Earthwatch Responds to Grim Findings Over Climate
Change
Earthwatch
Earthwatch Institute (Europe), the International environmental organisation,
today renewed its pledge to support conservation field research, in light
of the recently published study in the journal Nature into the consequences
of increasing temperatures on the natural world.
Earthwatch is addressing the issue of climate change in many of its projects
around the world. Teams of volunteers work alongside scientists to collect
substantial quantities of important data, much of which is directed at
mitigating the predicated disastrous loss of more than one million species
by 2050.
Roger Mitchell, Chief Scientist at Earthwatch said, "The realisation
that the impact of climate change could potentially result in a quarter
of land animals and plants becoming extinct over the next 50 years should
be a huge wake-up call for everyone. While it is clear that a drastic
global reduction in greenhouse gases is the number one solution, Earthwatch
believes that individuals can also play an important part in combating
the effects."
Earthwatch funds scientists on over 140 projects across 50 countries,
many of which address the effects of climate change and the threat posed
to species, habitats and ecosystems.
Dr. Steve Williams heads up the 'Climate Change in the Rainforest' project
in Queensland, Australia, where 50% of the 73 species of vertebrates found
here, and nowhere else in the world, are likely to become extinct during
the course of the 21st century. Earthwatch volunteers on this project
collect vital data that will be used to predict the effects of climate
change on this fragile habitat and hopefully give us the knowledge to
help minimise these impacts and decline.
Roger Mitchell further commented, "We expect the results of this
project to have many uses in conservation planning and sustainable management
of the natural resources of this region, as well as tropical ecosystems
around the world, such as planning refuges and corridors connecting fragmented
habitats. Much of the research into the effects of global warming will
be collected by members of the public and their contribution to saving
species from extinction will be in line with the Earthwatch mission of
engaging people worldwide for a sustainable environment."
Earthwatch is committed to conserving the diversity and integrity of
life on earth to meet the needs of current and
future generations. By engaging people in field
research projects like this, we aim to change
attitudes and behaviour, and motivate people to
conserve the species, habitats and eco-systems
where they live, work and play.
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