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Join PBI on a Biodiversity Expedition
in South America in 2014!
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* Have you ever wanted to explore the places on earth where biodiversity reaches its maximum expression?
* Have you ever wanted to experience nature's abundance flourishing like nowhere else on earth?
* Would you like to explore deep into the Big Wild and see the wild heart of the planet?
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Well, here is your chance! In 2014, PBI is offering the opportunity to join like-minded adventurers on several expeditions to
explore the biodiversity of some of the most fascinating natural areas in South America. Some expeditions are easy and some involve strenuous backpacking. Every expedition includes extensive nature observation, citizen science data collection, wildland conservation and an opportunity to meet local scientists, conservationists, birders and nature enthusiasts.
Our first expedition in March 2014 explores biodiversity hotspots in northwest Argentina and focuses on birding, nature photography, videography and gentle hiking. In two
weeks you will see exceptional ecological and biological diversity - lush tropical forests, beautiful deserts, the high Andes,
extensive salt flats, high lakes filled with birds, deep canyons. You will also experience some of the rich culture and history of this fascinating area.
The second expedition in late March and early April is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hike ancient Inca trails deep into the wild heart of the Sierra de
Zenta, in Argentina. You will explore spectacular landscapes, a wide variety of ecosystems, diverse wildlife, and ancient, unexplored archeological sites. It is for
avid hikers who enjoy traveling fast and light. You will explore places North Americans and Europeans have rarely seen. This is an opportunity to strike out
into one of the "map's void spaces" - far from urban areas and the roaded world. You will be part of a tight international team of adventurers, scientists, and
conservationists, led by an outstanding expedition guide.
To learn more about these expeditions, visit our expedition web page. You
can ask for more information or find answers to your questions by writing us at expeditions@pacificbio.org
To find out more about our activities last year, read the
Pacific Biodiversity Institute 2013 Annual Report
Knowledge Changes the Game
On a recent visit to downtown Seattle, I was awestruck by the sight of a peregrine falcon soaring high above city buildings. Nature's fastest animal, capable of flight
speeds of more than 200 mph, this magnificent bird nearly disappeared forever only 30 years ago. Luckily, a huge effort to understand the science of the peregrine and the
threats it faced brought this species back from the brink of extinction. The peregrine is one of the great success stories in biodiversity conservation. It may now be seen
hunting and nesting in many natural areas, and, yes, even U.S. cities.
Many of us recognize that the loss of biodiversity, the diversity of life on earth, is one of the greatest problems of today. What most people don't realize is how little is
known about biodiversity, and how this lack of knowledge stands in the way of conservation. Scientists estimate that we have discovered only 5 to 20 percent of all species
on earth. And we understand only a small fraction of those species we have discovered.
Missing information is a serious handicap in solving the problem of biodiversity loss. We can't conserve what we don't understand. Unfortunately, in these difficult economic
times, very little government funding is available for research on biodiversity. The important job of doing the science necessary for conservation has fallen to
non-governmental organizations like Pacific Biodiversity Institute. PBI's work is critically important for saving the endangered species, the neglected biodiversity, and the
unknown wild habitats, for future generations.
Whether we are studying the habitat needs of the imperiled western gray squirrel in eastern Washington, uncovering the mysteries of the harbor porpoise, a sentinel species
in Puget Sound, or identifying the most biodiverse wildlands in South America, we are doing the absolutely essential job of finding out what we need to know to save these
species, habitats, and ecosystems. We couldn't do any of this work without the help of our generous supporters and volunteers.
With your help, in the future, we will have plenty of conservation success stories to tell our children, and plenty of magnificent creatures - like the peregrine falcon -
for them to enjoy.
Dave Stokes
President, Pacific Biodiversity Institute Board of Directors
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