Six of us had a fantastic time with Carlos Robles and his family, assisting with a project on their conservation ranch from October 29 to November 1, 2009.
Here is a note from Sergio Avila, coordinator of Sky Island Alliance’s Northern Mexico program, which coordinated the project:
Dear Overland volunteer crew,
On behalf of Sky Island Alliance I want to thank you all for what I hear was a terrific weekend at El Aribabi. I can see from photos that this was a great time for everyone and hear from Mr Robles that results are better than expected. Good job having fun at it!
Sky Island Alliance (SIA), a regional conservation group based in Tucson, initiated work in El Aribabi in 2006 and we have always had positive outcomes and experiences from each field trip. You can be sure a great deal of this is due to Mr Robles’ commitment, enthusiasm and leadership. SIA has a long term goal of promoting efforts like Mr Robles’ and his family, making opportunities available for groups like you and other to enjoy, participate and become part of sustainable projects like this.
From a personal point, I continue to find motivation from other people’s interest on this work, contributing their own skills and common interests, making El Aribabi the regional leader and example they already are. Thank you for becoming part of this.
Please continue to be engaged in El Aribabi’s project developments. You can do it thru their website, facebook page or even thru SIA’s website: skyislandalliance.org
Thank you again for your work and visit last weekend.
Graham Jackson, OS treasurer, is going to be working on a useful driving “code of ethics” for overlanding. He recently met with representatives of the Royal Geographical Society, who say they would be very interested in working with us on a more global adoption of such a code. If you have an interest in participating, please contact Graham through the Overland Training website.
We’ve posted our first work weekend project for members, at Rancho el Aribabi in northern Sonora, Mexico, supporting a new ecotourism project and big-cat conservation for jaguars, ocelots and pumas. Not a member? Join us!
Holt Webb, Overland Society’s Expedition Flag ambassador for 2009, has been on the road for the Vanishing America Project, flying the flag for OS. Check out his updates on his excellent website - there’s no stopping this guy! Plans for the immediate future include:
• A trip West to join The Humane Society photographing their Assateague of the West Wild Horse
Project (a study that will use a vaccine-based birth control, a process known as
immunocontraception, on a herd of mustangs to demonstrate that the animals can be controlled in
a humane and effective way. The Vanishing America Project will be documenting an important part
of this study and will have an opportunity to capture some amazing and intimate portraits of
America’s Wild Horse).
• A trip to Nevada to hook up with a contact from Overland Expo who will be my guide to track down
the wild mustangs around the Reno and Black Rock Desert areas. Hopefully, I can make the trip in
November/December to get some stunning shots of these amazing creatures in the snow;
• A second trip to Fernandina Beach, Florida to finalize my story on the dying Shrimping Industry,
primarily focusing on black and white portraits of the men and women who have kept the industry
alive;
• If all goes well, Dr. George Robinson, III and I will be working on a series of portraits and
interviews highlighting NASA’s unsung heroes — the men and women behind the scenes who
Issue #5 Wednesday, August 19, 2009 www.vanishingamerica.net
helped launch The Space Age. The desired results include a coffee table book, gallery exhibit,
magazine articles, and possible short video documentary;
• Around Thanksgiving, I will be traveling back to South Georgia to document a family who makes
cane syrup the old-fashioned way…the same way their grandparents did over 100 years ago!
Along with friends from the overland community, including Overland Expo, Overland Journal, Ex Officio, and Equipt Expedition Outfitters , the Society unfurled the first Overland Expedition Flag at the first Overland Expo in Prescott, Arizona, April 24 - 26, 2009. People who took part in the Overland Experience classes were invited to send in applications to ‘win’ the honor of carrying the flag on an expedition in 2009-2010 that met our criteria: a unique trip or expedition, the aim of which was to undertake a philanthropic, conservation, or humanitarian project; it could be large or small-scale; and it had to be ‘do-able’.
Holt Webb’s Vanishing America Project fulfilled all the criteria, but the judges just really felt Holt’s winning personality and demonatrated ability to launch and finish projects would represent the Flag well. Holt is traveling around the continental U.S., visiting every state and documenting pieces of our heritage that today’s generations ‘know and love, but tomorrow’s generations may never see.’ Holt wrote:
My goal is twofold: To show current generations what is in danger of disappearing forever, and to show future generations how special these things were to us, in hopes that they will take the time to look around their world and embrace what is important to them. To this end, I make every effort to educate the public by giving presentations to schools, clubs, and various organizations around the United States.
When completed, the entire portfolio will be archived in the permanent collection of one of our Nation’s great institutions. I have had requests from the University of Georgia and the Smithsonian Institution about the future of my image collection.
Holt will present his 2009 work in a special presentation at Overland Expo.2010, and he will present the Overland Expedition Flag to the next winner, who will carry it forth in 2010 and 2011 . . .
