Give Back to Nature funds planting trees to combat deforestation, fight climate change, tackle the current global plastic waste problem, empower villagers and workers in impoverished countries, and help businesses offset their carbon and plastic footprint.
As a photographer and filmmaker, I’ve longed for an opportunity for my work to carry a positive environmental impact. With that in mind, I am thrilled to join the Give Back to Nature Global Artist Team.
I recognize that, all too often, travel and adventure photography leaves a footprint on the landscapes that drive my passion and my business. It’s difficult to eliminate that impact; however, moving forward, I’ll take a small step towards contributing to a greener planet.
My Give Back to Nature Commitment
I’ve committed to Give Back to Nature’s Plastic Cleanup initiative that subsidizes the ethical tracking, recovery, and safe disposal of plastic waste that overflows out landfills and spills into our rivers and oceans. It will also improve the conditions of the waste pickers – who are often informally employed – by providing education subsidies, health insurance, sanitation, and formal job opportunities.
This initiative has prevented, removed, identified, tracked and/or recycled 18 700 bottles. My aim is to drive that number much higher.
I will contribute in three unique ways:
- For each fine art paper print sale, which typically costs between $60-$125, I will contribute to cleaning up 50 plastic bottles.
- For each aluminum or canvas print sale, which typically costs between $100-$500, I will contribute to cleanup 100 plastic bottles.
- For each one-day workshop in Banff National Park, I will contribute to cleanup 150 plastic bottles.
What does plastic bottles managed even mean?
Removing plastic from the ocean is critical; however, it’s just one step in solving its plastic problem. It’s vital to take a management-level approach to solve this issue. The Give Back to Nature initiative does the following:
- Prevented: The best place to start is with extensive research, education, sensitization towards the problem.
- Removed: Collecting plastic waste that’s has been discarded in our lands, lakes, rivers and oceans where they harm ecosystems and disrupt food chains.
- Identified: it is essential to identify the type of plastic and its source.
- Tracked: how plastic moves through communities on land, how products and packaging are made, and the systems that capture waste (or not). This will help stop the problem at the source.
- Recycled: converting the plastic waste found into reusable material.
Learn More about Give Back To Nature and its Initiatives
Plant Trees with Give Back to Nature
When it first launched, Give Back to Nature recognized that we must reverse the damage of deforestation. Their first project mission was to reduce extreme poverty and restore healthy forests by employing local villagers to plant one million trees.
To date, Give Back to Nature, its Global Artists, and its supporters have contributed to plant 450600 trees, which created 4506 days of quality employment and offset 10814 metric tons of carbon (annually).
Learn more about the initiative here: Plant Trees
Plastic Clean-up with Give Back to Nature
The second environmental initiative within the organization focuses on removing plastic from the world’s landfills, rivers and oceans.
As I mentioned in my commitment to this cause, it aims to subsidize the ethical tracking, recovery and safe disposal of plastic waste. It’s equally focused on cleaning up the problem our consumerism has created and preventing further waste.
As a society, we must use less plastic, and I strive to eliminate it from my daily life. It was an easy choice to join this cause, which is still in its infancy at Give Back to Nature. I know this will be the challenge of the next decade, and I truly believe this work can have an impact.
Learn more about the initiative here: Plastic Clean-up
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