Press Releases

DARWIN200 arrives into Sydney Harbour midway through its two-year global conservation voyage aboard historic tall ship Oosterschelde

November 12th 2024 Sydney, Australia: Today, the iconic DARWIN200 conservation mission aboard historic Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde sailed into Sydney Harbour for a programme of conservation projects and events in multiple locations in New South Wales before departing to Hobart, Tasmania on 25th November. 

The Oosterschelde set sail from Plymouth Harbour, UK, in August 2023 on an epic two year planetary conservation mission retracing Charles Darwin’s voyage of the Beagle and training 200 young environmentalists along the way. The aim is to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders with the message that there is still time to change the world and that conservation is about what we still have, not what we have lost.

Since its departure from Plymouth the Oosterschelde has sailed over 22,500 nautical miles (around 41,670 kilometres), on 23 voyage legs, and hosted 77 exceptional DARWIN Leaders representing over 40 countries.

Gerben Nab, Oosterschelde Captain says:

“We are thrilled to be arriving in Sydney after our long sail from Rotterdam. It’s an honour to be the vessel chosen for such important environmental work, and we hope our efforts will inspire others to join in protecting our oceans and safeguarding the planet for future generations.”

Stewart McPherson, Director of DARWIN200 and Sydney resident says:

“As we look ahead to our ship’s arrival in my hometown of Sydney it fills me with immense pride and excitement that the 107-year old historic tall ship Oosterschelde will visit New South Wales. Our time in Sydney holds deep personal significance, as it’s not just a homecoming but also a vital step in our mission and efforts to showcase Darwin’s important discoveries and adventures in Australia. We will also be looking at how the natural landscape has changed over the last two centuries, and we have an incredible range of Darwin Leader projects planned to enable young people from across the world to learn from many of Australia’s most inspiring conservation initiatives. We have planned an exciting rainbow of educational projects and outreach activities to engage the community during our time in Sydney and to promote the protection and preservation of Australia’s unique natural environment.”

Charles Darwin in Sydney

When Charles Darwin arrived in Sydney on January 12, 1836, during his voyage on HMS Beagle, he encountered a rapidly growing colonial city that was still in its early stages of development. Darwin observed the social and environmental changes brought about by European settlement, including the impact on the indigenous population and the landscape. He also noted the introduction of European plants and animals, which he found interesting in the context of his studies on natural history. Darwin’s observations in Sydney contributed to his broader understanding of species adaptation and the effects of colonisation on native ecosystems.

Media opportunities in Sydney Tues 12th November – Mon 25th November 2024

RSVP REQUIRED FOR ALL

All media enquiries and to request the full media programme, event invitations, more information, interviews, multimedia content, press passes contact: 

alice.dogruyol@thischapter.co.uk + press@darwin200.com 

Tuesday November 12th: Ship as it enters Sydney Harbour ETA 11:00 the DARWIN200 camera crew will be capturing broadcast quality film footage of the ship’s arrival both with drones and at sea level. Media are welcome to film from the air or via a chase boat. Interviews can be conducted on board the ship (once immigration gives the green light).

Friday 15th November – Media breakfast on board Oosterschelde 09:30 – 11:30 with DARWIN200 team and VIP guests Adventurer George Kourounis, Marine Biologist Dr Emma Camp and Coral Biologist Jennifer Matthews. The ship will be docked at the Australian National Maritime Museum Wharf 7.

Monday 18th November: Sydney Opera House Evening Showcase 17:00 – 20:30 the first group of Darwin Leaders will present their conservation work to attending supporters and guests. The ship will be docked at Man O’War steps at the Sydney Opera House.

Monday 25 November: National Maritime Museum Morning Showcase 10:00 – 13:30 the second group of Darwin Leaders present their conservation work to attending supporters and guests. The ship will be docked at the Australian National Maritime Museum Wharf 7.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

• Dame Jane Goodall – DARWIN200 Patron (on zoom)
• Dr Sarah Darwin – Great Great Granddaughter of Charles Darwin (on zoom)
• Gerben Nab – Oosterschelde Captain and Director (on zoom)
• Stewart McPherson – DARWIN200 Director (In person in Sydney)
• Jan-Willem Bos – Oosterschelde Captain (In person in Sydney)
• Oosterschelde Crew Members (In person in Sydney)
• Selected Darwin Leaders (In person in Sydney)
• George Kourounis – adventurer  (In person in Sydney)
• Dr Emma Camp – Marine Biologist  (In person in Sydney)
• Jennifer Matthews – Coral Biologist  (In person in Sydney)

OTHER MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

Press Join Darwin Leaders on conservation projects: If press want to join any of the conservation projects on land or sea they can by appointment.

Press Trip on The Ship: We have press places available to sail a sunset cruise on the ship on 22nd & 23rd November. Members of the public to purchase tickets to sail a sunset cruise on the ship CLICK HERE )

For all enquiries for Tasmania contact press@darwin200.com

Darwin Leader Conservation Projects in Sydney

Nine talented young conservationists selected from around the world will take part in the DARWIN200 immersive conservation leadership programme in Sydney as Darwin Leaders. Some of the conservation projects in Sydney include: 

#1 Restore the ecology of Sydney Harbour

Project Partner: Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) Project Restore – SIMS

Darwin Leader: Sydney Richardson, USA Sydney Richardson | LinkedIn

Project Restore, focuses on revitalising seascapes across eleven key locations within the harbour. Funded by the NSW Environmental Trust and supported by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Seabirds to Seascapes Program, Project Restore aims to restore degraded marine habitats through innovative techniques such as replanting seagrass meadows, boosting kelp forests, installing living seawall panels, and establishing artificial fish habitats.

#2 New hope for koalas after fires

Project partner: Canines For Wildlife https://caninesforwildlife.com/

Darwin Leader: Chia-Yu Hsieh, Taiwan

Millions of koalas perished in the bushfires that swept through Australia just a few years ago, casting doubt on the future of one of the country’s most beloved species. While monitoring their recovery has been difficult, new and innovative methods are being employed to track them, including the use of highly trained dogs to locate and monitor their populations. These efforts are offering a glimmer of hope for the gradual return of koalas to their natural habitats.

#3 Reforesting wildlife corridors for gliding possums

Project Partner: GER Glideways https://ger.org.au/our-work/wildlife/glideways/ 

Darwin Leader: Brigitta Gunawan, Indonesia linkedin.com/in/brigittagunawan 

The Great Eastern Ranges support all species of Australia’s gliding possums, from the tiny 10-15 gram feathertail glider to the cat-sized greater glider, one of the world’s largest gliding mammals. These marsupials rely on a thin skin membrane that stretches between their forepaws and ankles, allowing them to glide between trees, with species like the yellow-bellied glider capable of leaping up to 140 metres. Mature forests with ample tree hollows are essential for gliders, but this habitat is rapidly disappearing, threatening their survival and impacting other forest species like koalas, flame robins, and spotted-tailed quolls.

#4 Platypus conservation

Project Partner: Dr Gilad Bino https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-gilad-bino

Darwin Leader: Remy Tarasin, Australia https://www.remytarasin.com/ 

The platypus has amazed people for centuries, including Charles Darwin, who was fascinated by its strange mix of traits. The platypus faces growing threats. Habitat loss, land clearing, river regulation, and extreme droughts have caused significant declines in population. The species is currently listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List and “Endangered” in South Australia, with recent assessments showing further population declines, leading to calls for it to be listed as “Vulnerable” under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

#5 Regent Honeyeater conservation

Project Partner: Taronga Conservation Society https://taronga.org.au/conservation-and-science/our-contribution

Darwin Leader: Jeongwoo Park, S. Korea

The Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) is a striking black and yellow bird endemic to southeastern Australia, is critically endangered due to significant population declines caused by habitat loss, fragmentation, and competition with more aggressive species. To combat its precarious status, the Regent Honeyeater National Recovery Plan emphasises the urgency of conservation efforts, including a breeding program at Taronga Zoo, initiated in 1995, that has produced over 1,000 captive-bred birds, with more than 480 successfully released into the wild.

#6 Corroboree frog protection

Project Partner: Taronga Conservation Society https://taronga.org.au/conservation-and-science/our-contribution

Darwin Leader: Anna Goto, Japan

The Southern and Northern Corroboree Frogs are critically endangered, boldly patterned amphibians native to the Snowy Mountains and Brindabella Ranges in southeastern Australia. They are threatened primarily by the amphibian chytrid fungus, which has decimated wild populations since the 1980s, as well as climate change-related droughts and bushfires. Conservation efforts, led by the Taronga Conservation Society, include a breeding program at Taronga Zoo to maintain insurance populations, with over 10,000 eggs and 1,100 frogs released back into the wild. Darwin Leader will assist with husbandry tasks, contributing to ongoing recovery efforts for these species.

Download the full press release here.