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March 2000: National Geographic Photographer speaks in Lincoln
"It is one of the last great pristine tropical rain forests left in South America and that's why this is such a big deal. There's not many places like this left."
Joel Sartore, on Bolivia's Madidi National Park.
Photo Courtesy Joel Sartore
There are around 700 species of birds in the United states and Canada combined. Just imagine an area the size of New Jersey holding 1,000 species. Photographer Joel Sartore went to that special place, Madidi National Park, and with the help of Dr. Russ Semm, a Lincoln physician, The Conservation Alliance, and Bryan LGH Medical Center, he brought his pictures home for the people of Lincoln.
Red and green macaws are just one of an estimated 1,000 species in Madidi, which covers an area the size of New Jersey.
Photo Courtesy Joel Sartore
The forest pictured to the right is just one of the many types of habitat in Madidi, which has glaciers on one part and savannah in another.
Sartore was joined by Rosamaria Ruiz, one of the founders of the park, as well as his "guide, interpreter, friend, and life-saver." Ruiz traveled the park for months, educating the park's natives about their rights in an effort to save the park from development. She also founded Ecobolivia, an organization dedicated to preserving Bolivia's natural history.
Semm and Ruiz road test the images in his driveway.
Photo courtesy Joel Sartore
Besides logging, which is a constant threat to these rich but delicate ecosystems, Madidi recently faced another threat. The Brazilian government had planned to build a dam on the Tuichi River, which runs through the park. The proposed dam would have flooded and drowned over 1000 square miles of the park. Those plans were changed shortly after a story on Madidi was featured in the March issue of National Geographic Magazine.
Dr. Russ Semm, donated three sets of thirty prints, one framed and matted for exhibition in Bolivia's capital city, La Paz, and two sets of specially laminated prints for Ruiz to take into the jungle. Bryan LGH Medical Center donated the use of their auditorium and refreshments for the free event, which was attended by well over 500 people.
Sartore and Ruiz at the presentation.
Photo by Tyler Sutton
Articles about the event were run in the 3/16 Lincoln Journal Star and the 3/5 Omaha World Herald, and Sartore and Ruiz were featured on KFOR's Lincoln live and local news programs.
For more information on Madidi National Park, check out the March, 200 issue of National Geographic Magazine and Ecobolivia's website.