After two years around the world, scientists bring a message of hope

After a two-year voyage around the world aboard an early 20th-century three-master ⁱⁿ the footsteps of Charles Darwin, scientists returned to Rotterdam on Thursday, bearing a warning about climate change, but also a message of hope.

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The passengers of the Oosterschelde repeated the journey that began in 1831 and lasted nearly five years, which inspired the famous British naturalist's theory of natural selection. Departing from the port of Plymouth in England in August 2023, they made stops in the Falklands, the southern tip of Africa, South America, and Australia.

On board were some of the best young environmentalists, 100 scientists aged 18 to 25, each selected to study a species already observed by Darwin, who was himself 22 at the start of his journey.

AFP

With "online courses" and significant production on social media, the mission also aimed to inspire an entire generation around the following message: " Conservation is not about what we have lost, but about protecting what we still have ."

Lotta Baten, 23, spent a week on the ship and conducted a study on the impact of tourism on the forests of Tenerife, in the Spanish Canary Islands.

She estimates that 4% of the forest Darwin observed during his voyage still stands, much of it having been cleared to support the tourist industry.

"There's practically nothing left, just a few strips along the coast," the German-Dutch scientist told AFP.

Ralf Schreuder, the mission's scientific coordinator, admits that he did not see a "rosy picture" with the loss of natural habitats and climate changes observed over the two years.

But like many others who were on board the Oosterschelde , he draws positives from this experience thanks to the hundred local projects which emerged during the mission to preserve natural sites.

He also said he was inspired by young scientists, "full of ideas and determination to really make a difference."

Daan van Roosmalen was 17 when he set off. Now 19, the crew member hopes this round-the-world voyage will send a message to his generation: "It's very important to continue encouraging young people to take care of our world, because we will be the ones taking over."