The Life Cycle biodiversity bike ride: Kate Rawles cycled the length of South America following the spine of the Andes – the longest mountain chain in the world.
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Kate Rawles cycled the length of South America following the spine of the Andes – the longest mountain chain in the world. Her vehicle was ‘Woody’ a bike she built herself with bamboo from the Eden Project in Cornwall.
The aim of her largely solo ‘adventure plus’ ride was to explore and champion biodiversity. What is it? Why does it matter? What is happening to it – and above all – what can we do to protect it?
Kate’s route took her through an astonishing range of landscapes and ecosystems, from the Caribbean coast to the classic high, spikey white mountains of the Peruvian Andes; from rain and cloud forests to the Atacama Desert and the Bolivian salt flats. Throughout the journey she met with those at the frontlines of nature conservation. This included a school whose entire curriculum was based on turtles; a project to save the smallest monkeys in the world; local forest champions; anti-gold, copper and lead-mining activists; an ancient, sustainable fishing fleet and a member of the Peruvian senate. Kate returned inspired, shaken and hopeful.
Join us and find out why Kate believes biodiversity loss is as important as climate change. She shows us why deep systemic change is needed to tackle these interconnected challenges to people and planet.
Presented by the Royal Geographical Society in association with Turner Sims
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Turner Sims
University of Southampton
SO17 1BJ