Award-winning, non-profit & ethical wildlife conservation volunteering. Advancing citizen science & conservation since 1999
Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden
What does one do on a bear conservation expedition? After day 1, the overwhelming answer seems to be: to get flat tyres 😉 But first things first…
On Monday our intrepid team of citizen scientists assembled in Mora, a small regional town in Dalarna county and end point of the famous 90 km Vasaloppet ski race.
Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden
Greetings from Sweden and the massive Siljan impact crater (assembly point yellow, base red arrow). Luckily, the meteorite impact was over 300 million years ago.
Today you can still see the ring it created and in it upturned sheer walls full of fossils of the early ocean that was there before the impact.
Global consumption levels are placing increasing pressure on the planet’s natural systems. In many parts of the world, constant purchasing, from new technology to fast fashion, has become normalised, yet the environmental cost of this consumption is becoming impossible to ignore.
While individual levels of overconsumption may seem inconsequential, collectively, our consumerism plays a significant role in accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.
Continue reading “The Environmental Cost of Overconsumption”Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, SwedenÂ
Hello Sweden expeditioners Рthis is a short first diary entry from your expedition leader Matthias, just to say that I will be a few days ahead of you to set up base together with our scientist Dr. Andrea Friebe and assistant expedition leader Jan (Biekeh̦r).
For Savannah Schilling, one of the most unexpected and lasting impacts of her Biosphere Expeditions experience was the people.
In the middle of the Indian Ocean, with limited WiFi and a shared purpose, she found herself part of something rare — a group brought together not just by travel, but by a genuine commitment to understanding and protecting the natural world.
It was an experience that felt both grounding and energising.
She quickly realised she was surrounded by others dedicated to conservation and making the world a better place for all living things.
‘It made me realise how many people care about conservation and want to help in a meaningful way. It was truly inspiring.’ That sense of connection would go on to shape her entire experience. But when Savannah first arrived in the Maldives, she wasn’t sure what she would find.
Continue reading “How a Maldives Conservation Expedition Gave Savannah Schilling a Sense of Purpose”Media release – 28 April 2026
As the 2026 travel season is in full swing, a fundamental shift is redefining the “adventure” in adventure travel. Moving beyond the passive observation of traditional safaris, a new generation of travellers is choosing conservation travel: a model where travellers swap binoculars for data sheets and camera traps.
In an era where biodiversity loss is increasingly linked to multi-faceted global threats, ethical wildlife volunteering has emerged as the most meaningful way to explore the planet. Leading this evolution since 1999 is Biosphere Expeditions, a non-profit organisation whose “citizen science” model has become the industry gold standard for transparency, scientific rigour, and ethical integrity.
Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles
Biosphere Expeditions has completed its 20th year monitoring cetaceans in the Azores, an area supporting over 25 species. Unlike short-term whale watching, scientific research requires decades to reveal meaningful patterns in how whales and dolphins use the ocean. This long-term data bank grows in value as it helps address future conservation challenges.
Recent findings from 170 encounters include matching images of sperm, humpback, and blue whales to records spanning 15 years across Northern Europe. While some species like Risso’s dolphins appeared in lower numbers this year, citizen scientists also documented rarer sightings of sei and Cuvier’s beaked whales.
By conducting fieldwork in March – outside the typical tourism season – the team captures data that would otherwise be missed. Made possible through citizen science for two decades now, this research is vital for the long-term protection of cetaceans, ensuring informed management of their habitats across the Atlantic Ocean.
Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles
Suddenly the end of the Azores expedition is upon us. That fact that five weeks seems to have flown by, is a good thing, time flies when you are having fun and we have had a great expedition.
With the international team now spreading their wings to various corners of the globe and some adjusting to last minute re-routes, it is time to return home. However, let me first (briefly) recap the last couple of days, before I wrap the expedition as a whole, as we still had some highs and lows to experience.
Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles
The last few days have been split between survey time on the boat and time on shore. Both dealing with data and having a well-earned break.
Humpback whale encounters were the theme for the weekend, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. Heading north on both Saturday and Sunday, our weekend started with a brief glimpse of a minke whale. There followed the search for two humpback whales which were trailed in 4 m swells, making it more than challenging to get ID photographs.
All the while both bottlenose and common dolphins were trying to distract us. But sperm whales then followed and meant a much ‘calmer’ afternoon.
Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles
The final ‘leg’ of the 2026 Azores Expedition has begun. We welcomed our third and final group. With greetings, briefings and training sessions efficiently covered, we were all keen to get out to sea.
