Restoring Fire, Wolves, and Elk in the Rockies

Thanks to steadfast supporters like you, Earthwatch made significant progress in 2021 towards recovering from the devastating impacts of the pandemic. Last spring and summer, we were able to resume five U.S.-based research expeditions, and in the fall, we began welcoming back volunteers onto several expeditions overseas.

All returning expeditions feature modifications and new protocols to comply with the latest COVID safety guidance and standards established by trusted health and travel authorities such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. State Department, and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as our independent security advisor, On Call International. Additionally, proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is now required for all Earthwatch volunteers and participants.

Nations in which we are conducting our conservation efforts continue to impose varying travel, quarantine and vaccination requirements that can be confusing, change suddenly with little notice, and are at times difficult to obey. Earthwatch’s enhanced safety requirements will give our volunteers the best opportunity to safely and easily enter and exit countries where our research is located, and as a result, have expanded the number of suspended programs that we can bring back. Despite ongoing policy and now many economic challenges, roughly 2/3rds of Earthwatch expeditions are actively recruiting volunteers for 2022 teams, and we are working diligently to have the remainder re-opened by the end of the year.

Regarding Restoring Fire, Wolves and Elk in the Rockies, Earthwatch takes great care to bring only beneficial, wanted impacts to the regions that host our conservation efforts. Out of great respect and concern for local indigenous communities, Dr. Eisenberg has chosen to postpone her research for one more year due to ongoing concerns over the potential for exposing Blackfoot First Nations members to the coronavirus as new groups of volunteers arrived every few weeks.

That said, recent contributions to Dr. Eisenberg’s research will still be used to protect threatened North American wildlife and habitats as part of Earthwatch's four other (and possibly more) re-opened research expeditions in the United States and Canada this year: 

- Conserving Native Plants and Pollinators in Utah
- Climate Change: Sea to Trees in Acadia National Park
- Sustaining Forests, Biodiversity, and Livelihoods on Washington's Olympic Peninsula
- Following Forest Owls in the Western U.S.

Altogether, we have over 150 volunteers signed up to participate in these scientific studies so far, and we can’t wait to send you research updates at the end of the season.

We know that there are many worthy charities that you can support, and we are honored that you chose to invest in Earthwatch scientists and volunteers as they collect data and search for solutions to our most pressing environmental problems. Your support over the last two years has made all the difference for Earthwatch and more than 30 important conservation efforts around the world. We look forward to updating you on the impact of your gifts later this year, and with any luck, finally putting the pandemic behind us!

Stay well! We are almost there!

Gratefully,

Your Friends at Earthwatch

Links:

• North American conservation expeditions returning in 2022