You thought: adventure, expeditions – that’s for the Heyerdahls and de Rothschilds of this world but not for me? You are not alone. Most people would love to do something for the environment, have a so called "hands on impact" but do not know how.

A German is succesfully leading a "new" way (in thinking and acting): Dr. Michael Hammer founded biosphere-expeditions in 1999. An Organization which brings ordinary people together with scientists – to do useful research all over the world: Monitoring Arabian leopard presence in Oman or assisting in a reef survey programme in Honduras.

The concept is so successful that the organization runs four offices worldwide and organizes at least seven big expeditions per year. It also won the “Best Volunteering Organisation” Category at the Responsible Tourism Awards – the Oscars in this field. Well deserved - the organization not just encourages pioneering but is also the work of a real pioneer!
Excerpts from their mission statement:

Our projects are not tours, photographic safaris or excursions but genuine research expeditions. Biosphere Expeditions promotes sustainable conservation and preservation of the planet's wildlife by forging alliances between scientists and the public. Our goal is to make, through our expedition work, an active contribution towards a sustainable biosphere. At Biosphere Expeditions we believe in empowering ordinary people by placing them at the centre of scientific study and by actively involving them out in the field, where there is conservation work to be done. We always work in close conjunction with local people and scientists and make sure that the fruits of our expedition work benefit our local helpers, their society and the environment they live in.

Fotos: Website