A black rhino rests under a rainbow at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Photo / Ami Vitale
Few would dispute the existential crisis facing many of the Earth’s species and their unique environments.
Human incursions into wild areas in the name of progress is destroying ecosystems and the creatures that inhabit them.
For many of us, we feel powerless especially when viewing problems in distant and remote areas.
What can we do?
Fortunately, professional organisations and volunteer groups are working hard to preserve threatened habitats and to try and change how these often fragile areas are treated.
“We have lost 73% of the world’s wildlife - a stark reminder of the magnitude of the biodiversity crisis we are confronting,” said photographer and environmental campaigner Ami Vitale. “We cannot afford to feel paralysed by the scale of the challenge nor can we afford to wait for someone else to act - this is up to us.”
Vitale is an award-winning photographer and writer whose work often features in the pages of National Geographic magazine and many other top publications around the world.
Her experiences, first documenting environmental degradation in conflict zones and then going on to tell the stories of the people engaged in the preservation and restoration of threatened areas, inspired her to establish Vital Impacts, a not-for-profit women-led organisation using art to support community-driven conservation efforts.
“Photography acts as a catalyst for understanding and compassion, inspiring action and fostering meaningful connections,” Vitale said. “Each image deepens our awareness of the intricate ties between humanity and the natural world.”
Vital Impacts raises money through the sale of limited-edition photographic works to support initiatives around the world aiming to preserve biodiversity often assisting indigenous programmes and this year they are raising money for the Amazon rainforest.
By supporting indigenous communities through COICA (the Convening Group of Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon) we can all help to ensure a more secure future for all on earth.
More than 100 prints from the best wildlife and natural history photographers such as Nick Brandt, Jim Naughten, Brian Skerry, Cristina Mittermeier and, of course, Ami Vitale and others are being offered for sale for a limited time.
The images in the collection showcase striking images that tell powerful stories, carrying deep messages about our planet and its fragility.
Vital Impacts is also launching the Saving the Monarchs campaign highlighting the work of another National Geographic photographer, Jaime Rojo.
“I’ve spent half of my life documenting the monarch migration, and this body of work reflects that long-term commitment,” explains Rojo. “As an added bonus, most of these images have never been available for purchase before. This is my way of sharing their beauty and significance while contributing to efforts that can truly make a difference for their future.”
With the monarch butterfly population declining by 90% in recent decades, efforts are underway to protect their habitats and ensure their survival.
“It is my hope that this work will help raise awareness of the urgent challenges facing our planet,” said Vitale.
To see more go to https://vitalimpacts.org/collections/annual-print-sale.
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