Responsible Exploration

By supporting conservation and community in Galápagos, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions continues the legacy of Lars-Eric Lindblad, who began supporting conservation efforts in the islands in the 1960s. Each year, the Explora Galápagos program allows members of the local community to join expeditions as guests and explore the protected areas of their home archipelago, often for the first time. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has also supported multiple on-the-ground projects to remove invasive species, including a decade-long ecological restoration project on Floreana Island and the Charles Darwin Foundation's efforts to control a parasitic fly infestation affecting endemic songbirds.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions supports a broad range of conservation efforts in the Southern Ocean. The LEX-NG Fund has supported studies to monitor whale populations, climate change impacts, penguin health and more. Guests on Antarctica voyages are encouraged to take part in citizen science projects such as Happywhale, eBird and iNaturalist alongside naturalists. When guests using Happywhale observed a never-cataloged whale in the Southern Ocean, they named it "Resolution" in honor of the National Geographic Resolution's inaugural voyage.

For more than a decade, the LEX-NG Fund has supported the Alaska Whale Foundation's initiatives to protect the health and well-being of Southeast Alaska's humpback whales. Thanks to a longtime, exclusive relationship between National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions and AWF, executive director Andy Szabo regularly comes aboard ships in Alaska to share his latest findings and observe whales alongside curious travelers.

The Peruvian Amazon is home to remarkable biodiversity and provides critical resources for Indigenous and rural communities. However, climate change and deforestation continue to threaten forest health, wildlife habitat and long-term community resilience. With support from the LEX-NG Fund, Minga Peru works alongside local communities to strengthen environmental stewardship through forest restoration, youth leadership development, sustainable entrepreneurship, agroforestry training and educational radio programming.  

Contributions to the LEX-NG Fund support National Geographic's Pristine Seas project, which seeks to explore, document and protect the last wild places in the ocean. Founded and led by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Enric Sala, Pristine Seas has helped protect 6.9 million square kilometers of ocean area and inspired the creation of more than 30 marine protected areas around the globe.

Launched in 2007, the Artisan Fund is the first and only in-house artisan development program in the expedition cruise industry. The Fund positively affects the communities where National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions explores by supporting and empowering local artisans. Guests can find a robust selection of handmade goods for purchase in the fleet’s shipboard Global Galleries and Markets—from beaded jewelry to woven baskets. A portion of all sales is earmarked for the Fund, which goes towards artisan training programs, workspaces and equipment, and other educational projects, creating a renewable cycle of support.

On Santa Cruz, Isabela and Floreana Islands in the Galápagos, the Artisan Fund recently hosted workshops led by local ceramicist Andrea Andrade, whose work connects people with the natural and cultural heritage of Galápagos. Drawing inspiration from the islands’ flora, textures and landscapes, participants explored raku, a firing technique rooted in Japanese ceramic traditions. The workshops offered space for creative discovery, helping nurture the next generation of Galápagos artisans. 

National Geographic Photo Camp provides youth from underserved communities around the world with transformative experiences through the art of photography and storytelling. Mentored by National Geographic Explorers and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Certified Photo Instructors, youth explore their communities and environments through photography and writing, learning to tell compelling stories and discovering the power of their own voices as a tool for conservation and leadership in their communities. In 2025, the LEX-NG Fund supported Photo Camps in Galápagos and Baja California; in 2026, the program has expanded to include camps in Southeast Alaska and the Peruvian Amazon. 

In Qassiarsuk, a sheep-farming tradition continues through the first Arctic project supported by our Artisan Fund. Developed with local artisan Ellen Frederiksen, the initiative provides equipment and training to help residents turn wool into blankets, mittens, yarn and other goods. In this video, learn more about how the project supports artisans in this remote Greenlandic community.