By Ed Peter
Journey to the heart’s core
Volunteers signing
up for one of Earthwatch’s programs could find themselves
collecting species of butterflies in Vietnam’s Tam Dao National
Park or helping to preserve the WWII diving sites of Truk
Lagoon in Micronesia (above).
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For much of the past four decades,
thousands of volunteers have been
taking an eco-holiday with a difference thanks to a charity called
Earthwatch. The volunteers travel to exotic locations, but rather
than lying on a beach or browsing bazaars, they spend their vacations
helping the community – and getting out just as much as they put
in, if not more.
Founded in Boston in 1971, Earthwatch aims to match volunteers
to scientific projects to promote sustainable conservation of
the world’s natural assets. For volunteers, it’s a highly worthwhile
and intimate voyage of discovery. In return, the Earthwatch scientists,
dubbed Principal Investigators, or PIs, get a bunch of free and
very enthusiastic assistants. So everybody benefits.
The range and depth of Earthwatch projects is amazing. Volunteers
signing up for one of its programs could find themselves tasked
to collect more than 100 species of butterflies in Vietnam’s Tam
Dao National Park, documenting the architecture, history and folklore
of a traditional Chinese village before its inhabitants are relocated,
or helping to preserve the natural and heritage attributes of
Truk Lagoon’s WWII diving sites in Micronesia.
The Earthwatch teams are usually quite small, with a maximum of
15 volunteers, and range in age from 16 to 85. They’re drawn from
all around the world and from a variety of professions and backgrounds,
but they all share the same spirit of interest and excitement.
Because of this, groups usually bond within the first couple of
days.
Apart from a reasonable level of fitness, no special skills are
required, and PIs brief volunteers on the project and what they
are expected to do when they arrive. Earthwatch also stresses
the need to fit in with the local environment and to respect indigenous
customs.
For the PIs involved with the Earthwatch projects, introducing
a cosmopolitan bunch of outsiders to their work is time-consuming
but ultimately rewarding.
Dr Mary Littrell, who has worked for Earthwatch in Mumbai, said,
“Our research with artisans grounds us in the hardships of daily
life in India – yet they continually inspire us by the beauty
that they produce under such difficult circumstances.
“Earthwatch gives us the chance as researchers to share that exhilaration
with others at a very personal level.”
Botanist Dr Susan Kephart, who has been involved with Earthwatch
for many years, added, “I’ve overseen volunteers who are teenagers
and volunteers who’ve retired – and one group included folks from
the US, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Ghana and Japan.
“The diverse tasks suit the diverse backgrounds of the participants.
One year I had an accountant who kept our data organized, a couple
who loved catching and pinning insects, a cell biologist and a
radiologist who were great with microscope work, and an expert
on Dr Seuss, the children’s author, who kept morale high!”
Just as Earth-watch volunteers spend much of their time working
rather than relaxing – although a free day or two is usually allotted
for sightseeing – there is of course no free lunch.
Accommodation can be no-frills, meals not exactly gourmet-standard
and the cost starts at around US$1,800 for seven days, flight
not included.
But as one volunteer put it, “My regular job is high-tech numbers
and computers all day, and I was desperate for the human touch.
Earthwatch grabbed me at the core.”
For more information visit their website
at www.earthwatch.org
or call their international number at 978-461-0081.
