Announcing Flight of the Osprey

Conservation Without Borders announces a new expedition to follow the migration route of the Osprey from Scotland to West Africa on a 10,000km journey through 14 different countries.

Founder of Conservation Without Borders, Ambassador for the UN’s Convention on Migratory Species, renowned conservationist and champion sportswomen, Sacha Dench will lead a daring team on a 10,000km expedition from Scotland to Africa this autumn. The ‘Flight of the Osprey’ will follow this magnificent bird of prey’s migration to uncover the stories behind the catastrophic effects of - and solutions to - a changing climate and human impacts on ospreys and other wildlife, their habitats and the people that live along that flyway.

Leaving from Scotland in August, travelling through 14 countries and finishing in Ghana in November, this will be an epic journey across rising seas and vast deserts, diving 

into the hidden underwater world and battling frequent storms. The journey will be captured from air, land and underwater – providing a legacy that will be open for use for educational or scientific purposes in the future.

This expedition is a bold and pioneering initiative designed to engage government organisations at the highest level, educate and empower communities along the flyway and further afield, and promote a deeper understanding of the challenges to migratory birds and other biodiversity, especially the importance of restoring the balance of nature to the benefit of society generally - as highlighted in the recent IPCC report.

The osprey was once common across Europe but was driven to extinction in many parts, including Britain, in the 1800s. In recent years, with active reintroductions, it has been trying to make a comeback, but threats and mysteries still remain. Why do so many birds disappear on their migration? And is our global demand for “stuff” part of the problem?

Sacha, known as “the human swan” is not yet able to fly following a tragic paramotor accident during last year’s Round Britain Climate Challenge, but as a champion freediver, she intends to dive to investigate some of the wetland sites so important to the fish-eating ospreys, including sites of dynamite fishing, seagrass beds, looking at the impact of ghost nets and plastics at critical sites along the flyway.

In collaboration with UN agencies, scientists, media and government, the Conservation Without Borders team will gather vital data on the threats faced by this iconic bird of prey and other migratory species to better understand the hazards faced - from climate change, to powerlines, from overfishing to plastic waste and fishing debris. 

The team will meet people and communities along the flyway, showing grassroots conservation projects and highlighting inspiring new initiatives with practical solutions to mitigate against the effects of climate change and rampant consumerism.

Sacha Dench commented: 

“As the recent IPCC report dramatically highlighted - climate change and human activity is causing dangerous and widespread disruption and affecting the balance of nature around the world. 

“This expedition will shine a light on the challenges these issues present for migratory birds along the East Atlantic Flyway between Europe and Africa, by focusing on the story of the osprey. And it won’t just help the osprey. It will help to pinpoint the things that we humans can do to help ospreys and a wide range of other migratory birds and animals whose lives, like our own, depend on healthy, unpolluted land and oceans.”

Ahead of her speech at the official Flight of the Ospreys launch event in London this evening, Conservation Without Borders’ supporter, actress Joanna Lumley, said: 

“Ever since Sacha told me about this extraordinarily exciting trip following the osprey, I have been longing to know that it will actually take place. Since her life-threatening accident, Sacha has somehow transformed herself into the ‘Human Phoenix’, rising above her dreadful injuries and facing the world with even more determination than before; and now at last the thrilling journey will go ahead. 

“If bravery has a mortal form, it is to be found in Sacha. This is nail-biting stuff, concerning our planet and its migratory birds, and I shall be following the team every wingbeat of the way.”

Sir Tim Smit, Executive Co-Chair Eden Project International and Executive Vice Chair & Co-Founder Eden Project concluded:

“Conservation takes many forms; sometimes it is through patient guardianship of the wild, other times through muscular science-based intervention where the world is woken up to the plight of species languishing due to our careless disregard. The osprey is an iconic species that has been on the brink and stepped back only to approach the abyss of oblivion once more. 

“Conservation without Borders, fronted by one of my favourite and bravest people I’ve ever met, Sacha Dench, is setting off on a quest to reveal both the epic migration of the osprey and also the enemies that lie in wait along the way. Her task is to make us care so much we ache, and inspire us all into action. This is what muscular science in action looks like.

“What does success look like? Millions of people caring, taking up the challenge to effect change and spreading the word. This whole project has been created by ordinary people and organisations putting their hands in their pockets. They need more funding support, so those who can should give in the knowledge that if together we can arrest the decline, our grandchildren will be able to thrill at the nobility of this beautiful creature, rather than see it in the pages of books about Dodos.”

ENDS

Watch the Flight of the Osprey expedition trailer here

Flight of the Osprey is part of the 2030 Global Challenge, a series of ground-breaking expedition-led global campaigns which will conduct vital on-the-ground scientific research and reporting, providing real-world, real-time insights and identifying and instigating specific actions proven to effect change. 

https://www.conservation-without-borders.org/flight-of-the-osprey

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Notes to Editors:

For more information, photos or videos, or to arrange an interview with Sacha Dench or the expedition team before or during the expedition, contact: Jackie Pedersen at jpedersen@newhope-eu.com, telephone 07980 767710, or Jane Waghorn at janeywaghorn@gmail.com, telephone 07919 621215.

Background on Sacha Dench

Biologist, conservationist, adventurer, motivational speaker

Ambassador for UN’s Convention on Migratory Species

First woman to receive prestigious Britannia Trophy in 50 years

Freediving record holder,

Woman of the Year 2017,

Environment Campaign of the Year 2017

British Women Pilots Association Trophy 2017