Press Release

Venice, CA – Erin McCloskey, the North American operations manager for Biosphere Expeditions, speaks about Voluntourism, the wildlife conservation work being done through this concept and how you can be a part of it. For the past decade, she has worked with various wildlife organizations around the world and will be speaking at the G2 Gallery after a month in the field in Oman, studying the Arabian leopard.   The event will take place on February 5, 2009 from 6:00– 9:00 p.m.

Specifically tying into the Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World exhibit, McCloskey will be focusing part of the lecture on the annual project run by Biosphere Expeditions that studies the effects of climate change on endangered lammergeyer populations as well as the capercaillie and snow partridge (ptarmigan) in the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain. The lammergeyer is Eurasia's largest bird of prey and, together with marmots, chamois, capercaillie and ptarmigans, inhabits the spectacular cliffs and gorges of the Pyrenees Mountains. This research is part of a large concerted effort with local partners and, in the face of the negative effects of climate change, aims to ensure the survival of Europe's largest bird of prey as well as the other fauna associated with this flagship species.

McCloskey is the author of several travel guides, nature photography books, and magazine articles. Her most recent publications include a series of nature guides and a feature for the November 2008 issue of the UK's Geographical magazine.

Voluntourism is a new term for those who wish to travel with a purpose. People with no scientific training or experience in field techniques can join an expedition and be an integral part of field research in wildlife conservation, creating a research team for a scientist studying the rarest of the rare in remote parts of the world, who without this support simply could not achieve his/her objectives.