2009 Andes Expedition
Our first expedition outside of the Arctic visited shrinking glaciers, cloud forests, areas of deforestation and the Amazon.
23 June–10 July 2009
Andean Rainforests, Peru
On 10 July 2009, Cape Farewell returned from our first expedition in Peru. Working in collaboration with scientists at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), Oxford University, a crew of 18 international artists and scientists spent three weeks visiting multiple science stations across a transect of the Andes witnessing Peru’s unique landscape of glaciers, cloud forests and rain forests investigating how climate change is effecting the various ecosystems they encountered.
The expedition started at the Salcantay Glacier, east of Cuzco. After the icy beauty of the glacier, the group switched landscape from ice to forest, beginning to trek down to the Madre de Dios, from a height of 3,500m above sea level through the Puna, cloud forest and Trocha Union before entering the Amazon Basin.
“The cloud forests of the Andes may be particularly vulnerable to climate change, and scientists are only just beginning to piece together a picture of how these incredible ecosystems are responding to climate change. This journey will provide a magical opportunity to explore both the majesty and vulnerability of the Andes and the Amazon.”
Yadvinder Malhi, 2009
Supported by The Bromley Trust, Britanico, Iridium, The Compton Foundation and the British Embassy, Lima. Proud to partner with the Natural History Museum, Musagetes, Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University and University College Falmouth.