Earthwatch Beneficiary of Royal Wedding Fund
17 March 2011 at 10:54 am
St James’s Palace says a share of the funds raised through donations from wedding guests and members of the public to the Royal Wedding Charitable Fund, will be donated to Earthwatch in support of the charity’s educational programs.
Richard Gilmore, Executive Director of Earthwatch Australia, says the nomination was a great boost to Earthwatch in its 40th anniversary year.
Gilmore says it will generate awareness for Earthwatch’s citizen science programs which bring together volunteers from the community to work side-by side with scientists on research projects worldwide.
He says with the number of natural disasters such as floods and fires happening in the world – which Prince William will soon be visiting in Victoria – tracking and recording data is becoming an increasingly valuable part of environmental science activities.
He says volunteers help scientists by conducting biodiversity surveys and installing traps, surveying animals at night with a spotlight, deploying camera traps to identify and determine the population of animals, radio tracking animals and many other research tasks that involve collecting and recording data.
Earthwatch, with more than 60 expeditions to choose from in Australia and across the world, provides rare access to unique areas where people not only observe but actually take part in and contribute to the scientific research to preserve animals and habitats.
Since 1971, more than 96,000 volunteers have contributed millions of hours to scientific research projects around the globe. Earthwatch’s research portfolio—addressing ocean conservation, climate change ecosystem management and preservation of cultural heritage—includes a robust program specifically for teachers, students and teenagers.
Earthwatch Australia’s work is recognised with The Prime Minister’s Award for Australian Environmentalist of the Year 2009 for outstanding achievement at a national and international level.
To view a full list of charities to be supported by the Royal couple go to www.royalweddingcharityfund.org
