Earthwatch

The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than nearly every ocean region on Earth.

At Acadia National Park, scientists are studying what that rapid change means for the wildlife and ecosystems along its coast. On the Schoodic Peninsula, Earthwatch research takes a closer look at parts of the park most visitors never see—from spruce forests and rare plant communities to rugged shorelines shaped by the sea.

Working alongside researchers, you’ll examine wildlife camera images, search for signs left behind by foxes and mink, and help document how species are responding as conditions change.

These observations help scientists identify which species are adapting, which are declining and where conservation efforts may matter most as Acadia continues to warm.

A healthy cloud forest depends on some of its smallest residents.

In Costa Rica’s Monteverde region, native bees connect forests, farms and flowering plants through pollination. But as climate change and habitat loss reshape tropical ecosystems, scientists need to understand which pollinator species are present, where they’re thriving and how their communities are changing.

Earthwatch research tracks native bee diversity across cloud forests, agricultural lands and restoration sites, with findings contributing to efforts like the global Bee Barcode of Life Initiative.

With more than three-quarters of global crops dependent on pollinators, understanding and protecting these species matters far beyond Monteverde.

In the Peruvian Amazon, the rise and fall of water shapes nearly every aspect of life.

For more than three decades, scientists have studied how changing floods, droughts and extreme heat affect wildlife across this interconnected ecosystem- from river dolphins and fish to birds, monkeys and caimans.

Earthwatch research spans rivers, flooded forests and rainforest habitats, building the long-term record needed to understand which species are adapting, where populations are shifting and how the ecosystem is changing.

That data helps Peruvian agencies make decisions about wildlife conservation and protected areas as the Amazon faces a changing climate.

On these new trips around the world, you're not just watching wildlife—you're helping to understand and conserve it.

See the world while helping to protect it on new Earthwatch Expeditions by Nat Hab trips On these new trips around the world, you're not just watching wildlife—you're helping to understand and conserve it.

Most people never hear the owls hidden deep within the forests of Utah and Arizona.

These small, nocturnal species depend on tree cavities and healthy forests to survive. But as climate change alters temperatures, precipitation and forest conditions, scientists are working to understand what those changes mean for owl populations.

On Earthwatch’s Following Forest Owls in the Western U.S. expedition, research with includes monitoring nesting sites, surveying habitat and listening for owl calls beneath some of the darkest skies in the American West.

The long-term data helps scientists identify important habitat, track environmental change and guide forest owl conservation across the region.

*These birds were handled for scientific research under federally authorized permits and in accordance with all state permitting requirements.*

Images by Mike Hillman

What does successful shark conservation look like? In Belize, more than a decade of research is helping scientists understand how shark populations move, use coastal habitats and respond to fishing pressure. Through tagging and release, underwater monitoring and long-term surveys, the research is building a clearer picture of how these populations are changing over time.

Just as important is the knowledge of the people who know these waters best. By combining scientific research with generations of local knowledge, the project supports healthier shark populations, sustainable fisheries and the coastal communities that depend on them.

In the first year of the collaboration, shark landings were reduced by nearly half- a powerful example of what science and local partnership can accomplish together.

Swipe to see shark conservation research in action with Earthwatch in Belize!

How are marine heat waves reshaping life in the Sea of Cortez?

On our Baja California Marine Research Expedition, scientists are studying how warming seas and coastal development are affecting humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins and whale sharks.

Critical gaps remain in understanding how climate change and urbanization affect these marine giants. Working alongside researchers, you’ll help monitor wildlife behavior and collect baseline data needed to track change over time and inform more effective conservation strategies.

Understanding how these species respond today can help shape how they’re protected in a changing ocean.

What happens when you give a degraded ecosystem the chance to recover?

On the edge of Kenya’s Greater Maasai Mara, more than 3,000 acres of grasslands and wetlands are being restored after decades of farming and overgrazing degraded habitat and disrupted wildlife movement.

At Enarau Conservancy, Earthwatch research tracks how soil, vegetation and wildlife respond as the landscape recovers- from elephants, giraffes and zebras to lions and cheetahs. Working alongside scientists and Maasai landowners offers a firsthand look at how researchers measure the return of biodiversity over time.

The findings are helping build a clearer understanding of how rewilding can restore critical wildlife corridors and inform conservation efforts across East Africa.

In Churchill, the impacts of a changing Arctic climate are unfolding in real time. 🐻‍❄

At the edge of Hudson Bay, tundra, boreal forest and ocean converge, creating a remarkable place to study how rising temperatures are reshaping Arctic ecosystems. Thawing permafrost, shifting wetlands and advancing tree lines are changing the landscape- and influencing how wildlife, including polar bears, move and feed across the region.

Join scientists in the field to track these changes, explore the tundra by Polar Rover and helicopter, watch for polar bears and discover why what happens in Churchill can help us understand changes taking place across the Arctic.

First image by Sabina Moll