PRESS RELEASE

Invitation to the opening of the exhibition (PDF)

UN Photo Exhibit Highlights Beauty and Complexity of Earth’s Environment

New York, March 24, 2004 – To mark this year’s celebration of Earth Day – held on April 22nd - the United Nations is hosting an exhibition of photographs that captures the beauty and diversity of the natural environment. This stunning display will be launched on Earth Day during a special ceremony at UN Headquarters and will capture images from the grassroots that show how local people and places cope with a changing and dynamic environment.

Composed of photographs from the renowned GEO-Magazine, the “Focus on Nature” exhibit will highlight the complexity of our species’ relationship to the biosphere. The display is organized and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Equator Initiative, the German Mission to the United Nations, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), GEO magazine, and the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

“Focus on Nature” will run until June 28 and will be officially opened on Earth Day by the Honorable Kerstin Müller, Minister of State in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Zéphirin Diabré, UNDP Associate Administrator; and Ruth Eichhorn, Director of Photography at GEO-Magazine.

At the heart of the “Focus on Nature” exhibition is a recognition that developing countries are most severely affected by biodiversity loss and the burden of poverty. At the same time, the exhibit highlights the tremendous power of local people to tackle these problems, generate incomes, and conserve their natural environment. Importantly, by finding ways to eradicate poverty while protecting the environment, local communities are helping the global community reach the Millennium Development Goals – an ambitious set of development targets outlined by the UN, and agreed to by virtually all world governments, that are to be achieved by 2015.

The exhibition is composed of a series of stunning nature photographs selected by the editors of GEO Magazine to highlight the importance of biodiversity and environment issues to the wider challenge of global sustainable development. The images were chosen not only for their beauty and visual impact, but also to recognize international projects that are effectively achieving biodiversity conservation in the field. The featured projects have all been initiated or implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ), or by NGOs and charitable projects such as GEO Magazine’s “GEO Protects the Rainforest.”

This exhibition is complemented by a special series of photographs entitled “People - Forests -Development”, which presents a unique glimpse into the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa. This remarkable collection of photos shows the work of local communities that are working with GTZ to conserve the ancient and biodiverse forests of the African continent.

The “Focus on Nature” exhibit provides a dramatic visual backdrop to a wide range of environmental issues that will receive international attention on Earth Day and will remain in the forefront of worldwide attention through International Biodiversity Day on May 22 and World Environment day on June 5.

The exhibit opening will be at 6:00pm on April 22 in the United Nations visitors lobby at First Avenue and 46th Street. The exhibit will be open to the public from April 23 to June 8, 2004.

Contact and RSVP Information:

Due to security controls at UN Headquarters, all individuals wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by email, phone, or fax to the contact below. Members of the media who wish to attend, and who do not have UN accreditation, can get full information on how to access the event by contacting:

Eileen de Ravin
Email: equatorinitiative@undp.org
Phone: (212) 457 1709
Fax: (212) 457 1370

******************************

About the organizers:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

The Equator Initiative is a UNDP partnership programme that seeks to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the equatorial belt by fostering, supporting and strengthening innovative community partnerships.

The Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations

GEO-Magazine was founded and is headquartered in Germany. It publishes editions in Germany, France, Spain, Russia, Italy, and South Korea. It is famous for its excellent photography and in-depth articles. GEO magazine can be compared to National Geographic in its dedication to nature and conservation worldwide. GEO is published by Gruner + Jahr, an international printing and publishing company that produces more than 100 magazines and newspapers in 14 countries. Gruner + Jahr has a staff of 13,000 and reached USD 3 billion in 2000-2001. Gruner + Jahr is owned by Bertelsmann AG, the second-largest media company in the world.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) is a government-owned corporation that promotes international development. It operates in over 130 partner countries and supports roughly 2,700 development projects and programs, primarily on behalf of the German federal government. GTZ’s aim is to improve living conditions and prospects in developing countries and countries in transition.

The German federal ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) works toward reducing poverty worldwide through economic development, social justice, and ecological sustainability, thereby fostering the process of democratization and peace. The BMZ strives for greater coherence between international agreements and institutions in order to achieve a well-defined global policy and to ensure that developing countries have a role as equal partners.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild lands. We do so through careful science, international conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together, these activities change individual attitudes toward nature and help people imagine humans and wildlife living in sustainable interaction on both a local and global scale. WCS is committed to this work because we feel it is essential to the integrity of life on earth.