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20/06/2008  |  UK Charities to Benefit From New Google Earth Programme

A powerful new programme to help charities reach tens of millions of people around the world was unveiled today by Google. Sir David Attenborough was at the launch to highlight the work by the charity Wildscreen to document and photograph critically endangered species - a project called ARKive. UK charities Wildscreen and WaterAid are using Google Earth, under the new programme, to highlight their work.

The Google Earth Outreach programme gives NGOs and charities the skills and resources to use Google Earth and Maps to show their work and highlight their cause to a mass audience. It means campaigners can overlay written, audio and video information onto Google Earth in what is known as a layer and have their campaigns viewed by people across the globe.

Unveiling the new ARKive layer in Google Earth, Wildscreen charity patron Sir David Attenborough said: "Having spent over 50 years working in natural history broadcasting, I know how important technological innovation is for reaching new audiences. With the Internet, there are now even more opportunities to bring the wonders of the natural world to a global audience. Google Earth is a really powerful way for Wildscreen to show the vital work it's doing with the ARKive project. It is visual, easy to understand, and another important step in helping us appreciate that without care and conservation many of our amazing plants and animals may soon be lost forever."

The new Google Earth Outreach programme includes grants for licences of the professional versions of Google Earth and Google SketchUp (the 3D modelling software) plus text and video tutorials on how to use these powerful tools.

Also speaking at the event was Chief Almir Surui from Brazil, who has been working with Google for the past year to map his tribe's lands in the Amazon and to create a 50 year plan for sustainable living.

Chief Almir reiterated the importance of the work that ARKive was doing with Google Earth, explaining that some of the threatened species in the layer are found on his land in Brazil. He said: "It is vital that people know what is happening to these species and Google Earth is a great way for ARKive to reach a wider audience. The Google Earth Outreach team is helping me and my people to map our lands to ensure our knowledge is saved for future generations and to ensure our forests are not cut down by illegal loggers." A layer by WaterAid was also unveiled showing the work the charity is doing around the world.

WaterAid spokesperson Vincent Casey said: "This Google Earth layer will help WaterAid highlight the life threatening water supply and sanitation issues that affect billions of people every day. The layer also allows us to communicate simply and effectively how WaterAid is making a difference."