Image by David Doubilet
Apart
from being one of the leading Wildlife Photographers globally, over
the years Ami
Vitale has
also taken monumental steps towards wildlife conservation. And with
2020 turning for the worst, she along with her friend Eileen
Mignoni decided to start a new initiative ‘Prints for Nature’ to help
those who are pushing boundaries in the frontline of the pandemic to
help conservation. Bhavya
Desai spoke to
her to learn more. Excerpts:
Photo by Ami Vitale
What
is the 'Prints for Nature' initiative and what was the objective
behind it?
‘Prints
for Nature’is a fine art photographic print sale, offering collectors the chance
to own work from some of the most impactful names in the photography
industry and contribute to conservation. This is an independent
initiative that includes over 85 renowned Fine Art and Nature
Photographers who have generously donated prints for this cause. All
of the net proceeds will go directly to support Conservation
International’s core initiatives. I saw the need to support
communities protecting wild lands and our most vulnerable species, at
a time of critical need. The Covid-19 pandemic is devastating
conservation efforts globally as tourism and economies have collapsed
creating increasing pressure on nature. Driven by this desperation,
poaching and deforestation is on the rise,I believed that by
coming together, we could make an immediate impact.
In
the early days of the pandemic, we were hearing heart-warming
stories. It seemed that wildlife was getting a much needed break from
humans and that they were thriving in the era of lockdowns. Finally,
they were able to roam freely in cities and national parks!
Unfortunately, the reality was much different. Tourism has been what
has funded major conservation projects around the world, helping to
protect wildlife, restore habitats and create awareness. When tourism
crashed, so did the much needed protection for the animals and
ecosystems. Contrary to popular belief, an empty national park is not
a good thing for wildlife. Tourists fund conservation and they also
keep poachers away.
Image by Anand Varma
How
is this initiative different from your previous efforts?
In
the past, I have worked on fundraising efforts on
a smaller scale,but this is the first time I've organised
a group collaborative effort with so many incredibly talented
photographers. It's been a beautiful labour of love. My dear friend
and colleague Eileen Mignoni and I have been doing everything from
getting sponsorships to reaching out to the photographers, curating
the gallery, building the website, working out the kinks, handling
customer service, answering all questions that come in and media
outreach. I chose Paper and Ink Studio
to do all the printing because of the impeccable quality of their
work.
How
important is wildlife conservation for nature and for you personally
as well?
Planet
Earth is the only home we have and together we have poked some holes
in our shared little life raft. I want everyone to experience and
benefit from the diversity of habitat and life we have today in all
of its forms - from glaciers to deserts, elephants to the tiniest of
ants that inhabit the earth. We must not condemn future generations
to a world bereft of these experiences.What happens next is in all of
our hands. Nature is resilient if we give it a chance - if we give it
our time. We all have the capacity to get engaged and use our voices
to make a difference. The messenger matters just as much as the
message itself. Each of us will be a much more powerful voice when
speaking to the people in our lives.
Image by Charlie Hamilton James
Apart
from being such an inspiration to many, you’ve been constantly
pushing the conservation boundaries. Where does that innate drive
come from?
I
believe we must first fall in love with the world around us. Love
gives us the courage to make a difference. But I know it’s not just
about loving this planet. Infact, that’s not going to save us.
What’s going to save us is believing in the wonder of this world.
Wonder allows us to go beyond the routine ways of thinking and to
reimagine our future together, to reimagine a world graced by all the
species that are on the edge of extinction right now.
Wonder
shows us how deeply connected we are to one another and that our
choices are profound in their impact. We all need to do all we can to
care for the plants and critters that inhabit the earth. They are
fellow travellers,
and our only friends, in this cold dark universe. Our future
happiness depends on them. Once you take that brave first step and
allow yourself to fall in love, you open yourself to the experience
of wonder. It is inexplicable and it changes everything.
Image by Sudhir Shivaram
Do
you feel we are doing enough in this direction or there is still a
long road ahead?
Nature
sent us a strong message with this pandemic and reminded us of just
how small and deeply interconnected our world is. It is a powerful
moment to reimagine our relationship to nature and to one another.
We need to reduce human encroachment on wildlife. If we do, we can
minimise
the opportunity for viruses to cross from one species to another;
from animals to humans.
Today,
nearly 1 million species are in danger of extinction. Our own health
and destiny are intricately connected to the natural world and
impacted by the loss of species. My hope is that this pandemic
inspires every human being to understand this important connection.
Image by Tony Wu
What is your
lasting message to all the people who read this?
I
think what people need to understand is that tourism is what keeps
wildlife alive in many places. When people begin travelling
again, we should be travelling responsibly, to destinations that act
to sustain wildlife areas, and choosing companies that put money back
and are not wholly extractive.
Personally,
I believe the pandemic has forced us to see how interconnected we
are. While this revelation has been devastating, it’s also shown us
how we are able to unite and act as individuals for the collective
good. This is a moment when we can look outside ourselves and take
individual action for the good of the planet. I am personally
thinking about a different approach to my own work and my travel.
Travel
is important, but I know that we must change how we travel. We can alleviate some
of the environmental stress of travel simply by keeping more of our
adventures local. If you do go abroad, rather than trying to see it
all, slow down and engage with one place at a time. Instead of
travelling to many countries, think about spending time in one place
in that same time frame. When we take the time to slow down and truly
build real relationships with people and places, an authentic
connection is created.
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