Armchair conservation. It works…

How can my expedition to the North Pole turn you into a conservationist?

​Every 15 minutes an Elephant is poached in Africa. Every day two Rhino are slaughtered for their horn. Over 100 Tigers a year and more than a million Pangolin in a decade have been taken from the wild.

These statistics are shocking, however, they are probably not all unknown to you. Conservationists, activists, policy makers and stakeholders have been very vocal in sharing the horrors of the state of our natural world. Often in a manner which can feel like it is our fault. However, it is probably not your fault and therefore you should not feel helplessly responsible because you can make a difference.

Conservation is a profession, one which requires qualifications, experience, drive and commitment. However, conservation is more than that. It is a passion and a vocation. This means anyone can play a part in it, you can save a species from extinction, clean the oceans of plastic and end habitat destruction and you don't need to wear khaki or a lab coat, or even trek to the North Pole to do it.

Many activists, charities, adventurers and conservationists will say 'support our cause', but what does support actually mean? It doesn't offer you a direct channel to pursue your inspiration to act. So, I am going to explain exactly how 'supporting' my expedition will make you a conservationist.

Supporting my expedition through a donation to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation means that 100% of the donation goes to wildlife conservation. No money that is donated will go to the cost of the expedition itself, I have been very clear on this from the inception of my adventure.

What does this money do? It provides the spark that ignites an inferno of powerful conservation both at a species and community level, allowing communities to develop in cohesion with the natural world and to support wildlife that have fallen victim to wildlife crime.

Supporting my expedition with engagement on social media, in the press and in person (post pandemic of course), adds a huge amount of weight to the project. Expanding the reach of the expedition will lead to increased donation, increased interaction and increase the positive outcome from the expedition. The desired outcome is simple, save species from extinction.

What I am saying is this, you can be a teacher, lawyer, energy provider or any other profession but you can also be a conservationist. Through doing something as simple as supporting my expedition in any way that you can or want.

So let’s make it happen, I'll get my thermals and you get supporting and together we can save a species from extinction.