|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
"I
have worked with Earth River Expeditions and Eric Hertz on 3 river
conservation projects from Chile to Quebec. It is inspirational to
see a rafting company -Robert
F. Kennedy Jr., Senior Attorney Natural Resource
|
||
A WORD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL |
||
| In conjunction with Earth River
Expeditions, we have established the Earth River Fund to promote
river conservation throughout the world. This partnership is particularly
appropriate because Earth River Expeditions is the only international
expedition company that does hands-on river preservation work. They
take people to rare and unique places and already have the guides, equipment,
contacts and other resources necessary to do this kind of preservation
work. Currently the Earth River Fund is involved in efforts to preserve the Futaleufu River in Chile which is threatened by a series of dams, and the James Bay area of northern Quebec which has been slated for massive hydro-electric development on a dozen major rivers. Earth River Expeditions is doing a series of non-profit preservation projects on the Futaleufu to help galvanize local support and raise awareness of the threats to this majestic river. They have run an environmental trip joining youth from the United States and the Futaleufu region of Chile, organized a rafting guide school with members of the local community and began a land trust which has currently protected over six miles (20%) of the developable land along the river. In 1995 they took a group of landowners who live along the Futaleufu to see the dam under construction on the Bio Bio river. After witnessing this destruction, the landowners came away with a much better understanding of the threat to their own river farms and way of life. In addition to continuing its work on the Futaleufu Land Trust, Earth River will be running expeditions with Chilean policy makers, more guide schools, youth trips and family trips with people who live in the Futaleufu valley. In northern Quebec, working closely with the Cree Indian Nation which has inhabited the area for five thousand years, Earth River Expeditions has done a number of environmental preservation expeditions to one of the threatened rivers, the Great Whale. Expedition participants have included legislators, members of the press and environmentalists who have gained an understanding of the problems facing the native people and the James Bay ecosystem. They have subsequently organized legislative hearings and press conferences in the U.S. that have temporarily halted the project. Earth River Expeditions is also training members of the Cree Nation to run their own river expeditions which will provide important income for Cree youth while exposing more people to the imminent threats facing their culture and land. Earth River Expeditions has contributed time, money, expertise and resources towards these and other projects. By joining an Earth River Expedition tour, you are helping reach the goal of environmental awareness while providing financial support for international river conservation efforts. We look forward to your participation in the Earth River Fund and hope to count you among our supporters. Ronald G. Dodson President, Audubon International |
||
