Arkive

The Mission of ARKive

ARKive was a unique global initiative with the mission of

"promoting the conservation of the world's threatened species, through the power of wildlife imagery".

It served as a centralized digital archive for films, photographs, and audio recordings of the world's species. The primary goal of ARKive was to complete audio-visual profiles for the approximately 17,000 species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. By gathering and organizing these valuable resources, ARKive aimed to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts for these endangered species.

Creation and Launch

ARKive was an initiative of Wildscreen, a UK-registered educational charity, and was technically created by Hewlett-Packard as part of the HP Labs' Digital Media Systems research program. The project was officially launched on May 20, 2003. ARKive received backing from leading conservation organizations, including BirdLife International, Conservation International, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations' World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It also had the support of leading academic and research institutions, such as the Natural History Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Smithsonian Institution. ARKive had a significant global reach, with over half a million people every month from over 200 countries using the platform to learn about and discover the wonders of the natural world. It became the world's biggest encyclopedia of life on Earth, featuring multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species.

Closure of ARKive

Despite its success and impact, ARKive was closed on February 15, 2019, due to funding issues. The website was replaced with a short statement, and the complete collection of over 100,000 images and videos is now being stored securely offline for future generations. The legacy of ARKive continues to live on, even after its closure. The vast collection of wildlife imagery serves as a valuable resource for future generations, and the project's mission continues to inspire and inform conservation efforts worldwide. ARKive's content was rich and diverse, featuring multimedia fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. These fact-files were freely accessible to everyone, providing a comprehensive look at the world's threatened biodiversity. The content included high-quality photographs, videos, and audio recordings, offering an immersive experience for users.

Contributors to ARKive

Over 7,000 of the world's best wildlife filmmakers, photographers, conservationists, and scientists contributed to ARKive. Their collective efforts resulted in a vast and unparalleled archive of wildlife imagery. These contributors played a crucial role in bringing the wonders of the natural world to the fingertips of people around the globe.

Challenges

Despite its success, ARKive faced significant challenges. The primary issue was funding. Wildscreen was unable to raise sufficient funds to support the year-round costs of keeping ARKive online. As a result, the charity had to use its reserves to keep the project online, and it was unable to fund any dedicated staff to maintain ARKive, let alone future-proof it, for over half a decade.

End of ARKive

Despite appeals for support, just 85 of ARKive's 5.6 million users in 2018 made a donation. As a small conservation charity, Wildscreen eventually reached the point where it could no longer financially sustain the ongoing costs of keeping ARKive free and online or invest in its much-needed development. Therefore, a very hard decision was made to take the ARKive website offline in February 2019. The complete ARKive collection of over 100,000 images and videos is now being stored securely offline in perpetuity for future generations. While the website is no longer accessible, the valuable resources it gathered continue to exist and can potentially be used in future conservation efforts. The story of ARKive serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our natural world and the challenges that conservation initiatives face.

Educational Role

Beyond its conservation mission, ARKive also played a significant educational role. It provided a wealth of free and engaging, curriculum-linked educational resources. These resources were used by teachers and students alike to learn about the world's biodiversity, fostering a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world in the younger generation. ARKive's legacy is a testament to the power of collective effort in the face of global environmental challenges. It stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when scientists, conservationists, photographers, filmmakers, and the public come together with a shared vision. Despite its closure, the spirit of ARKive lives on in every individual it inspired and every conversation it sparked about the importance of biodiversity and conservation.

The Lasting Impact of ARKive

In conclusion, ARKive was more than just a digital archive; it was a global initiative that brought the plight of endangered species to the forefront of public consciousness. Its closure marked the end of an era, but its impact continues to resonate. The story of ARKive is a poignant reminder of our responsibility to the natural world and the urgency of conservation efforts. As we move forward, let us carry the lessons learned from ARKive and continue to strive for a world where biodiversity is valued and protected.