cultural conservation – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

A new partnership between Dundee-based charity South Georgia Heritage Trust and Poseidon Expeditions will see those taking an unforgettable trip to Antarctica help fund cultural and wildlife preservation on the island of South Georgia.

Since its founding in 1999, Poseidon Expeditions has taken thousands of intrepid travelers to the most remote corners of the Earth. Now, Poseidon Expeditions will donate £100 to the South Georgia Heritage Trust every time a new guest books a cruise with South Georgia, which will help fund SGHT’s ongoing conservation work on the island.

The sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is famous for its iconic wildlife, with scenes of humpback whales, southern elephant seals, seabirds and vast colonies of king penguins frequently appearing in landmark series such as Frozen Planet, Blue Planet and the BBC’s Planet Earth.

It is also synonymous with the world-famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who died on South Georgia in 1922 and is buried in Grytviken Cemetery.

The South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) has been working to conserve South Georgia’s wildlife, landscape and cultural heritage since 2005.

The charity has undertaken the world’s largest rodent eradication project, which against all odds has successfully removed invasive rats and mice (accidentally introduced by whalers 200 years ago) that were preying on the eggs and chicks of millions of native birds and nearly drove one species, the southern Georgia wagtail, to extinction.

Since the island was declared rodent-free in May 2018, SGHT has supported the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands’ ongoing efforts to ensure that the 10-15,000 annual visitors to South Georgia do not inadvertently undo this incredible feat and that South Georgia remains a recovering ecosystem.

Luke Smith, Director of Development for the South Georgia Heritage Trust, said: “We have had unprecedented success in removing invasive rodents that were decimating South Georgia’s native bird populations, but as a small charity we need as much support as we can to continue and grow our work.

“The donations from Poseidon Expeditions will enable us to further protect and preserve the island’s special environment and wildlife for future generations through conservation work.

“This support will also contribute to scientific research, help run the South Georgia Museum and undertake major cultural projects on or related to the island, such as saving the Shackleton heritage site in Stromness and a major art installation that will act as a memorial to whales in Grytviken.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Poseidon Expeditions and look forward to working together for the benefit of South Georgia and all its beauty.”

The company’s CEO, Angelica Vorea, said: “Poseidon Expeditions has been committed to the safe and environmentally responsible exploration of the polar regions since 1999.

“We are privileged to bring visitors from all over the world to experience the wonders of South Georgia and the wider Antarctic region. We know how much our guests value the opportunities they have to experience such landscapes and we are delighted to have partnered with SGHT in this way so that our company can contribute to their important mission.”

The small British Overseas Territory of South Georgia lies 1,500 km east of the Falkland Islands and is home to the South Georgia Museum, which the SGHT manages on behalf of the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

To learn more about the work of SGHT and its ongoing work to protect South Georgia’s wildlife, landscape and cultural heritage, visit: www.sght.org, and to learn more about Poseidon Expeditions, visit www.poseidonexpeditions.com