2 June 2010(back to press release archive)

The worlds of conservation and volunteering come together during the first week of June when the UK celebrates Volunteering Week and the World celebrates Environment Day.

Lending a hand with cheetah conservation in Namibia
Lending a hand with cheetah conservation in Namibia
(c) Biosphere Expeditions
High resolution version of this image available on request from
[email protected].

The World Environment Day (5th June), led by the United Nations Environment Program, is a positive call to action to safeguard the Earth’s biodiversity. The UN says that the celebration is about ‘giving a human face to environmental issues and enabling people to realise not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.’ 

One way in which people can achieve these goals is by joining a research project with Biosphere Expeditions, an international wildlife conservation organisation. Biosphere Expeditions involves people in conservation by giving them the opportunity to work alongside field scientists in remote locations around the world, helping to protect endangered species and habitats.

“We hear a lot about how humans are damaging the earth,” says Kathy Wilden, Strategy Director for Biosphere Expeditions “by destroying the rainforests, poisoning the seas and killing off the animals. But this week is about the positive impact that people can and do have on the living world and how ordinary people can learn to do extraordinary things through volunteering.”

“All our projects rely on lay people giving up their time to go and help scientists in the field and in doing so making a real difference to help preserve the world’s wildlife and environment. Our achievements include saving 50 wolves from a cull, protecting endangered species across the globe, and supporting local communities. All this would not be possible without enthusiastic, committed and hard-working volunteers,” Kathy says.

Katie Bunting, a 34-year-old teacher from Bromley, has participated in projects with Biosphere Expeditions several times.

Katie says, "I have incredible memories of being on expeditions, and I have learned so much about the environment, wildlife, and societies in remote locations. Being involved has opened my eyes to the importance of the work carried out in the field, and I want to do my bit for conserving our planet's wildlife."

Kathy Wilden from Biosphere Expeditions concludes, “We believe World Environment Day is a great opportunity to look at all the positive things that are happening in the world. We are encouraging people to think about the world they live in and how they can make a difference, however small. As the Environment Day coincides with UK Volunteering Week, it seems like a perfect time to highlight how people can protect nature through volunteering.”

 


For more information, please visit www.biosphere-expeditions.org or email [email protected]

> back to press release archive