Association for Heritage Interpretation
news
Great Wild Quest
24 July 2008
The Great Wild Quest describes itself as ‘the greatest-ever nature communication initiative’. It involves 55 of Europe's top nature photographers, who will be taking on 90 assignments in 44 countries to reveal the amazing natural heritage of Europe, and to inspire a desire to save it.
‘It is all about love and passion’, says Staffan Widstrand, a photographer from Sweden and Managing Director of Wild Wonders of Europe, which runs the scheme. ‘We want to touch the emotions of our 700 million fellow Europeans, and to re-connect them with their natural heritage. We will celebrate the comeback of Europe's wildlife and the little-known Natura 2000 conservation effort, which has helped this success. We will also spotlight some serious challenges for Europe's biodiversity. Finally, we will provide some answers to the deeper question "What is Europe?" '
That may sound an ambitious goal, but photography has a good track record as a powerful tool in interpretation. The spectacular images taken by Carleton Watkins and Charles Weed in the nineteenth century are often given credit for helping to convince the American public that places like Yosemite were worthy of protection as National Parks.
As Vincent Munier, another of the photographers puts it, ‘It is easier to defend something that you know about and that you love.’ That could be an interpreters’ creed, and good photography helps people both get to know and fall in love with places and wildlife.
For news, blogs, galleries, interviews and reports from the photographers, visit the project's website.
‘It is all about love and passion’, says Staffan Widstrand, a photographer from Sweden and Managing Director of Wild Wonders of Europe, which runs the scheme. ‘We want to touch the emotions of our 700 million fellow Europeans, and to re-connect them with their natural heritage. We will celebrate the comeback of Europe's wildlife and the little-known Natura 2000 conservation effort, which has helped this success. We will also spotlight some serious challenges for Europe's biodiversity. Finally, we will provide some answers to the deeper question "What is Europe?" '
That may sound an ambitious goal, but photography has a good track record as a powerful tool in interpretation. The spectacular images taken by Carleton Watkins and Charles Weed in the nineteenth century are often given credit for helping to convince the American public that places like Yosemite were worthy of protection as National Parks.
As Vincent Munier, another of the photographers puts it, ‘It is easier to defend something that you know about and that you love.’ That could be an interpreters’ creed, and good photography helps people both get to know and fall in love with places and wildlife.
For news, blogs, galleries, interviews and reports from the photographers, visit the project's website.
Pine Marten in Scotland (Peter Cairns)