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"Global Wildlife on Brink: 'We're Losing Landscapes Without Wild Animals'"
Renowned nature photographer Margot Raggett is growing increasingly concerned about the future of wildlife conservation. Over the past decade, she has raised £1.2m for conservation efforts through her Remembering Wildlife series, but now fears that progress may be being reversed.
The Paris climate agreement was adopted in 2015 when the first edition of Remembering Wildlife was published. However, since then, efforts to combat the climate crisis have been rolled back under various governments, including in the US where President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2020. The decision was later reversed by his successor, Joe Biden.
In the UK, both Conservative and Reform UK parties have pledged to scrap the country's net-zero target of 2050 if they win power. Raggett believes this stance is a worrying sign for the future of nature conservation.
The photographer's concerns are reflected in the latest edition of Remembering Wildlife, which features original and altered images of animals from around the world. These photographs showcase the rapid decline of wildlife populations due to human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change.
Raggett says these images are intended to be provocative, highlighting the consequences of inaction on the environment. She expresses concern that if current trends continue, landscapes may soon become "devoid of wild animals." The rate of extinction is so rapid, she warns, that it could lead to a future where habitats are no longer inhabited by native species.
While Raggett has spent most of her career photographing wildlife in Africa and Asia, she believes that environmental issues closer to home require urgent attention. In the UK, plans for 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament have been met with resistance from environmental campaigners, who fear that these developments will lead to widespread destruction of natural habitats.
Raggett is calling for a "massive pause" on these plans, arguing that building on brownfield sites would be a more sustainable solution. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness between human and animal life, highlighting how species play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and mitigating climate change.
The loss of biodiversity has left Raggett feeling "impotent," but she remains determined to continue her work as an advocate for conservation. Despite the challenges ahead, she is heartened by the fact that many people still care deeply about wildlife preservation and are willing to take action.
As Raggett looks to the future, she hopes that the Remembering Wildlife project will serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring others to join the fight against extinction and protect our planet's precious natural habitats.
Renowned nature photographer Margot Raggett is growing increasingly concerned about the future of wildlife conservation. Over the past decade, she has raised £1.2m for conservation efforts through her Remembering Wildlife series, but now fears that progress may be being reversed.
The Paris climate agreement was adopted in 2015 when the first edition of Remembering Wildlife was published. However, since then, efforts to combat the climate crisis have been rolled back under various governments, including in the US where President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2020. The decision was later reversed by his successor, Joe Biden.
In the UK, both Conservative and Reform UK parties have pledged to scrap the country's net-zero target of 2050 if they win power. Raggett believes this stance is a worrying sign for the future of nature conservation.
The photographer's concerns are reflected in the latest edition of Remembering Wildlife, which features original and altered images of animals from around the world. These photographs showcase the rapid decline of wildlife populations due to human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change.
Raggett says these images are intended to be provocative, highlighting the consequences of inaction on the environment. She expresses concern that if current trends continue, landscapes may soon become "devoid of wild animals." The rate of extinction is so rapid, she warns, that it could lead to a future where habitats are no longer inhabited by native species.
While Raggett has spent most of her career photographing wildlife in Africa and Asia, she believes that environmental issues closer to home require urgent attention. In the UK, plans for 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament have been met with resistance from environmental campaigners, who fear that these developments will lead to widespread destruction of natural habitats.
Raggett is calling for a "massive pause" on these plans, arguing that building on brownfield sites would be a more sustainable solution. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness between human and animal life, highlighting how species play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and mitigating climate change.
The loss of biodiversity has left Raggett feeling "impotent," but she remains determined to continue her work as an advocate for conservation. Despite the challenges ahead, she is heartened by the fact that many people still care deeply about wildlife preservation and are willing to take action.
As Raggett looks to the future, she hopes that the Remembering Wildlife project will serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring others to join the fight against extinction and protect our planet's precious natural habitats.