Conservation & Community

2014 IMPACT REPORT

OUR COMMITMENT Conservation + Community

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“ IN THE END WE WILL CONSERVE ONLY WHAT WE LOVE; WE WILL LOVE ONLY WHAT WE UNDERSTAND; AND WE WILL UNDERSTAND ONLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT.”

— BABA DIOUM

DEAR TRAVELER, Those of us who have the privilege to explore our world are both fortunate and in a powerful position.

We have seen, listened to, and thought about so many things. We have reinforced beliefs and developed new ones. And we have learned about the need to find creative, meaningful ways to support the long-term health of the natural and human systems we have encountered.

We know there is so much out of balance; we cannot sit idly by. We know the new age of exploration requires turning what we discover into an impetus for change. We know that a well-informed, thoughtful community of travelers is a potent force in redefining our future. And on the following pages, you will see proof—the impact our guests, brought together through our shared explorations, have had on the world through their participation with the Lindblad-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund.

Also in the pages that follow, we will tell you some inspiring stories—of the teachers who have benefitted from time in the field; of the young scientist from Scripps who, together with National Geographic and others, developed a strategy to create the world’s greatest ocean legacy; of the Amazon communities where improvements in food and economic security have markedly reduced domestic violence.

Together with our guests, we have achieved much, but our goal is to become ever smarter, effective, and impactful. We are pleased to share the results of the Lindblad-National Geographic Fund with you, and hope that our collective efforts inspire you to explore with us and choose to make a positive impact yourself.

All the best,

SVEN-OLOF LINDBLAD | FOUNDER LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS

THE LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS-NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (LEX-NG) FUND, IN TANDEM WITH OUR GUESTS, SUPPORTS PROJECTS AT THE GLOBAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL LEVELS, CORRESPONDING TO THE GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT OF THE SHIP FROM WHICH FUNDS ORIGINATE. WE AIM TO PROTECT THE LAST WILD PLACES IN THE OCEAN; SUPPORT INNOVATIVE LOCAL PROJECTS THAT CAN BE REPLICATED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES; AND FACILITATE CONSERVATION, RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE PLACES WE EXPLORE.

GALÁPAGOS

Together with our guests, we have a long history of supporting conservation and communities in Galápagos.

Recently, the Galápagos National Park and Charles Darwin Foundation used this support to monitor juvenile sea turtles and sharks to mitigate threats, develop management strategies, and ultimately ensure their protection. Teachers on San Cristóbal are using LEX-NG funds to engage students in hands-on environmental education activities connected to reforestation. Students worked in reforestation nurseries and gained greater awareness about why restoration and conservation matter to altered ecosystems in the agricultural and protected areas of Galápagos.

Tomás de Berlanga School, in the Santa Cruz highlands, is a private, open-air school that immerses its students in nature.

Its curriculum seeks to cultivate the next generation of leaders for Galápagos. Recently, the LEX-NG Fund provided scholarships so students with limited resources could attend. The growing student body reflects the school’s innovative educational approach, one that leads the way and serves as an example to other schools of instilling a conservation and stewardship ethic among young people.

TOMÁS DE BERLANGA SCHOOL: PUERTO AYORA, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND Guests traveling in Galápagos have the opportunity to visit open-air classrooms, watch children learning in nature, and see community benefits firsthand when classes are in session.

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PRISTINE SEAS

We made a bold commitment to the ocean when we pledged to donate funds raised aboard National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion to National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project. The Fund will donate at least $500,000 annually for the next five years.

Pristine Seas is exploring, surveying, and helping to protect the last wild places in the ocean. These pristine places are unknown to all but the longest-distance fishing fleets, which have started to encroach on them. It is essential that we let the world know these places exist, are threatened, and deserve to be protected. Right now, less than 2% of the ocean is fully protected in marine reserves. Pristine Seas is working towards the international goal of fully protecting at least 10% of the ocean by 2020. Lindblad and National Geographic aim to accelerate the creation of marine reserves and safeguard these last wild places in the ocean.

Many of our guests tell us they want to leave a legacy for their grandchildren. Others say they want to be part of an effort with far-reaching impact. We believe our commitment to Pristine Seas will provide an opportunity for both. www.pristineseas.org

PRISTINE SEAS In 2015, National Geographic Orion will visit five Pristine Seas expedition sites: Southern Mozambique, Palau, the Southern Line Islands, Pitcairn Islands, and Easter Island.

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PERUVIAN AMAZON

We launched a new program in the Peruvian Amazon, partnering with Minga Peru, an organization working to improve the lives of women and families in the Loreto region.

Through the enthusiastic contributions from guests, the Fund has supported a robust program empowering women and communities and improving the sustainability of livelihoods.

In the last year, Minga Peru produced over 100 educational radio programs focusing on reproductive and sexual health, prevention of domestic violence and HIV/AIDS, management of natural resources, and reforestation. The organization facilitated workshops on themes related to community development, leadership, and prioritizing community projects for funding. Minga Peru has also been working to identify fish that can be raised and sold in local markets. This past year, it assisted 31 community members with the development of fish ponds, increasing food and economic security in the community while decreasing pressure from fishing on the rivers. We look forward to working with our guests and the community to expand this collaborative work in the coming years.

MINGA PERU The impact of experiencing a place is immeasurable, but we know it is significant.

Guests donated a record amount in the Fund’s first year in the Amazon, significantly increasing Minga Peru’s positive impact in the region.

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SOUTHEAST ALASKA National Geographic Sea Bird National Geographic Sea Lion TOTAL AMOUNT: $70,800 PROJECT AREAS: conservation research

community development

BAJA CALIFORNIA National Geographic Sea Bird TOTAL AMOUNT: $56,250 PROJECT AREAS: conservation research community development

GALĂ PAGOS National Geographic Endeavour National Geographic Islander

PERUVIAN AMAZON

TOTAL AMOUNT: $452,420 $405,000 PROJECT AREAS: conservation research community development education

Delfin II TOTAL AMOUNT: $42,300 PROJECT AREAS: community development

ANTARCTICA National Geographic Explorer TOTAL AMOUNT: $42,000 PROJECT AREAS: research

Every cent— 100%—contributed to the LindbladNational Geographic Fund by our guests goes to conservation, research, education, and community development projects. Explore this map, learn about our investments and project areas, and see where guest donations are at work.

CAMBODIA Jahan TOTAL AMOUNT: $24,700 PROJECT AREAS: community development

education

PRISTINE SEAS National Geographic Explorer National Geographic Orion TOTAL AMOUNT: $560,175 $330,775* PROJECT AREAS: conservation research

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic maintain a strong commitment to the long-term sustainability of the wilderness, wildlife, and people of Southeast Alaska. Guest contributions in this region support groundbreaking research and conservation projects.

This past year, the LEX-NG Fund supported two grantees: the Alaska Whale Foundation (AWF) and the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC). AWF, well-known for its research on humpback whale populations and behavior, is expanding this work and bringing awareness to more people. Through a new mobile application for citizen science, boaters can record marine mammal sightings, contributing valuable data while raising awareness about important conservation issues.

Recent SEACC-led projects focused on wilderness stewardship, and sustainable business and community development projects.

The council promotes high-value sustainable businesses by working with small local mills to develop high-value products and increase their customer bases, proving it’s possible to have a sustainable, growing economy in balance with the wild landscape of the Tongass National Forest.

ALASKA WHALE FOUNDATION Guests in Southeast Alaska can meet the AWF team aboard National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird and hear knowledgeable commentary about the whale behavior they witness.

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GROSVENOR TEACHER FELLOWS

With support from the LEX-NG Fund, 25 selected K–12 educators from the United States and Canada embarked National Geographic Explorer this year as part of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellow (GTF) program.

A collaboration between Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Education, this program offers hands-on, field-based professional development experiences aboard ship. Fellows traveled to Arctic Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, the Canadian Maritimes, or Antarctica, where they experienced the geography, wildlife, and cultures unique to these parts of the world.

The GTF program is working to advance geographic literacy throughout North America.

The Fellows hike, kayak, and explore alongside our guests and expedition teams, gaining a wealth of knowledge to bring home to their classrooms, colleagues, and communities.

Integrating the geographic information, data, and media they gather in the field to create new materials such as lesson plans, student project ideas, photo tours, and blogs, the Fellows will bring this experience to life for years to come, in the classroom and through outreach presentations at schools, community centers, and national conferences. www.natgeoed.org/gtf

2014 FELLOW, TAMMY LEE KOONCE (TEXAS) “Students are growing up in a different world. Geo-literacy is more important than ever. Allowing teachers to participate in this professional development experience enriches their practice, filling in the blanks between book knowledge and practical knowledge.”

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“ HUMAN ATTEMPTS TO SUCCESSFULLY PRESERVE WILDNESS REQUIRE A KIND OF INTELLIGENT AND RIGOROUS COMMITMENT TO MISSION THAT FEW ORGANIZATIONS CAN SUSTAIN. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS ARE SHINING EXCEPTIONS. WE TRUST THEM TO USE OUR DONATED DOLLARS WISELY TO HELP PROTECT AND PRESERVE WILDNESS AROUND THE GLOBE FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.”

—PAM AND DWIGHT, TRAVELERS

Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic strive to preserve and restore the natural and human communities we visit. The efforts we support promote environmental and cultural conservation while advancing scientific knowledge, promoting the understanding of global systems, and securing sustainable livelihoods. Like many of our projects, the three listed below provide engaging opportunities for guests to interact with the natural world and the communities therein, inspiring continued giving while using travel as a significant force for good.

LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN CAMBODIA Along the banks of the Tonle Sap River in Cambodia, children in the village of Kampong Tralach are learning English thanks to donations made by guests traveling aboard Jahan.

The English Language Library project provides free education through classes and openly available resource materials. The language curriculum also introduces fundamental conservation and ecological concepts to students. Earlier this year, we broke ground on the construction of a library that will house these educational resources for years to come.

BAJA CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT In Baja California, we support an array of local conservation projects. One grantee, RED Sustainable Travel, combines ecotourism and conservation activities to strengthen local communities and their economies. RED Sustainable Travel forged a grassroots movement in Magdalena Bay focused on sea turtle conservation and coastal habitat preservation, placing conservation in the hands of community members by linking natural resource preservation to economic opportunities provided by tourism.

KILLER WHALE RESEARCH IN ANTARCTICA Killer whales live in all the world’s oceans and have a key ecosystem role as top predators.

However, relatively little is known about their habits in remote locations such as Antarctica, where they exist in abundance. Scientists Bob Pitman and John Durban have pioneered killer whale research in Antarctica, with support from the LEX-NG Fund since 2011. In the 2013/14 season, they documented 235 individual whales and deployed seven new satellite tags. This research offers clues to the important role killer whales play as apex predators in marine ecosystems in the context of climate change.

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“ BY BEING ON THE WATERS THROUGH LINDBLAD AND BEING ABOARD THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER, I SEE FIRSTHAND THE AMAZING, DIVERSE PART OF THE WORLD WHICH IS INVISIBLE TO MOST OF US IN OUR LAND-BASED LIVES. I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW OUR STEWARDSHIP, OR LACK THEREOF, OF THE WATER IS THE VERY KEYSTONE TO ALL SURVIVAL ON THE PLANET. HOW COULD I NOT SUPPORT THE POWERFUL WORKS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FUND?”

—MARY, TRAVELER

LEX-NG FUND COMMITMENT Thanks to generous guest donations, the LEX-NG Fund works with grantees in many of the regions we travel, including the Galápagos Islands, Antarctica, Baja California, Southeast Alaska, the Amazon, Cambodia, and—new in fall 2014—the Pacific Northwest. We also launched a five-year commitment to the Pristine Seas project aboard our flagships National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion to help safeguard the last wild places in the ocean, creating the largest ocean legacy in human history.

Looking forward, we have great ambitions for the Fund, continuing our commitment to conservation and community and using the power of travel as a significant force for good.

We’re continually inspired by the growing number of guests who choose to join us in these important efforts.

Please joining us and supporting our efforts to make a difference in the world.

PHOTO CREDITS Front cover: Antarctica © Justin-Hofman.com. Front cover, bottom from left: Galapagos Penguin © Ralph Lee Hopkins; Woman and Child, Peru © Minga Peru; Scuba Diver, New Caledonia © Enric Sala/ National Geographic; 2014 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow © Sisse Brimberg & Cotton Coulson. Inside Cover, clockwise from top left: Tomás de Berlanga School © 2013 Jennifer Davidson Photography; Alaska Whale © Michael S. Nolan; SE Alaska Wilderness © Alfredo Muñoz/SEACC; Expedition Leader with children, Amazon © Richard Maack; Cactus, Baja Calif. © Ralph Lee Hopkins; Blue Footed Boobies, Baja Calif. © Lindblad Expeditions; Expedition Guests, Galápagos © Michael S. Nolan; Brown Bear, SE Alaska © Ralph Lee Hopkins; Whale Shark, Galápagos © JR Green. Page 1: Sven Lindblad © David Vargas. Page 2: Sea Turtle, Galápagos © Dordo Brnobic/National Geographic My Shot. Page 3: Guest With Student, Galápagos © 2013 Jennifer Davidson Photography. Page 4, lower left: Diver, New Caledonia © Manu San Félix/National Geographic.

Pages 4–5, clockwise, from top: Woman and Child, Peru © Minga Peru; Black Tip Reef Shark, Southern Line Islands © Enric Sala/National Geographic; Fisherman, Amazon © Jack Swenson; Black Trevally, Pitcairn Islands © Enric Sala/National Geographic. Page 5, lower right: Expedition Leader With Children, Amazon © Richard Maack. Pages 6–7, background: Water © Heather Perry. Pages 6–7, from left: Researcher, Galápagos © Charles Darwin Foundation; SE Alaska Wilderness © Alfredo Muñoz/ SEACC; Young Girl, Amazon © Minga Peru; Killer Whales © Ralph Lee Hopkins; Researchers With Sea Turtle, Baja Calif. © 2010 Elizabeth Moreno Damm; Flightless Cormorant, Galápagos © Frans Lanting; School Children, Cambodia © Michael S. Nolan; Reef Fish, Pitcairn Islands © Enric Sala/National Geographic. Page 8, lower left: AWF Researchers, SE Alaska © Alaska Whale Foundation. Pages 8–9, clockwise, from top left: Researcher, SE Alaska © Alaska Whale Foundation; 2014 Grosvenor Teacher Fellows © 2014 Susan Seubert; Fluke, SE Alaska © Alaska Whale Foundation (NMFS Research Permit No. 14599); SE Alaska Wilderness © Leon Werdinger/SEACC; 2014 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow © Sisse Brimberg & Cotton Coulson; Wood Pile, SE Alaska © Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. Page 9, lower right: GTF, Tammy Lee © Eric Guth.

Page 10, clockwise from top left: Bottlenose Dolphins, Baja Calif. © Ralph Lee Hopkins; School Child, Cambodia © Michael S. Nolan; CA Gray Whale, Baja Calif. © Ralph Lee Hopkins; Researchers with Sea Turtle, Baja Calif. © 2010 Elizabeth Moreno Damm; Tagging a Killer Whale, Antarctica © Lindblad Expeditions; Teacher and Students, Cambodia: © Michael S. Nolan; Killer Whale, Antarctica © Ralph Lee Hopkins; Cactus, Baja Calif. © Ralph Lee Hopkins. Pages 11–12: Reef Shark, New Caledonia © Enric Sala/National Geographic. Back Cover: Fur Seal Pup Below NG Explorer, South Georgia © Michael S. Nolan.

LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS-NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FUND The LEX-NG Fund supports efforts to restore the health and productivity of the ocean at a global scale, and to positively impact the natural and human communities in the regions where Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic travel together.

Please consider joining us and increasing the positive impact we can make together. To give online visit: donate.nationalgeographic.org/ LEXimpact.

For more information about the Fund or the projects we support, contact Valerie Craig (National Geographic) and Amy Berquist (Lindblad Expeditions) at ocean@ngs.org.

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© Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund, 2015 CONS14