researching powerful new tools to examine its effects on the plants and animals living nearby. You can… more |
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Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles
by Earthwatch Institute (6 testimonials)
Departs March-July
This tropical island off the coast of Venezuela is known for its vibrant ethnic diversity and rich cultural events. It is also the site of one of the most important nesting beaches for endangered leatherback turtles, enormous reptiles that can weigh a ton and dive deeper than many whales. Each year, more than 2,000 female leatherbacks haul themselves onto Matura Beach to lay their eggs. With leatherback populations declining more quickly than any other large animal in modern history, each… more |
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Puerto Rico's Rainforest
by Earthwatch Institute (3 testimonials)
Departs November-January, March, June
The World Resources Institute estimates that each year 13.7 million hectares of tropical forest are cut down, with drastic consequences for biodiversity and local economic sustainability. Dr. Mark Nelson and the staff at Las Casas de la Selva are testing ways to harvest rainforest trees by mimicking nature. The project staff cuts long, three-meter-wide slots through the forest, each line separated by 10 meters of intact rainforest, as if a canopy tree had fallen in the rainforest. They plant tree… more |
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