National Geographic Society

As the sixth stop on The Global Expedition, the National Geographic Pristine Seas team spent time in Palau – conducting the first-ever research on the three remote seamounts that sit beneath the surface. Their time spent underwater totaled 400 hours (over two weeks!) While there, they worked in close partnership with local scientists, experts from the Ebiil Society, Palau International Coral Reef Center, One Reef and the government of Palau. This data gathered will help Palau access management measures for its marine reserve to protect vital areas and species. National Geographic Pristine Seas is funded by the National Geographic Society, a global non-profit organization committed to exploring, illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world.

Exciting news! Last week, President Bill Clinton presented #NatGeoExplorer in Residence and National Geographic Pristine Seas founder Enric Sala with a $1.6 million Postcode Lottery Group award at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 Annual Meeting. This gathering unites leaders to drive progress on critical global issues. “We are grateful for this generous gift made possible by the millions of players from the Postcode Lottery. It will enable us to continue our urgent work to conserve the ocean through the creation of protected areas where marine life can thrive — delivering benefits to people, economies and the climate,” Sala shared. https://lnkd.in/eaNPaXMX Pictured: Postcode Lottery Group CEO Sigrid van Aken, Enric Sala and President Bill Clinton onstage at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 Annual Meeting. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Clinton Global Initiative)

What can a photo reveal about the impacts of climate change? This thermal image taken by photographer and #NatGeoExplorer Matt Black at Yosemite Falls illuminates the cascades in ways unseen by the naked eye. A callback to classic California landscape photography, Black's project "The Darkening Range" explores the impact of climate change in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, focusing on dry conditions, forest die-off and wildfires. We're grateful for our partner Iridium and their support for Explorers in the field, like Black. Critical and cutting-edge technology made possible by Iridium is invaluable for Explorers around the planet. Learn more about our partnership: https://lnkd.in/eP5Q4E9N

"We have to understand how nature works if we want to understand how to be stewards of the natural wonders that we have on our planet," geologist and #NatGeoExplorer Josh West shares. In the Madre de Dios region of southeastern Peru, West is collaborating with fellow Explorers Jennifer Angel-Amaya and Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz to understand in detail the impact of deforestation and mining on water quality. The trio are using techniques never before applied in this region to illuminate how the flow of water is transformed as a result of mining, and what those changes mean for mercury pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Their work is supported by the National Geographic and ROLEX #PerpetualPlanet Amazon Expedition — a multi-year science and storytelling journey that spans the entire Amazon River basin, from the Andes to the Atlantic. Explore more: https://lnkd.in/gxQD7BrD.

Of the 2.3 million square miles that make up the Amazon rainforest, more than 320,000 are low-lying wetlands that can survive both above and below the waterline. In recent years, these floodplain forests have seen extreme droughts and extreme floods more frequently. “Everything is set by the flood pulse, and we know the flood pulse is changing with climate change,” ecologist and #NatGeoExplorer Thiago Silva shares. Silva is working alongside fellow Explorer Julia Tavares to discover how this little-understood ecosystem responds to variability in its flood cycle. Explore more in the October 2024 edition of National Geographic magazine: https://lnkd.in/eKgsbtQq. This work is supported by the National Geographic and ROLEX #PerpetualPlanet Amazon Expedition, a two-year series of scientific studies spanning the entire Amazon River Basin to advance solutions to ensure its protection. Photos by Thomas Peschak

Water. Every drop fuels ecosystems, supports livelihoods and sustains life itself. Yet in many places around the world, humans’ use of freshwater is exceeding our renewable supplies, and it's clear we need bold action now. At the National Geographic Society, we’re taking that action. We’re supporting Explorers tackling this issue head-on, including those who are a part of the World Freshwater Initiative. They are researching, documenting and sharing the stories of those impacted by droughts, floods and pollution. Importantly, they're also spotlighting and implementing solutions for a more sustainable future. Since launching the Initiative, we’ve funded 14 Explorers, and we’re proud to unveil the newest cohort this week! They will investigate and lead water conservation efforts in global water scarcity hotspots. Join us on this journey to safeguard what is, undeniably, one of our planet’s most vital resources. 🌍💧 https://lnkd.in/eHEFqWF8

For more than two years, geologist and #NatGeoExplorer Jennifer Angel-Amaya has been doing fieldwork in the Madre de Dios region of Peru, sampling soil, water, sediment and plankton to determine their chemical composition, including mercury concentration. In collaboration with local nongovernmental organizations and miners, she is developing innovative solutions including field testing methods, which will eventually allow local populations to monitor their environment. This work is part of the National Geographic and ROLEX #PerpetualPlanet Amazon Expedition, a multi-year science and storytelling exploration of the Amazon River basin to further our understanding of this intricate freshwater system and advance solutions to ensure its protection. Explore more: https://lnkd.in/gAQi8k8b. Photo by Ana Victoria Cruz

Conservationist, marine biologist and #NatGeoExplorer of the Year Fernando Trujillo researches the river dolphins of South America: the boto, also known as the pink river dolphin, and the tucuxi dolphin. These endangered aquatic mammals are important indicators of ecosystem health. Working alongside Indigenous peoples and local communities, Trujillo tags Amazon river dolphins to track their migration and habitat ranges, determine population health and inform effective conservation measures. His work is part of the National Geographic and ROLEX #PerpetualPlanet Amazon Expedition, a multi-year science and storytelling exploration of the Amazon River Basin to advance solutions to ensure its protection. Explore more: https://lnkd.in/eaqnA4AR.

Step “Into the Amazon,” a groundbreaking digital experience that allows users to explore the Amazon basin’s diverse environments. This new, interactive journey takes you from the snow-capped Andes to the depths of the flooded forests, all the way to the Amazon River in the Atlantic. Encounter wildlife, hear local voices and uncover the intricate connections between the rivers, forests and ecosystems that sustain this vital region. This interactive experience showcases the collaboration and research of the National Geographic and ROLEX #PerpetualPlanet Amazon Expedition. Leveraging first-hand accounts by 17 #NatGeoExplorers, take a behind-the-scenes look at the sights and sounds of the Amazon through diverse multimedia. https://lnkd.in/etP9jDUq Video: Birdcalls ring out around the Sécure River’s remote headwaters. Video by Otto Whitehead

Community is the backbone of #NatGeoExplorer Kerllen Costa’s approach to conservation as the Angola country director of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project. Costa leads river expeditions into Angola’s remote landscapes, where local communities have built lifeways around conservation for generations. Spending nights in villages, listening to elders speak and hiking through dense forest with local hunters are examples of the way he forges relationships of trust and connection. “Well, because how would you know what’s in a landscape — what’s its story if there’s no people in it?,” Costa asks, “It’s only the people that bring history to it.” Explore more about community-led conservation: https://lnkd.in/eR-ZBr3v. Photo by Kostadin Luchansky