The Battle for Earth’s Wildlife
Adam Oswell and Ben Davies
Introduction by Dr Jane Goodall, DBE
Sebastião Salgado
‘The fate of wild species can never be separated from the destiny of man, and the fate of man will never be separated from the destiny of all nature’
SALVATION - THE PROJECT
The challenge to repair our dysfunctional relationship with nature is an existential emergency. Unless we act now to halt our unchecked destruction of nature, our very existence is at risk.
Twenty years ago, Adam and Ben set out to investigate the illegal wildlife trade in Asia. ‘Black Market’ was the first book of its kind to expose the scale of international wildlife trade and trafficking. Building on two decades of unrivalled access and collaboration with conservationists, enforcement agencies, trafficking networks and local communities, we are now beginning a new journey: to look for solutions to the problems of the illegal wildlife trade and the existential issues we face if it is not effectively addressed. SALVATION will be the culmination of that journey. It is a call to arms and a celebration of our collective power to make a positive difference to this planet.
Photography and communications play a crucial role in conservation. Using still and time-based visual media, content will be integrated into powerful communications strategies to create critical awareness, influence policy and empower a new generation of conservation and advocacy.
Covid was a wake-up call for humanity and our unchecked assault on the natural world. We will demonstrate why the battle to save wildlife from extinction has never been more urgent and important. We will also show there is hope, that species do bounce back, that biodiversity can be restored. But this is the critical decade. Time is running out.
Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE
Founder - the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace
www.janegoodall.global
www.rootsandshoots.global
“The illegal wildlife trade is worth $23 billion a year, making this one of the largest illicit global businesses after drugs, human trafficking and weapons.
The scale of the trafficking of endangered wildlife by organized criminal syndicates is chilling, just as the role of key individuals desperately fighting this major global crisis is inspiring.
It is vital we act now and stop this trade before it’s too late. Adam and Ben’s project is crucial - I urge you to support their efforts.”
Jane.
SALVATION - THE BOOK
SALVATION will take us on a journey from the bat caves of Northern Laos to the heart of the Congo Basin in Africa, and from the great forests of Australia to the conflict zones of Myanmar. It will highlight the rare and endangered animals that are being plundered for profit, but also celebrate the beauty of the natural world, underscoring its importance to our wellbeing. It will also honour the wisdom of indigenous communities whose rich knowledge and respect for the environment are helping to protect biodiversity and restore the fragile ancient balance between man and nature.
TURNING The tide
From the great plains of Africa to the steamy jungles of Asia and south America, elephants, lions, rhinos, pangolins and other rare creatures are being trafficked to feed the insatiable appetite for endangered species. Demand for traditional medicine, exotic pets, zoos, jewelry or status symbols is what drives the trade. And the rarer the species, the higher the price and the bigger the profits. The impact of the trade has been devastating. In the past 50 years, wildlife populations have plunged by a staggering 70%. Currently 25% of mammals and 40% of amphibians are at risk of extinction with just 3% of the world’s primary ecosystems remaining. Yet wildlife is critical to the well-being of the planet. Hundreds of millions of years of evolution means that every species plays a vital role in the fragile balance of nature.
Ticking Time Bomb
When the Covid-19 pandemic erupted, shockwaves spread across the globe. By the time the crisis was over, over 7 million people were dead. Had it not been for the vaccines, the figure could have been many times higher. Leading scientists believe the virus most likely originated from bats which carry deadly pathogens. Covid was a lesson for the world: we must stop exploiting nature or the next pandemic will be even more deadly.
