Earthwatch 2013 Annual Review by Catherine Charnock

Annual Review 2013

EARTHWATCH ANNUAL REVIEW 2013 Message from the Executive Director

Earthwatch – Who we are

Highlights for Earthwatch in 2013

Engaging people worldwide

Enabling scientific field research

Promoting education and sustainable action

Creating a sustainable environment

Financial summary

With great thanks to:

Earthwatch: our global reach

TRUSTEES:

ADVISERS EMERITUS:

Louise Barrett, Chair • Dr. Mark Collins, Vice Chair Anthony McMahon, Treasurer • Andrew Christie Richard Donkin • Dr. John Hemming CMG • Judith Mosely Herschel Post MBE • Professor Dan Rubenstein Mark Ward • Nicholas Dobson • Lisa King Joseph Proctor III • Whitney Johnson, ex officio

Sir Crispin Tickell GCMG • Professor Ian Swingland Professor David Macdonald, CBE (Chair Emeritus)

SCIENCE ADVISERS: Professor M. James Crabbe • Professor Mark Huxham Professor Yadvinder Malhi • Professor N.H. Ravindranath Professor Hazel Rymer • Professor M.S. Swaminathan

ÂŠ Richard Cave Photography

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Message from the Executive Director

I am thrilled to join Earthwatch after such a successful year in 2013. Earthwatch is a relatively small environmental charity, with an inversely large presence and excellent reputation when it comes to the promotion of environmental field research and education on a global scale. I left my role as CEO at The Woodland Trust, filled with excitement as I embarked on my new adventures with this dynamic and ambitious organisation. 2013 was a year in which Earthwatch galvanised efforts to tackle one of the most pressing environmental issues of all: the global freshwater challenge. So how are we addressing this challenge? FreshWater Watch has seen the establishment of research projects in 25 major cities around the world, and is harnessing the power of citizen scientists in large-scale urban water quality data-collection. Many hands make light work â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and provide a broader overview of the issues facing local water sources. This valuable data is being made available to conservationists and environmental policy-makers around the world, in order to improve and protect freshwater sources globally. Earthwatch continues to support a large variety of research initiatives around the world, as part of our focus on ecosystem services. We all benefit from clean drinking water, the air we breathe, medicines from plants, which are provided for free by the natural world, and the complex interactions between habitats and species therein. Earthwatch believes passionately that we all need understanding and knowledge of these habitats, species and interactions to conserve them for the future. From the critically endangered Arabian leopard, balancing precariously atop a threatened and highly vulnerable ecosystem in Oman, to coral bleaching due to climate change in the stunning Seychelles, the support

of the Earthwatch community to scientific field research initiatives around the world is vital. We ensure that the necessary data is gathered to influence change in environmental policy and understanding globally. Environmental education remains at the heart of our mission, and in 2013 Earthwatch continued to blaze a trail in the delivery of education and training initiatives. We work to increase environmental knowledge and empower individuals to take a lead in their communities to tackle environmental issues close to them. So who are all the people who make our work possible? Who is in the Earthwatch community? The answer is simple: we all are. From our staff working hard in different locations around the world, to the scientists whose work we are dedicated to supporting, to our wonderful raft of citizen scientists and volunteers, to our community of partners and funders, to the environmental leaders we work to develop daily. I thank them all and I want to encourage you to join in. I believe that everyone needs to be inspired to take action to live sustainably and within their means. Building understanding through good science and compelling evidence is critical to achieving this. 2013 provided Earthwatch with an excellent platform on which to build new, exciting and environmentally important partnerships. We will continue to ensure that environmental issues are tackled through action promoted by understanding and knowledge.

Sue Holden Executive Director, Europe

2 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Who we are

Earthwatch â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Who we are Earthwatch is an international environmental charity, committed to understanding and conserving the diversity and integrity of life on Earth to meet the needs of current and future generations. We bring individuals from all walks of life together with world-class scientists to work for the good of the planet.

OUR VISION: Our vision is for a world in which we live within our means and in balance with nature. We believe that future decisions regarding the environment must be based on objective science and must engage and empower people and organisations to act responsibly if they are to be sustainable.

We engage people worldwide We work from several offices, located in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and Brazil. We work with the general public, scientists, communities, educators, students, and companies. Our projects take place in more than 40 countries around the globe.

We create a sustainable environment We work with businesses, and other organisations. We enable them to implement sustainable policies, processes, and practices that promote environmental responsibility both in and out of the office. We work to sustain wildlife populations and to improve the quality and quantity of habitats and ecosystems. We work to preserve our cultural heritage and improve livelihoods worldwide.

We enable scientific field research

OUR MISSION Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

Together with leading scientists, we create impactful field research experiences that facilitate and disseminate world-class scientific research. We measure our success through outcomes such as peerreviewed publications produced by our researchers and our outreach events that engage wider audiences with our work.

We promote education We provide transformational learning experiences that promote environmentally sustainable action. We work with educators to help them bring their experiences back to the classroom to foster new generations of environmental leaders.

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FRESHWATER WATCH launches in 22 cities, involving more than 1,700 ‘Citizen Science Leaders’ in a

WORLDWIDE EFFORT TO MONITOR GLOBAL FRESHWATER RESOURCES.

Water Research and Learning Programme launches in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, helping to secure

NATIONAL PARK STATUS for Wadi Wurayah.

The Earth Skills Network works directly with staff of protected areas worldwide, helping them to develop new practices and ways of thinking, including in 2013,

1,600

More than freshwater monitoring data sets already uploaded to www.thewaterhub.org. Scientists on Shark Conservation in Belize are successful in reaching key policy-makers in Belize.

THREE SPECIES OF HAMMERHEAD along with the porbeagle and oceanic whitetip shark listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in

ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES). Two lectures, ‘Living in Harmony with the Wild’ and ‘Why Emotion Matters in Conservation Science’, and one debate take place at Royal Geographical Society in London, with attendance of

2,100

Teach Earth reunion takes place at Kew Gardens, London, reuniting teachers who participated in climate change research in the UK. An estimated

100

students per teacher have already been influenced by their teachers’ involvement in this initiative and that number is growing.

TEACHING MATERIALS

produced in conjunction with the Ministry of Education in Oman, highlighting the Sultanate’s unique biodiversity for Omani school-children.

British American Tobacco will implement the Biodiversity Risk and Opportunity Assessment (BROA) tool across the 18 countries where they work with over

$25,000 per year of cost savings identified at Atsinanana Forest in Madagascar, and participants running an ecotourism tour at Lake Turkana in Kenya. 264 more senior HSBC staff join the global Sustainability Leadership Programme during 2013, meaning the programme has already created

626 SUSTAINABILITY LEADERS in the bank and contributed nearly

FIVE

THOUSAND

100,000 HOURS FARMERS, influencing biodiversity management over 400,000 hectares of agricultural land.

The second Earthwatch Field Research and Conservation Skills Training Programme runs in Gazi Bay, Kenya, enabling 10 emerging scientists from Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Nigeria and Mozambique to gain valuable practical skills from long-standing Earthwatch scientists leading our Managing Mangroves and Capturing Carbon in Kenyan Communities project.

of vital data collection to Earthwatch research projects in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, North America, Malaysia, Mexico, and the UK. In 2013 the research team on Animals of Malawi in the Majete Wildlife Reserve assist with the arrest of

TWO POACHERS in the park after they were caught on remote camera.

Highlights for Earthwatch in 2013

4 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Engaging people worldwide

Engaging people worldwide Earthwatch is defined by the huge variety of people we work with around the world. We engage with the general public, scientists, communities, educators, students, and company employees, supporting scientific field research and developing environmental leaders. Our programmes and projects take place in more than forty countries around the globe and during 2013, we engaged with over 4,600 people in the field globally – and even more through our lecture series in London.

THE GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGE: FRESHWATER WATCH 2013 FreshWater Watch – Earthwatch’s pioneering programme to protect and study freshwater quality around the globe – is celebrating its first successful year of scientific research and employee engagement. Water is essential to all human activity but, as a resource, it is under strain from population growth, development and climate change. FreshWater Watch responds to this growing challenge, delivering freshwater research and education to help inform and transform water management. “Corporate engagement is a critical element of our freshwater research model, and the mutual benefits are manifold,” said Prof. Steven Loiselle, Senior Research Manager for Global Freshwater Research at Earthwatch. “Our scientists and research partners get the contribution and collaboration of a legion of trained citizen scientists. Companies we work with gain a more informed and impassioned workforce, eager to have a real impact on sustainable operations and taking a leadership role.” Our work with the HSBC Water Programme aims to engage 7,500 HSBC employees in freshwater data collection by 2016 through Citizen Science Leader (CSL) training days. In a recent survey of CSLs across Europe and North America, all respondents said that the programme had increased their understanding of freshwater issues and 95 per cent said they had reduced their own water footprints as a result of the programme. CSL Cherine Hakim from Corporate Sustainability at HSBC Egypt, said: “One slide in the presentation showed the figure for available fresh water in the world and how it’s just a tiny drop, less than three per cent of all

water on the planet. Another showed the effect the desalination process has on marine life and the climate. These facts really resonated with me and I learnt how we, as citizen scientists, can contribute to the research.” FreshWater Watch has launched in 22 cities around the world and recruited 1,700 Citizen Science Leaders so far. CSLs uploaded more than 1,600 data sets online to freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org. CSLs collect scientific data from freshwater bodies. The research aims to establish the key drivers of water quality in urban areas. The data will be set into a wider geographical context with climate, land use, population, hydrological, socio-economic, water management and governance data.

Right: Earthwatch learning manager Sara Banning delivers training on the freshwater challenge. Below: Citizen Science Leaders in Jakarta study the issues.

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THE GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGE: SPOTLIGHT ON THE WATER RESEARCH AND LEARNING PROGRAMME Wadi Wurayah is a unique water system in the United Arab Emirates which supports 100 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians as well as more than 300 species of plants. In 2013 The Government of Fujairah, HSBC and the Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF invited Earthwatch to join a partnership to carry out in-depth research into the Wadi Wurayah ecosystem. The programme offers HSBC employees in the Middle East and North Africa region and other stakeholders an opportunity to contribute to the research. 135 employees graduated from the four-day residential programme during 2013, after gathering more than 2,000 hours of research data. Case study 2013: Amira Khalil, Head of HSBC Technology and Services Quality, Egypt

"Personally, it has motivated me to make a change; I now talk to people everywhere trying to raise their awareness and trying to make a change. Professionally, it makes me feel so proud – as always – to work for HSBC.

THE EARTHWATCH LECTURES Earthwatch doesn’t just interact with people in the field. Our annual lecture series held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, supported by the Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa (MCFEA), distributed more than 2,100 free tickets during 2013 for an exciting series of lectures and debates. Earthwatch and MCFEA share a common desire to reach out to the public and the scientific community to share knowledge and explore ideas. The two spring lectures, ‘Living in Harmony with the Wild’ and ‘Why Emotion Matters in Conservation Science’ provided platforms for Earthwatch scientists to share learning from their projects with an enthusiastic and interested audience. In the Earthwatch debate in October 2012 at London’s Royal Geographical Society, three young scientists from developing countries who had come through our capacity development programme discussed how to foster a new generation of environmental leaders.

• Join us for the 2014 debate in October. The topic will be announced shortly.

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• For details of how to order your free ticket or sign up to the webinar visit the Earthwatch Events web page: eu.earthwatch.org/events or call us on +44 (0)1865 318838.

"I would say that if you are really considering getting involved in a valuable programme where it can make a change both on the community level and on your employee's spirit level then WRLP is the right choice!"

Earthwatch is passionate about involving people and organisations in our initiatives. There is no better way to harness the power of citizen scientists in gathering vital data on pressing environmental issues, or to empower individuals and business employees to make better decisions for a more sustainable environment.

If you are interested in developing and supporting a programme in partnership with Earthwatch and in a region to suit the environmental ambitions of your organisation or business, then get in touch with us at partnerships@earthwatch.org.uk.

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6 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Enabling scientific field research

Enabling scientific field research Together with leading scientists, we create impactful field research experiences that facilitate and disseminate world-class scientific research. We measure our success through outcomes such as peer-reviewed publications produced by our researchers and our outreach events that engage wider audiences with our work. In 2013, our scientific initiatives produced an array of publications, talks, and grey literature.

CORAL COMMUNITIES IN THE SEYCHELLES

• Spaces for self-funded volunteer

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divers are available at this unique project in the Seychelles each year. For more details visit our website at: eu.earthwatch.org/expeditions/coral-communitiesin-the-seychelles.

The project studies the impacts of climate change on coral reefs and coral bleaching around the island of Curieuse. The goal of the research is to understand how vulnerable key coral species are to environmental stress like climate change, and identify what conditions enhance the corals’ tolerance of this stress.

• Providing financial support guarantees the continuity of important research. To find out how you can become a sponsor contact Paul Laird at plaird@earthwatch.org.uk.

The project team works closely with the Seychelles National Park Authority to provide policymakers and local people with the information they need to counteract the threat to coral reefs. Feedback from the research team and the participants shows that this not only brought in critical data, but also gave the participants new skills and confidence.

"Earthwatch support provides several different benefits. The clear benefit is the financial support we gain for long term projects which, taking into account the general way in which research is funded, is very, very difficult to obtain. Earthwatch also provides opportunities for us as researchers to interface with very different members of society. The Earthwatch model provides a clear platform for us to transfer our knowledge and increase the impact of our activities." Dr. David Smith, Coral Communities in the Seychelles. The Earthwatch project Coral Communities in the Seychelles continued with funding from Mitsubishi Corporation. The project would not be possible without this support, which enables critical research to continue.

“I got the chance to listen to different opinions from people in different villages, and learned how to approach people. I gained experience on different topics and how to work as a team, how to communicate and how to get confidence in yourself.” Cathrina Freminot, Green Islands Foundation, Seychelles.

Above: Cathrina Freminot and her team-mates interview local diver and fisherman Ti Da on Beauvallon Beach. Left: Volunteers use a transect square to count species.

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"Earthwatch has the vision to support transformational, long-term and often difficult work, and the commitment to see it through. They are essential for our work – not only for the support they provide but for the perspective that they bring; with Earthwatch as partners we are always thinking about the people as well as the data." Prof. Mark Huxham, Managing Mangroves and Capturing Carbon in Kenyan Communities.

FOREST CONSERVATION IN BORNEO

Lowland forests of Borneo – some of the most biodiverse and ecologically important in existence – have been degraded by logging and fragmented by the development of oil palm plantations. These degraded patches of forest are all that remains in terms of life support to many key ecosystem functions and services in Malaysian Borneo.

Dynamics of dipterocarp seedlings in forest fragments in Sabah

“I’ve learned so much from the volunteers and have become a much more confident public speaker. Developing effective communication skills and presenting science in a digestible way, that suits participants from a range of different countries and backgrounds, is incredibly important.

Dr. Glen Reynolds leads Earthwatch’s research initiative: Climate and Landscape Change in Borneo’s Rainforest, in the beautiful Danum Valley. Glen’s work is supported by Earthwatch volunteers and is providing vital research to inform management plans for these endangered remaining areas of forest.

"At a practical level, almost a third of the data collection on my project has been carried out by volunteers – allowing me to set up much larger, better replicated experiments than would otherwise have been possible.”

Early findings from work conducted by three Shellfunded Malaysian PhD students on Glen’s project (including Benny Yeong, right) flag a number of important issues. These include the lack of regeneration of key tree species in small, isolated forest patches, and the severity of soil erosion as a result of landuse change. Research also identified a number of inexpensive, but effective, techniques for forest regeneration and minimising soil erosion.

Based on Benny’s analyses to date, all of the forest fragments investigated – regardless of size – are of low quality. By contrast, ecosystem functioning was maintained in even heavily logged but still continuous forest. This highlights the importance of land managers and conservationists considering connectivity at a landscape level.

These findings have important implications for local forest management strategy in the future – particularly relating to the management of oil palm plantations and land-use planning in Malaysia and beyond.

The impact of forest fragmentation is clear from the analysis of the number of new trees recorded. Results were dramatic; with only one exception, no dipterocarp seedlings were found in forest patches smaller than 100 ha. The dipterocarp group of tropical hardwood species form a very large proportion of the forest canopy in this region, so this finding has important implications. As importantly, in terms of restoration potential, dipterocarp seedlings planted by Earthwatch citizen scientists in these fragmented forests survived well, so we know that conservation action can be effective.

Case study – Benny Yeong

8 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Enabling scientific field research

SPECIES AND HABITAT RESEARCH IN OMAN The Oman Earthwatch Programme (OEP) provides Earthwatch with a unique relationship direct with the Omani Government. We also have a chance to work with and influence the shape and organisational strategy of the National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation (NFRCEC) – a national body for environmental field research in Oman under the direction of Dr. Saif Al-Shaqsi. Earthwatch worked closely with emerging Omani field scientists, rangers and field assistants during 2013 and a range of Government departments and research bodies. We ran three in-depth training courses for 39 Omanis in botany identification and study skills. We also provided 18 Omanis with Wilderness First Aid training. OEP focuses on four biodiversity and community research projects. The Arabian Tahr Ecosystem Research, Conservation and Community Project aims to gain evidence of threats to the Arabian tahr population, provide mechanisms for research to feed into and support monitoring and management, and to improve our understanding of the status of tahr in Oman. A new research methodology has also been developed which focuses on the Hajar Mountains' Biodiversity. The Mobile Environmental Research Unit will increase the knowledge of factors influencing species richness in the area, provide a platform for environmental awareness and learning, and provide practical experience for a range of audiences in conducting field research.

and draw upon and foster local knowledge and capacity while raising awareness about woodlands conservation. The fourth project is The Study on the Socio-economic and Environmental Sustainability of the Aflaj. Aflaj are historic freshwater community irrigation systems which play host to a wealth of biodiversity as well as serving a community function. This project will identify, implement, and evaluate pilot projects that will test the impacts of diversified livelihoods and production systems on the social, economic and environmental systems supported by the aflaj. During 2013, the Oman Earthwatch Programme education team produced 10 curriculum-linked schools teaching materials, based on the research being undertaken in the field. These are being trialled with a view to wider usage and the development of further materials.

Below: The Luzugh Falaj – the location of the project to study economic and environmental sustainability of the Aflaj of Oman.

The Biodiversity Research and Conservation Project in Jebel Samhan Reserve, aims to assess the biodiversity of the Jebel Samhan Reserve and in particular the Arabian leopard habitat, and build community awareness of the value of enhanced conservation management of natural resources. The third project, which began in 2013, is Research for Conservation of High Altitude Woodland Habitats on Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams. The project is identifying and piloting a framework for the sustainable management and protection of high altitude juniper woodlands, with local communities. This will include an assessment of the current status of the woodlands

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BIODIVERSITY IN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES Earthwatch has two research projects investigating biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes, which are supported by the British American Tobacco Biodiversity Partnership. In Brazil, Earthwatch lead scientist Dr. Ana Paula Giorgi is undertaking research that examines how changes to the Forest Code, and how land owners’ perceptions of ecosystem services provided by forest fragments of the Atlantic Rainforest, provide both risks and opportunities for biodiversity conservation. In 2013 biodiversity data collection at the Guaraqueçaba site has focused on bird species and has engaged research teams from Earthwatch corporate partners Alcoa, Ernst & Young, and Shell. Dr. Giorgi has been working with scientists from the University of Queensland and Imperial College London to devise a new method to assess farmers’ perceptions of nature to predict how this might affect their land management decisions. In India, a partnership between Earthwatch and the Government Centre of Excellence, The Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development is researching the links between the ecosystem services provided by forests, particularly pollination, and agricultural production in fruit orchards. The findings will inform how and where habitat to support native pollinators, that in turn boost fruit production, should be restored. In 2013 this project became part of the Earthwatch Public Programme, fielding three groups of research assistants, and also fielding a team from another of Earthwatch’s corporate partners.

Far left: Biodiversity studies on Jebel (Mount) Akhdar as part of the Hajar Mountains survey by NFRCEC and Earthwatch. Left: The protection of the Arabian Tahr has added benefits to biodiversity conservation – here a red fox is captured ‘on camera’. © Dr. Steve Ross

10 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Promoting education and sustainable action

Promoting education and sustainable action Earthwatch provides transformational learning experiences for a wide range of individuals from all walks of life that promote environmentally sustainable action. We work with educators to help them bring their experiences back to the classroom to foster new generations of environmental leaders; we work with students to increase their environmental awareness and confidence; we work with company employees to help them make more environmentally informed business decisions; and we also work with emerging environmental scientists in developing countries.

TEACH EARTH This is a climate change research and tailored learning programme for teachers, to energise and inspire them as environmental role models, and equip them to bring environmental education to life within and beyond the classroom. Teach Earth is held in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire and in April 2013, a reunion event was held at Kew Gardens, London, funded by The Royal Wedding Charitable Fund. In addition to learning about some of the work undertaken at the gardens, the teachers were invited to share their experiences since attending the residential programme. The impacts were impressive. As well as sharing their experience with pupils and peers, new in-school activities ranged from increasing recycling, to the creation of ‘green libraries’ and projects such as tree planting, tree banding and gardening with biochar. Based on the feedback given, it was estimated that at least 100 students per teacher had already been influenced by the programme.

With such a successful model to build upon, Earthwatch was delighted to receive a further grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation during 2013, which will allow the programme to run again in 2014.

Top: Teachers enter data in the field at Wytham Woods. Middle: Tree measurements at the research centre. Right: A tree measurement in Wytham Woods.

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Teach Earth: Looking Forward

Additional funding would allow us to:

• Offer more Teach Earth opportunities to teachers at Wytham Woods.

• Develop new educator programmes linked to other Earthwatch projects in the UK.

• Maintain contact and provide ongoing support via a Teach Earth Alumni Network. If you are interested in supporting Teach Earth, please contact Mel Paterson at mpaterson@earthwatch.org.uk.

Teachers with an interest in participating in Teach Earth should email: education@earthwatch.org.uk.

12 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Promoting education and sustainable action

INSPIRING CORPORATE LEADERSHIP Earthwatch leadership programmes provide an immersive experience at our field sites, combining hands-on research with scientists and tailored learning sessions with experienced facilitators and subject matter experts.

“A most, maybe even the most valuable, programme I have ever been on in my 36 years in HSBC.” Tony Buckham, Global Head of Corporate Real Estate, HSBC.

Content is created by Earthwatch to address the sustainability priorities, risks and opportunities facing corporate partners. The Sustainability Leadership Programme (SLP) was designed collaboratively by Earthwatch and HSBC in 2009 for senior business leaders from HSBC. In 2013 264 senior staff participated to bring the total number of Sustainability Leaders to 626 across 10 Earthwatch research sites. The programme has been such a success that it is now considered mandatory training for all executives in the HSBC Technology and Services function and is being rolled out to the wider business. As a direct result of SLP, HSBC designed a sustainability strategy (www.hsbc.com/citizenship/sustainability/ environmental-efficiency) to help make them the most environmentally efficient bank in the world. The programme directly supports the implementation of these goals. During the programme the Sustainability Leaders help Earthwatch scientists collect vital climate change research data. They also participate in a range of sessions in which they learn about the science of climate change, support the HSBC sustainability strategy, generate efficiency savings, and drive sustainability engagement within their part of the business.

Earthwatch’s unique approach to learning and engagement ensures that participants leave feeling personally passionate and motivated about the subject.

Top: Tree measurement by Sustainability leaders in the field. Middle: An HSBC Sustainability Team in Oxfordshire. Left: Citizen Science Leaders collect water samples in London.

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Staff case study: Steve Thomas, SLP Learning Facilitator What is so effective about SLP?

"It gives the participants time away from the dayto-day work issues allowing them to immerse themselves in the topics in a more meaningful way, facilitating a deeper understanding of the subject matter."

What sorts of impacts have you observed in the participants who have come through this programme?

"We have noticed a shift in terms of the participants’ understanding. When the programme began there was greater emphasis on convincing people of the need for action. This emphasis has changed to what can we do about it in our business area. I believe a part of the reason for this change is the very strong positive message going back to the business from previous participants about the appropriate nature and effectiveness of the programme." What do you think the longer term impacts of this programme will be?

"The legacy of the programme will be twofold: firstly the continuing nature of change within the business and secondly it will provide a template for other businesses to follow."

• 100 per cent of HSBC Sustainability

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Leaders said the programme was of value to them professionally and that they would recommend the programme to their colleagues.

• What would it take to drive sustainability forward at your organisation?

• Find out how Earthwatch can support you and your organisation in achieving your sustainability agenda by contacting Zoe Greenwood at zgreenwood@earthwatch.org.uk.

14 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Promoting education and sustainable action

EMERGING SCIENTISTS Earthwatch has a passionate network of emerging scientists from across the globe.

Emerging scientists: spotlight on Zoavina Randriana

Hands-on field experience is often out of reach on BSc and MSc courses due to financial constraints. By working with in-country institutions to select candidates Earthwatch can ensure that funding reaches the right candidates.

In July 2013 Prof. Mark Huxham, Dr. James Kairo and Dr. Martin Skov came together to run the second Earthwatch Field Research and Conservation Skills Training Programme in Gazi Bay, Kenya. This unique programme of field research, community engagement and practical field science training, piloted in 2012, enabled 10 emerging scientists from Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Nigeria and Mozambique to gain valuable practical experience. Participants gained a new skillset including research skills, data analysis, engaging with stakeholders, presentation skills, writing proposals, project management and leadership. “This training has given me a great insight into community engagement, biodiversity restoration and carbon capturing. I better understand data rearrangement and analysis and this I will use directly in my MSc project analysis.” Agbase Umazi Udeagha, Nigeria. Each person also returned home with an action plan for engaging their local communities and putting into place their knowledge and skills. “I have learnt the importance of engaging community in conservation work and upon return to my home area, I will try to form a youth group that fights for environmental conservation.” Nicole Musyoka, Kenya.

Zoa Randriana received an Earthwatch six month internship based in Madagascar. This support, donated by The Boultbee Foundation, gave Zoa the opportunity to put all of the theories she learnt during her studies into practice in the field. This type of internship allows Earthwatch to provide project and volunteer management experience and appropriate coaching/mentoring opportunities. Zoa said: “The internship provided me with the opportunity to engage in practical field science. I have developed key survey techniques employed in monitoring animal populations. These techniques include sampling, mark and recapture, survey design, camera trapping and the knowledge of how to operate equipment correctly and appropriately for these techniques. “My experience as a member of the research team has increased my own understanding of how and why research and monitoring are crucial to conservation. I also had an introduction to darting with a pneumodart, learning the principles and protocols of darting, and actually had the opportunity to put theory into practice – safely darting a trapped fossa and wildcat. Those are things I would never have learnt with my educational background.”

• It’s critical that emerging scientists are able to gain access to practical experience in field research. Earthwatch needs financial support to give them this chance. © Earthwatch

• If you can help then please email Mel Paterson in our Development Team at mpaterson@earthwatch.org.uk Above: Participants gain an insight into practical ecosystem service research.

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ENHANCING EMPLOYEE LEARNING Through Project Better World, more than 500 Shell employees to date have joined an Earthwatch expedition, focusing on research themes of business relevance to Shell, such as climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. In 2013 the Enhanced Learning Programme was developed and piloted, which deepens and embeds the learning experience inherent in a Project Better World expedition through a consistent curriculum of learning activities that inspire, educate and enable sustainability advocates at Shell. The Enhanced Learning Programme strengthens the connection between field experience and global environmental issues, the business context for sustainable development, and a personal imperative to act. Participants join a 10 day immersive programme, where project scientists, a Shell sustainability expert and an Earthwatch facilitator offer educational components on global environmental issues such as climate change and business sustainability. Feedback has been extremely positive and there will be an increasing number of opportunities for Shell employees to join this programme.

“The learning sessions fostered important discussions around sustainability topics. I think this was key to making the connection between the programme and becoming a sustainability ambassador.” Samantha Jones, UK Enhanced Learning Programme Participant. “It has broadened my knowledge about sustainable development in the wider context. The training will certainly help us to achieve our goals and action plan and hopefully we can do our small part to make our planet a better place to live in future years.” Lawrence Low, Brazil Enhanced Learning Programme Participant.

Action Plans

The Enhanced Learning Programme took place in the UK and in Brazil in 2013. Participants created a personal plan of action to implement on their return. These included:

• New ways of including sustainable development thinking into Shell project phases. © Earthwatch

• Organisation of a beach clean-up and tree planning for Shell employees.

• Reduction of printing volume and plastic use within Shell offices.

• Completion of a water usage audit to inform water conservation measures.

• Engaging local communities through science

Above: Volunteers are taught how to handle wildlife ensuring their own and the animals' safety.

education and outreach.

• Blogs, presentations and articles to share knowledge, create awareness and encourage volunteering.

• Creation of a Sustainable Development Champions group for offshore asset staff. Earthwatch and Shell continue to support these individuals as they carry out their plans.

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• If you are interested in establishing an initiative like the Enhanced Learning Programme at your organisation, then get in touch with Paul Laird in our Development Team at plaird@earthwatch.org.uk.

16 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Creating a sustainable environment

Creating a sustainable environment As well as working directly with members of the public, Earthwatch works with businesses and non-profit organisations, enabling them to implement sustainable policies, processes, and practices that promote environmental responsibility. We work to sustain wildlife populations and improve the quality and quantity of habitats and ecosystems. We make a tangible and significant contribution to conventions, agendas, management plans, development plans, and government policies.

ASSESSING BIODIVERSITY RISK AND OPPORTUNITY IN AGRICULTURE 2013 was a year of increased momentum for the BAT Biodiversity Partnership. The Biodiversity Risk and Opportunity Assessment (BROA) tool was rolled out to all BAT operating companies and in 2014 all companies will implement the tool across the 18 countries with leaf growing operations.

Earthwatch has completed a project, working with Shell and IUCN, to develop and pilot guidelines for Social Investment in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES). These guidelines will assist Shell social investment teams to take a strategic approach to developing high quality projects, which will result in measureable, long-term positive impacts.

The past year has also seen a strong drive to position BROA as a tool that any company with agricultural operations or supply chains can use. In September an event was hosted at Upton Estate in Oxfordshire that brought together representatives from business, conservation NGOs, and government agencies to discuss landscape approaches to addressing biodiversity related issues in agricultural landscapes.

Social investment management teams may not have experience in conservation, or a full understanding of the complexity it can present. The guidelines help address BES project challenges so they can deliver impactful outcomes. They will now be rolled out to social investment managers worldwide.

BROA is a free tool and has gained recognition by influential external partners, including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the IUCN. Earthwatch has already trained staff from ITC in India and will implement BROA on tobacco and nontobacco crops during 2014.

"Earthwatch has considerable expertise in working with the corporate sector and has made a significant effort to understand our business, consistently providing insightful, targeted and relevant advice on biodiversity issues. Earthwatch has helped us develop biodiversity management across the globe, driving real changes in our capacity and behaviour.â&#x20AC;? David Christian, Group Head of Environmental, Health & Safety, BAT.

Earth Skills Network participants at the training centre in Mpala, Kenya.

ÂŠ Michael Lovemore

INVESTING RESPONSIBLY

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SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE SHARING FOR PROTECTED AREAS Protected areas offer a lifeline to some of the most precious and threatened places on earth. Yet there is evidence from the IUCN that as many as 40 per cent of these sites are ineffectively managed, failing to meet minimum management standards and potentially leading to ineffective conservation. Lack of staff training in business planning and other key management skills is a significant contributing factor. Leading companies have a wealth of experienced staff and devote significant resources on training for effective business management. Yet there are few opportunities for their managers to consider the value of natural capital to the business. The Earth Skills Network (ESN), collaboration between Earthwatch, UNESCO, IUCN and the business community, aims to address this gap. It brings together experienced business leaders with managers from protected areas worldwide in a mentor-mentee relationship to share knowledge and transfer key business skills. At the heart of the ESN is a 10 day residential training programme where Earthwatch trained business mentors (recruited from international companies), Earthwatch learning experts and protected area staff meet to exchange skills and knowledge. Following this, there is a period of mentoring for at least 12 months, during which the mentors and mentees work together on specific organisational challenges. New working practices at protected areas translate into real improvements and changes. These have included $25,000 per year of cost savings at Atsinanana Forest in Madagascar, and mentees at Lake Turkana in Kenya setting up an ecotourism tour to enhance local livelihoods.

Mentee case study: Sheprine Akinyi, Lake Nakuru National Park

“Asante Sana!! (thank you very much) to Earthwatch. The programme is not only a forum for gaining knowledge but an opportunity to network, make friends and, above all, have a life-changing experience that one can never regret. “The training was an eye-opener for me and by the end of the first session I had already started envisioning changes that I would put in place once I went back to Lake Nakuru National Park. The training helped me realise just how privileged I was to be part of a team managing such a site, not only for the people of Kenya but for the world. I have been able to share knowledge and skills learnt at Mpala with many colleagues.”

Mentor case study: James Hughes, Business Analyst, Shell

“This training is far more meaningful and worthwhile than any leadership training that I’ve been on. It not only benefits me as an individual, and in turn Shell, but it has made a real impact to participants and in turn to conservation. “The programme enhanced my leadership and facilitation skills. I also developed my environmental awareness and have ideas on how to better preserve the environments in which Shell works.”

• To find out more about any of these programmes please email partnerships@earthwatch.org.uk.

GET INVOLVED

18 | Earthwatch Annual Review 2013 | Financial summary and thanks

Financial summary 2013 saw the HSBC Water Programme, an international, multi-year project, come onstream fully and all of our major corporate partners including Shell, BAT and Mitsubishi have strengthened their commitment to our cause by either commencing new multi-year programmes or renewing existing ones. Our continued focus on operational improvements and financial stability has resulted in another successful year in terms of programme delivery and contributed to a £778k (£806k in 2012) increase in general reserves to £2.25m. This slightly exceeds our reserves policy of six months’ cover of fixed costs.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION 2013

2012

£ 000

Incoming resources

7,782

6,868

Resources expended

6,330

7,075

Increase in general reserves in the year

778

806

Process improvements have given our programme managers greater control over programme delivery and service improvements to our partners and scientists thereby enhancing the impact of our projects both in terms of field research as well as participant experience. Committed staff are at the core of our success in developing and sustaining strong partnerships as well as adapting to new ones and we are in a good position to further bolster our investment in our capability, programme design and outreach. Earthwatch continues to play a unique role in combining scientific field research and engagement for the public good and with the continued commitment from our donors, staff and trustees, we are confident of meeting the growing demand for our services and continuing to deliver the high standards our partners and donors have come to expect of us.

INCOMING RESOURCES 2% Voluntary Income

98% Grants and Partnerships

RESOURCES EXPENDED 4.9% Admin & Governance 1% Fundraising

Arcott Mahesh Chief Financial Officer, Earthwatch Institute

Conservation Education and Research Trust Earthwatch Institute (Europe) • Earthwatch (Europe) • Earthwatch Institute Charity registration number: 1094467 • Company registration number: 4373313 Earthwatch Europe Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DE, United Kingdom Email: info@earthwatch.org.uk

94.1% Programme Services and Research

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With great thanks to: CORPORATE SUPPORTERS 2013

BOARD OF ADVISORS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

ACE UK/College Hill Allianz Insurance plc Aviva plc British American Tobacco plc ePlusGreen HSBC Holdings plc Kuoni Travel Land Rover Microsoft Mitsubishi Corporation Mondel¯ ez International Penfield Royal Dutch Shell plc Saudi Aramco Syngenta Tate & Lyle The Crown Estate Timbmet UPS Waitrose

TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS, GOVERNMENTS & MAJOR DONORS

Sir Erik Bennett Andrew and Nonie Christie David Earl Paul Gamel Rupert and Jan Gray Prof. Wes Harry Edward and Susan Hoare Reggie Heyworth Richard Lord Richard Lawson and Elaine Massie Anthony and Alison McMahon Mr and Mrs Charles Marshall George and Judith Mason Herschel Post, MBE and Peggy Post Nigel Peters David Pirrie David Richards and Ann MacGregor Neil Sankoff Sir John and Lady Gwenda Scarlett Neville Shulman,CBE and Emma Shulman Paul and Mary Slawson Corinna Wiltshire Lynn and Natalia Woods

• The Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman • Colourful Life Foundation

EARTHWATCH GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES ITS AMBASSADORS

• The Garfield Weston Foundation

• Ben Fogle

• The Jersey Millennium Fund

• Bear Grylls

• John Ellerman Foundation

• Kate Humble

• Earthwatch McCrae Fund

• George McGavin

• Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa

• Paul Rose

• The Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund

• Brian Thompson

• The Boultbee Foundation

• The Shell Foundation • Earthwatch Shulman Awards

Front Cover images (Top-bottom, L-R): © Shirley Cusack, © Miles Willis, © Duncan Brake, © Dr. William Megill. Back Cover images (L-R, Top-bottom): © Zoe Gamble, © Chi’en C.Lee, © Michael Lovemore, © Chi’en C.Lee Design: www.catherinecharnock.co.uk

to landfill

Earthwatch: our global reach Earthwatch touches all corners of the globe, from the stunning, bleak vistas of the Arcticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge, to the wildlife-rich rainforests of Borneo; from pristine, protected national parks to highly developed urban landscapes. We bring together governments, multi-national corporations, NGOs and academic institutions, employing scientific expertise and sustainability know-how to respond to environmental pressures on our lives and businesses.

We work with all sectors of society, from teenagers who join us in the field, learning the skills that will set them up as environmental pioneers of the future, to CEOs of companies planning to safeguard the resources they depend upon, and position their businesses for long-term prosperity. To find out how Earthwatch can benefit you, or your company, contact us at partnerships@earthwatch.org.uk or visit us at www.earthwatch.org.