12.08.2005 ET

(CSRwire) Earthwatch Institute, MAYNARD, MA - Earthwatch Institute announced today that two veterans of Earthwatch expeditions will join the U.S.A. Board of Directors. Gary Goldring and Don Dana bring to the board unique perspectives as business leaders, philanthropists, and committed Earthwatch volunteers. Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization that engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

"Earthwatch is on the right path leading to sustainable environment, and I am honored to support them as a board member," said Dana. "At Wells Fargo, we too are taking that path by integrating environmental responsibility into our business practices and reducing our direct and indirect environmental footprint."

Dana, Executive Vice President for Corporate Properties with Wells Fargo Bank, is responsible for overseeing all acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, design, construction and property management for commercial real estate owned or controlled by the Bank. He is a member of the Wells Fargo Environmental Advisory Council, which works to implement Wells Fargo's environmental commitments, and has been effective at implementing energy saving measures in all of Wells Fargo's new facilities and upgrades.

Dana has participated in three Earthwatch expeditions, traveling to study lemur habitat in Madagascar, Neanderthal caves in Spain, and to Africa's Rift Valley to search for fossil clues of our earliest human ancestors. Also a Board Member and Chairman of the Grants Committee of The Leakey Foundation, Dana is committed to research in paleoanthropology and archaeology, and will serve as a great advisor to Earthwatch in this arena. He lives in Tiburon, CA.

Goldring, previously co-CEO of Spear, Leeds, and Kellogg in New York, has led a private family foundation since Goldman Sachs acquired the Wall Street brokerage and financial firm in 2000. Goldring, based in New York, NY, joined the Earthwatch sea turtles expedition to Costa Rica in 2001 and has since been a generous supporter and advocate of sea turtle research and environmental education initiatives. Goldring said, "Earthwatch's belief in global volunteerism allows diverse publics to get passionate about the environment and science, two areas that need more ambassadors and advocates."

Dana and Goldring join Earthwatch Institute as it prepares to celebrate its 35th Anniversary in 2006. Through offices in the U.S., U.K., Australia and Japan, Earthwatch engages over 4,000 volunteers each year in support of over 130 scientific research projects operating in 55 countries worldwide. The organization has recruited over 85,000 volunteers in its 35 year history.

In 2004 Earthwatch Institute had an annual budget of over $18 million and sponsored research and educational grants totaling $6.3 million.

For more information www.earthwatch.org

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