Expedition #4 = Fund Raising Event

So – I’m planning another Earthwatch Expedition (my 4th) and am asking for help getting there.

I will be heading off to Peru in February of 2012 for the Amazon Riverboat Exploration program where I will work with a team of biologists and other volunteers to collect information about the wildlife populations in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, along the Samiria River – a major Amazon tributary. A more detailed description of the work being done is included at the end of this post for those who are interested. If you want even more information, I’d be happy to talk to you.

One major hurdle is – of course – the costs involved. The expedition is just under $4,000.00 – airfare to and from Peru is roughly $2,000.00 – there will also be costs for hotels, taxis, and food along the way. All together, I’m looking at something like $7,000.00.

With that in mind, I have set up an Expedition Fund thru Earthwatch with the goal of raising the $4,000.00 needed for the expedition. Friends and family members can make donations (minimum $25.00 per donation) if they wish. Heck, complete strangers can make donations if they feel so inclined! Any and all donations will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

To make your donation: simply log on the Earthwatch website at www. earthwatch .org (no spaces) and hover over the tab labeled Expeditions; click on “set up an Expedition Fund.” In the middle of that page, click on “Login or Find a Fund” and enter my name in the search bar to the right of the page. It sounds complicated - but really, it’s not.

What you get: Not only will you get the personal satisfaction of being a part of the Earthwatch Mission (to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education in order to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment), you will also get to deduct your contribution from this year’s taxes!

What I get: Not only will I get to participate in actual scientific field research, I will also collect fodder for my Travelogue and my Blog as well as adding another presentation to my collection of public talks I can give!

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As an Earthwatch volunteer, I’ll help collect data on ungulates, macaws, wading birds, large-bodied primates, caimans, dolphins, giant river otters, manatees, river turtles, game birds, large cats, other large mammals and large fish. I’ll help research staff to sight animals, determine animal group sizes and composition, determine distance parameters, record information on datasheets, and weigh and measure animals. I’ll also have the opportunity to explore wildlife use and community-based conservation plans in local indigenous villages.

Macaw censuses will be conducted at points along the river and lakes accessed by an auxiliary boat.
Ungulate, primate and game bird censuses will be conducted by walking along forest trails.
Dolphin censuses will be conducted from an auxiliary boat floating slowly on the river or lakes.
Fish censuses will be done by fishing in the rivers and channels using auxiliary boats and canoes.
Caiman censuses will be conducted using the auxiliary boats in the lakes, rivers, and channels.
Giant River Otter and Manatee censuses: If these species are sighted during any of the terrestrial or aquatic surveys, they will be observed and information will be recorded.

Ungulates
Ungulates, including the white-lipped and collared peccary, red and grey brocket deer and lowland tapir, are the most important bush meat animals for the local indigenous people. Understanding their populations is essential to developing sustainable use strategies through community-based wildlife management.

Dolphins
Dolphins are an excellent way to determine the health of the river, since they are the area’s top predators of fish. Decreases in dolphin populations indicate over-fishing, while increases indicate recovery. Long-term monitoring of the dolphin population will be used to evaluate the multi-year health of the river ecosystem.

Macaws
Macaws indicate the health of the forest ecosystem as they feed on fruits and will only stay in an area if the forest is healthy and productive. If the macaws decrease this indicates a deterioration of the forest ecosystem, while an increase indicates ecosystem recovery.

Primates
Common species are the red howler monkey, brown capuchin monkey, squirrel monkey, tamarins, woolly monkey, saki monkey, white capuchin monkey and the rare spider monkey and red uakari monkey. Primate populations are good indicators for conservation, since they are very vulnerable to hunting and forest degradation.

Game Birds
Common species include the curassow, spix’s guan and piping guan. Game birds have been over-harvested in the past in many areas of Loreto for the bush meat trade. Their populations are recovering in some of the protected areas, and population studies need to determine their rate of recovery and the sustainability of their hunting using sustainable use models.

Caimans
Three species occur along the larger rivers and lakes in Loreto: the black caiman, common caiman, and smooth-fronted caiman. These animals were once killed for their skins to make shoes, handbags, belts, and other items. They are recovering along many rivers of Loreto and are again relatively common.

Giant River Otter and Manatees
The giant river otter was extensively over-hunted during the professional pelt period from 1940 to 1970. Currently, giant river otter populations are recovering in the Samaria and Yavari River basins. The manatee is a rare and endangered species that requires conservation action. They are not recovering as rapidly as the giant river otter and are vulnerable to local extinction.

Fish
Fish are one of the most important resources for local people and their sustainable use is linked both to the health of the ecosystem and the socio-economic wellbeing of indigenous communities. The abundance, diversity and age structure of large fish species, such as the paiche fish, will be monitored to determine the impact of local fisheries.