LEX-NG Impact Report

DEAR TRAVELER,

In 2023, largely thanks to the generous support of our travelers, the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund was able to invest $2.2 million in ocean health, marine coastal habitats and environmental stewardship in the places we visit. These investments propel bold ideas, cultivate environmental and social heroes, and demonstrate leadership that spans generations.

Perhaps what we find most rewarding about the Fund’s 2023 activities is witnessing its growth and evolution after 15 years of steady development. This year, we significantly expanded our Visiting Scientist program, funding National Geographic Explorers on shipboard projects in the Arctic, the Antarctic and beyond, studying topics from penguin and whale health to quantities of microplastics in the ocean. We made a substantial multi-year commitment to Unplastify, focusing on plastic use, reaching more than 700 young people. We’ve continued our long-term support of National Geographic’s Pristine Seas program, which spearheads the creation of large scale marine reserves around the world. The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship sent 50 educators out on our ships to places including Patagonia, Indonesia and Iceland; to date, the program has selected 365 educators. Finally, our grassroots programs in Alaska, Baja California, Galápagos and the Amazon continue to provide meaningful conservation benefits to local communities and ecosystems.

The partnership of purpose between you, our guests, us as a company, and the geographies and peoples we visit is a never-ending source of joy. I have always believed that travel can and should be a force for good, and collectively we are proving that it absolutely can be. We have made a meaningful difference in peoples lives, sparked hope, and generally found creative ways to help people and our planet engage more sustainably.

All of us at Lindblad Expeditions and at National Geographic appreciate the strong support the Fund has received, allowing us to provide the support it does. And for that — from the bottom of our hearts — thank you so much.

All the best,

SVEN-OLOF LINDBLAD Founder and Chief Executive Officer Lindblad Expeditions

We’re proud to embark on our 20th year of collaboration with Lindblad Expeditions to support innovators who are making a real impact for the ocean and the communities that depend on it. Contributions from travelers like you support the efforts of the dedicated individuals who are working tirelessly to study, restore, and safeguard fragile marine ecosystems and coastal habitats, and educate and inspire future ocean stewards.”

JILL TIEFENTHALER Chief Executive Officer National Geographic Society

The Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund supports projects to understand and protect our world’s ocean, restore critical marine and coastal habitats, and foster environmental stewardship in the regions visited by our fleet, and beyond. Funding for our work comes from shipboard travelers inspired by our shared mission.

$2.2M+ invested in projects and programs

16 National Geographic Explorer-led Visiting Scientist projects

50 Grosvenor Teacher Fellows selected to join expeditions aboard our fleet

26 conservation, research and education projects supported

6 National Geographic Pristine Seas expeditions

700+ global student leaders inspired by Unplastify

2023 BY THE NUMBERS

VISITING SCIENTIST PROGRAM

The ships in the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet are not just equipped for adventure — they also host important research as part of our Visiting Scientist Program. In 2023, the LEX-NG Fund supported 16 National Geographic Explorers participating in the Visiting Scientist Program, thanks to donors like you. This innovative initiative allows scientists to harness the fleet to reach remote areas of the world for research. There, they study a wide range of topics, from insect migratory patterns to underwater acoustics to coastal biodiversity — and more.

ARCTIC RUI SEABRA

National Geographic Explorer Rui Seabra and researcher Cátia Monteiro joined travelers in the Arctic, where they installed temperature sensors and conducted biodiversity surveys on eight rocky shores. As part of a larger project monitoring temperature and biodiversity in more than 200 locations across the Atlantic Ocean coastline, the data from their voyage are critical to assessing how climate change is impacting intertidal ecosystems from pole to pole.

ARCTIC & SOUTHERN OCEAN RACHAEL ZOE MILLER

LEX-NG Fund support is helping National Geographic Explorer Rachael Zoe Miller and collaborator Brooke Winslow investigate the problem of microplastics and microfibers in our ocean and air. The team joined expeditions in the Arctic and Southern Oceans and worked with guests to collect and process water and air samples, which furthered their goal of establishing a global data set of microplastics to drive action to protect our planet. The team also creates engaging public outreach and activities for schools, informal educators and communities.

I’d like to say an ocean-sized thank you to everyone who has donated to the LEX-NG Fund! Your support, combined with projects like ours and collaborations like Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic, helps us turn data into knowledge and that knowledge into action and impact — all for a clean ocean.”

RACHAEL ZOE MILLER National Geographic Explorer Visiting Scientist

SOUTH AMERICA

GERARD TALAVERA & LUCAS KAMINSKY

Understanding long-range insect dispersal and migration is important for fields as diverse as ecology, evolutionary biology, infectious disease control and conservation. With LEX-NG Fund support, National Geographic Explorers Gerard Talavera and Lucas Kaminsky conducted research on migration patterns of insects from aboard National Geographic Explorer while sailing along the east coast of South America from Trinidad to Brazil. One noteworthy finding included the identification of over 300 species of moths crossing the Amazon River in a single night, providing new insights into the migratory behavior of certain insects.

SOUTH PACIFIC ANDRIAN GAJIGAN

The south and western Pacific Ocean contains one of the most diverse marine environments in the world. National Geographic Explorer Andrian Gajigan and engineer Jun Jet Tai traveled to the South Pacific to investigate the diversity and structure of plankton communities at different water depths. While aboard National Geographic Resolution, they used the PlanktoScope — a camera system that allows imaging and taxonomic identification. “The whole experience was enriching for the team,” Gajigan says.

“Not only were we able to do research in areas that we wouldn’t normally have access to, but we also had the opportunity to engage staff, crew, guests and local community youth.”

GROSVENOR TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship is a two-year professional development opportunity for Pre-K to 12th grade educators made possible by a collaboration between Lindblad Expeditions and the National Geographic Society. Since 2006, 365 Grosvenor Teacher Fellows have been selected to travel aboard our fleet for a life-changing field-based experience — all thanks to your support.

The 2023 cohort of Grosvenor Teacher Fellows features a diverse group of 50 educators, including our first from Puerto Rico, and represents an array of grade levels and subject areas. Fellows explored regions such as the Arctic, Antarctica, Alaska, Galápagos and — in a program first — Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or Patagonia. Following the expedition, educators returned home with new ways to teach students, engage colleagues and bring geographic awareness into their learning communities.

ISABELLA LIU

Toronto, Ontario

2023 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow

High school chemistry and mathematics teacher Isabella Liu reports that while many of her students have negative perceptions about the future of the planet, she was heartened by her expedition to Galápagos. There, she discovered that the water quality of the marine reserve is excellent, thanks to local conservation efforts.

“I’ve learned that like many things, protecting the Galápagos Islands is an ongoing effort from everybody, myself included. I hope to bring that perspective when I teach ocean acidification’s impact on sea life, using the Galápagos as an example, demonstrating to my students what we can do as chemists and consumers to help,” says Liu.

The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship changed my life forever — and made an impact on my students that will have ripple effects for years to come. Not only has my view of the world expanded, but the young people and educators in my community understand regions of the world from different perspectives now.”

WILLIE BUFORD

Flint, Michigan

2023 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow

Learn more about the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship

MARIA MORRIS

Bath, Maine

2023 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow

Maria Morris is a career readiness educator for Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG), an educational nonprofit. In 2023, with support from donors like you, she traveled to Iceland aboard National Geographic Explorer and now weaves what she learned as a certified National Geographic Educator and Grosvenor Teacher Fellow into her lessons. “Leaning into this experience using the Explorer’s Mindset changed me. I returned with a deeper appreciation for the world, people and the environment that I can share with my students. I’m a different teacher now, and I’m looking at my craft through a different lens,” says Morris.

GLOBAL IMPACT

In 2023, with support from generous travelers, the LEX-NG Fund invested more than $2.2 million in 26 projects around the world. The visionaries we fund are making a positive impact in the places we explore and beyond, fostering environmental stewardship among local communities, safeguarding the ocean for future generations and preserving coastal habitats.

The Charles Darwin Foundation grants appearing on page 12 and the Central America grant profiled on page 15 were funded outside the 2023 calendar year and are consequently not represented on this map.

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

SOUTH AMERICA

SOUTHERN OCEAN

ARCTIC

GAL Á PAGOS

BAJA CALIFORNIA

AMAZON

ANTARCTICA

GLOBAL

GLOBAL

1  CSI for the Ocean: Forensic science for microplastics detection

CLAIRE GWINNETT

2  Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship

3  National Geographic Pristine Seas

4  Unplastify

AGUSTINA BESADA

REGIONAL PARTNERS

5  Alaska Whale Foundation

6  Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza

7  Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco and Island Conservation

8  Fundación Scalesia

9  Minga Peru

10  SR3 SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research

11  WildAid

VISITING SCIENTISTS

12  Phytoplankton diversity of the South Pacific

ANDRIAN GAJIGAN

13  Assessing impacts of ocean acidification on molluscs and corals

ARIANNA MANCUSO

14  Using algae to understand past Greenland ice sheet melt

BRANWEN WILLIAMS

15  Functional redundancy in Arctic tidepools

DANIEL DICK

16  Investigating Antarctic microbial communities to understand climate change

DAVID VELÁZQUEZ

17  Tracing metal aerosol pollutants in the Antarctic atmosphere

EMMA NICHOLSON (LIU)

18  Corals in the twilight zone

FREDERIC SINNIGER HARII

19  Insect dispersal in open seas

GERARD TALAVERA & LUCAS KAMINSKI

20  Antarctic disease surveillance

JANE YOUNGER

21  Whales and dolphins of the Coral Triangle

JOM ACEBES

22  Exploring science through art in the land of the ice bears

KAT OWENS

23  Acoustic monitoring of glacier melting rates

MATTHIAS HOFFMANN-KUHNT

24  Mapping microplastics and microfibers in water and air

RACHAEL ZOE MILLER

25  Long-term monitoring of rocky shore temperature and biodiversity

RUI SEABRA

POWERED BY TRAVELERS ABOARD THE LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS-NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FLEET

National Geographic Endeavour II • National Geographic Endurance • National Geographic Explorer

National Geographic Islander II • National Geographic Orion • National Geographic Quest

National Geographic Resolution • National Geographic Sea Bird • National Geographic Sea Lion

National Geographic Venture • Delfin II • Sea Cloud

CORAL TRIANGLE

JAPAN

GALÁPAGOS

CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION

In 2023, support from the LEX-NG Fund helped the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) conduct critical research to safeguard the unique ecosystems and native and endemic species of the Galápagos Islands. Contributions from travelers supported National Geographic Explorer Dr. Charlotte Causton’s work to eradicate the invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi), whose larvae feed on the blood of critically endangered mangrove finch hatchlings and other bird species. Her team tested two new methods for protecting threatened hatchlings, and both methods were found to be effective. These encouraging results will inform future efforts to protect Galápagos’ vibrant and unique landbird population. The LEX-NG Fund additionally supported CDF projects focused on enhancing ecological restoration of the threatened Scalesia Forest and on mitigating the risks of marine invasive species.

FUNDACIÓN DE CONSERVACIÓN JOCOTOCO & ISLAND CONSERVATION

Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco and Island Conservation’s Floreana Island Ecological Restoration Project is working with local communities to manage and remove invasive species from Floreana Island so endangered native species can thrive. After years of extensive preparations — including working with communities to garner their support; developing plans to ensure the safety of livelihoods, livestock and native species; and completing an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment — the team began treatments to remove invasive rodents, a critical step in restoring the island’s ecological balance. The team is using 75 camera traps equipped with artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to improve the monitoring and control of these non-native species. Contributions from travelers on the LEX-NG fleet will ultimately help 12 endemic species to reclaim their habitat.

“Imagine the joy of witnessing the majestic Giant Tortoise freely roam the Island of Floreana, hearing the melodious song of the Floreana Mockingbird, or admiring the beautiful plumage of the Vermillion Flycatcher. Your support is the key to turning these dreams into reality.”

VILMA CALVOPIÑA Planning Director, Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco

FUNDACIÓN SCALESIA

With support from LEX-NG travelers, Fundación Scalesia and the Tomás de Berlanga (TdB) School are working to strengthen education and sustainability throughout Galápagos, providing educators with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the classroom and inspire their students to become stewards of the environment. Traveler contributions helped Fundación Scalesia implement two 50-hour, in-person Teacher Institutes for all Pre-K to 12th grade teachers and school leaders in the Islands in 2023 and allowed TdB to extend meaningful educational opportunities to students. “With support from travelers, we were able to provide professional mentorship for teachers and provide scholarships for students to access high quality bilingual education in Galápagos. Thank you for inspiring us!” says Johanna Carrion, Executive Director for Fundación Scalesia.

WILDAID

The Galápagos Islands and their surrounding waters are home to nearly 3,000 marine species and one of the densest shark populations in the world. WildAid advances sustainable management and protection of the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR) by addressing gaps in fishing regulations and providing law enforcement support. Thanks to traveler donations to the LEX-NG Fund, in 2023 WildAid improved video surveillance of areas within the reserve and began a technical analysis of GMR’s legal framework. Their project is advancing necessary legislative changes to ensure the long-term sustainability of the artisanal fishing sector in Galápagos. “Through your generosity, local park rangers are able to monitor and protect Galápagos National Park’s waters, ensuring the ecosystem’s future viability for all,” says Meaghan Brosnan, National Geographic Explorer and WildAid’s Chief Operating Officer. WildAid’s Marine Program, of which this work is a part, was also awarded the prestigious 2023 Earthshot Prize in the Revive Our Oceans category.

SOUTHEAST ALASKA & BAJA CALIFORNIA

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

ALASKA WHALE FOUNDATION

The Alaska Whale Foundation (AWF) studies marine mammals and coastal ecosystems, furthering conservation efforts in the region. For more than a decade, support from the LEXNG Fund has enabled the foundation to lead a comprehensive program to study and address the health of Southeast Alaskan humpback whales. Led by National Geographic Explorer and AWF Executive Director Dr. Andy Szabo, in 2023 the foundation collected physical, chemical and biological oceanographic data to shed light on how Alaska’s marine ecosystem is responding to rising ocean temperatures. Traveler support provides critical funds so AWF can continue their vital initiatives to protect the health and wellbeing of Alaska’s whales and their habitat for years to come.

BAJA CALIFORNIA

FONDO MEXICANO

Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (FMCN) seeks to protect and conserve biodiversity in the Mexican Gulf of California. With support from the LEX-NG Fund, FMCN awards small grants to local partners. One such grant supports the Isla Rasa project. For 45 years, this project has undertaken efforts to monitor, research and protect the island’s seabird population, which includes 95% of all Heermann’s gulls (Larus heermanni) and Elegant terns (Thalasseus elegans). In 2023, the Isla Rasa project collaborated with ecologists to study the impact of declining seabird nesting space; monitored seabird diet and documented the threat of illegal industrial fishing of key forage fish species; and worked with federal environmental authorities on the revision of management plans for protected areas.

CENTRAL AMERICA & AMAZON

CENTRAL AMERICA

SANTIAGO SAID

National Geographic Explorer Santiago Said is working to address the increasing loss of traditional plant knowledge among Indigenous youth in the Union-Emberá community in southeastern Panama. Said created the first Emberá Ethnobotanical Encyclopedia documenting the Indigenous communities’ oral history of traditional plant knowledge, and through his LEX-NG funded grant, documented 137 plants of traditional use. Said also created a map of local deforestation, showing that over 50% of Indigenous land has been lost due to illegal deforestation practices. “You have helped us protect endangered species and empower the next generation of Indigenous conservation champions. Your donation has and will continue to support improved local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and Indigenous cultural revitalization,” says Said.

AMAZON

MINGA PERU

Minga Peru works to connect and equip rural, Indigenous communities with essential resources to conserve their forests and raise awareness of the impacts of climate change in the Peruvian Amazon. With the support of the LEX-NG Fund, Minga Peru broadcasted radio programs to an audience of 120,000 listeners on forest care, climate change and measures for the protection of community forests. It also partnered with local community members to create 80 agroforestry plots and 50 vegetable gardens; train over 1,000 high school students in conservation, waste cleanup, reforestation and maintaining flora and fauna; and provided audio classes to 900 elementary school students on tree planting and forest care.

PRISTINE SEAS

Since 2008, National Geographic Pristine Seas has completed 43 expeditions around the world to protect our ocean and its wildlife by partnering with local communities, Indigenous Peoples, government bodies and NGOs. Founded and led by National Geographic Explorer in Residence Enric Sala, Pristine Seas has helped protect 6.6 million square kilometers of ocean area and inspired the creation of 27 marine protected areas around the globe.

In 2023, Pristine Seas conducted expeditions to the Maldives, the southern Line Islands, Kiribati, Tongareva, Cook Islands, Niue, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, collaborating with local governments, communities and scientists to collect data and facilitate educational activities. In Niue, local partners explored their waters in the South Pacific via the Pristine Seas submersible and documented a hammerhead shark population new to academic scientific knowledge.

NEW MARINE PROTECTIONS

Thanks to Pristine Seas’ initiatives, the government of Uruguay announced in June 2023 that it will create a marine reserve around Isla de Lobos, which is home to South America’s largest sea lion colony.

Learn more about

National Geographic Pristine Seas

UNPLASTIFY

Unplastify works to unplastify mindsets around the consumption of single-use plastics and stop plastics from entering our oceans. By leveraging the power of education, Unplastify seeks to reduce the use of plastics by not only teaching the next generation about the irreparable harm plastics have on the environment, but also by empowering youth to create and implement mitigation strategies in their own communities. In 2023, with generous support from the LEX-NG Fund, the Unplastify Challenge reached over 50 schools with more than 700 English and Spanish-speaking participants across 23 countries.

Thanks to your support, Unplastify has grown its programs to reach more regions and schools… The program gives students a sense of commitment [to] the planet and also the entrepreneurial tools they need to tackle further challenges.”

AGUSTINA BESADA National Geographic Explorer

FUND SUMMARY

Since 2008, the LEX-NG Fund has supported critical marine research, conservation and education programs, investing more than $22 million in 260 grants and projects around the globe. Together with our generous travelers, we are catalyzing a community of changemakers who share our urgency for protecting the ocean and supporting those who depend on it for their livelihoods.

2008–2023 IMPACT*

$22,055,299 invested

244 grants awarded

30,291 LEX-NG Fund gifts

7 continents

64+ countries

365 Grosvenor Teacher Fellows

16 National Geographic Explorer-led Visiting Scientist projects

6.6M square km of ocean protected

THANK YOU

When you donate to the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund, you are supporting a global community of changemakers in their efforts to understand and protect ocean biodiversity, safeguard marine habitats, collaborate with coastal communities and combat climate change. Their critically important work would not be possible without the generous support of people like you. Thank you for traveling aboard the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet and for helping us create a healthier and more resilient ocean.

To contribute to or renew your support of the LEX-NG Fund, visit give.ngs.org/LEXimpact or contact Renee Clark at rclark@ngs.org, National Geographic Society Donor Services at 800-373-1717, or info@give.nationalgeographic.org

LEX-NG FUND BOARD MEMBERS

Dr. John Francis

Independent Consultant

Sven-Olof Lindblad

Founder and Chief Executive Officer Lindblad Expeditions

Dr. Ian Miller

Chief Science and Innovation Officer National Geographic Society

Alex Moen

Chief Explorer Engagement Officer

National Geographic Society

Lorenzo Rosenzweig

CEO, Terra Habitus, A.C.

Founding Board Member, Mesoamerican Reef Fund

To give online and increase the positive impact we make together, please visit give.ngs.org/LEXimpact.

For more information about LEX-NG Fund projects around the world, contact Amy Berquist (Lindblad Expeditions) and Teresa Leonardo (National Geographic Society) at ocean@ngs.org.

To learn more about donating to the LEX-NG Fund, please contact Renee Clark at rclark@ngs.org.

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

Cover: Ralph Lee Hopkins. Page 2: Kristin Lindblad. Page 3, from top: Manu San Félix; Mark Thiessen/National Geographic; Rui Seabra; Rich Reid. Page 4: Courtesy of Minga Peru; Kiirsten Flynn, research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 22306 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 20220-010; Inti Keith, CDF. Page 5: Kevin Palomeque; Josefina Fernández, CDF; Courtesy of Nikia Garland. Page 6: Rui Seabra; Rachael Miller. Page 7: Rachael Miller; Brooke Winslow; Gerard Talavera; Kelly Blais. Page 8: Courtesy of Isabella Liu. Page 9: Alexandra Daley-Clark; Alexandra Daley-Clark. Page 10: Alberto Montaudon Ferrer; Ralph Lee Hopkins; Ralph Lee Hopkins; David Liittschwager; Alexandra Daley-Clark; Manu San Félix; WaterJourney x Unplastify; Ralph Lee Hopkins; Michael S. Nolan; Michael S. Nolan; Ralph Lee Hopkins; John Durban and Holly Fearnbach, research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 22306 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 20220-010. Page 11: Frederic Sinniger Harii; Kristin Lindblad; Andrian Gajigan. Page 12: Agustin Gutiérrez, CDF; Juan Pablo Mayorga Villacís. Page 13: Juan Pablo Mayorga; Israel Rodriguez; WildAid. Page 14: Michael S. Nolan; José Arce Smith. Page 15: Ilario Colli; Courtesy of Minga Peru. Page 16: Manu San Félix; Trevan Hiersche. Page 17: Darryl MacDonald; Ale Presedo x Unplastify; Manu San Félix; Unplastify. Page 18–19: David Vargas. Back Cover: Ralph Lee Hopkins.