About "Prints for Wildlife"

Prints for Wildlife | The Fundraiser

A fundraiser to support African Parks' efforts to sustain wildlife conservation and community work during COVID-19
170+ photographers, 1 cause
Because we need nature now more than ever

For much of Africa, wildlife tourism provides significant income to help maintain parks where vulnerable species such as elephants, lions, rhinos and giraffes live. It is estimated that 24 million Africans depend on tourism for their livelihood. But after the coronavirus struck, the entire international tourism sector closed down overnight in March 2020. Critical revenue which helps ensure people and wildlife benefit from these areas, came to an immediate halt and future revenue is at stake as no one knows when tourism may recover and to what level. This pandemic is having a profound social and economic impact on us all, but especially so for rural communities.

This pandemic is also showing the intricate relationship between wild areas and human health. Data show that the rise in habitat loss and exploitation of wildlife is linked to the increase of these epidemics, from Covid to Sars, Mers, Ebola among others. And so if there was ever a case for protecting nature, if we ever needed a reminder that our mission matters and that nature matters to people’s lives, it is now.

Effectively managed parks serve as a nucleus for stability, in that they become safe places. Where wildlife thrive, people thrive. These well-managed parks deliver a host of ecological, socio-political and economic benefits for people living in and around these landscapes. They create jobs, provide education, and change lives.

Just because we can’t travel to these parks, does not mean we can’t provide meaningful support - and all help in our own way.

That is why an inspired and generous group of acclaimed international wildlife photographers has come together for an extraordinary, limited-edition, print fundraiser to support local communities and wildlife during COVID-19.

1,75 million dollars raised since 2020!

After the success of 2020 “Prints for Wildlife” came back in the summer of 2021 featuring 170+ photographers from 30+ countries including acclaimed wildlife photographers as well as local talent from Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana and South Africa. This diverse group of photographers gathered together again to each generously donate one limited fine art print to the fundraiser, which were sold for 100 USD per print.

All the funds collected via the print sale went directly to the non-profit conservation group African Parks
The price per print was 100 USD excluding shipping
Shipping rate was 10 USD globally
100% of the proceeds (after printing and handling) were donated
All prints for sale on this website are subject to copyright
A limited edition of 100 prints per photo was available
Images were printed on Hahnemühle Natural Line Hemp 290 gr paper, unframed
Print size: 30x45cm + 1cm white border

A look back at the 2020 edition of "Prints for Wildlife"

The print fundraiser titled “Prints for Wildlife” was launched for the first time in July 2020 to raise funds for African Parks to ensure protected areas continue to deliver benefits to people and wildlife across the 19 protected areas they manage on behalf of governments.

The first edition of the “Prints for Wildlife” Fundraiser ran one month from 26th of July to 26th of August 2020 and raised 660,200 dollars!

Watch as Pie Aerts and Marion Payr, co-founders of Prints for Wildlife, tell us a little more about the campaign and what inspired them to help.

Prints for Wildlife from African Parks on Vimeo.

The project initiators

Without knowing each other personally Pie and Marion joined forces in 2020 with one shared idea: To support conservation efforts during the challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions.

Pie Aerts

Pie Aerts (Instagram: @pie_aerts) is a Dutch documentary and wildlife photographer with a sincere interest in human/wildlife conflict stories. Through his lens, he examines the intricate relationship between animals, humans and nature and, as we become increasingly distant from each other and ourselves, he uses photography to search for the cause of this disconnect. He believes art can be an incredibly powerful tool in restoring that lost connection and therefore founded Prints for Wildlife in march 2020. Since the international outbreak of COVID-19 Pie traveled to Kenya 3 times to work on his new collection Umoja, visualising his personal relationship with the Kenyan landscape. Pie serves as a Canon EMEA ambassador and as Hahnemühle Natural Line Ambassador.

Marion Payr

Marion Payr (Instagram: @ladyvenom) is a travel photographer based in Austria. At the centre of Marions work stands a dedication to the art of traveling, which unites us globally and acts as a driving force for cultural understanding and conservation. She believes in the power of imagery to convey these values to future generations. Marion dedicates much of her career to female empowerment, believing an equal representation of voices & images supports a vision of a united world in the spirit of togetherness. After not being able to travel to Africa in 2020 she returned to Kenya first thing in 2021 and talked to local conservation managers and tourism officials about the issues they are facing due to COVID-19. This has furthered her desire to launch another edition of “Prints for Wildlife”.

Advisory Board

In 2021 we added our new advisory board to act as sounding board and sparring partner and support Prints for Wildlife with their voices and ideas.

Mia Collis (@mia_collis)

Photographer
Mia: "Prints for Wildlife is a wonderful initiative to support African Parks and to encourage people to take interest in the importance of our natural world."

Clement Kiragu (@clementkiragu)
Photographer
Clement: “My support for Prints for Wildlife was hugely contributed to the community based approach that went into the thinking of this Initiative. I have seen communities around national parks live in poverty far too long. Since I started out in wildlife I always knew I wanted to do something about that. So, when Pie approached me about a cause that would benefit such communities, it was a no brainer. We all know the dangers we face with wildlife; We need to act NOW to start the wave of change we so desperately need. I am all about such change.”

Marcus Westberg (@marcuswestbergphotography)
Photographer & writer
Marcus: “For me, joining Prints for Wildlife was a no-brainer. I have been working with African Parks for several years, but Covid put an end to my ability to support them in the field. Prints for Wildlife is a great way to continue that support at a time when it is needed more than ever - as well as an opportunity to collaborate with incredible photographers from all over the world.”

Michael Lorentz (@mlorentz23)
Safari guide, conservationist & photographer
Michael: “Conservation can be daunting, and I am often asked, 'what can I do that makes a difference?' Prints for Wildlife is one answer. In buying a print (or even two), you become part of a movement that, at scale, has been shown to raise a significant amount of money - money that goes to African Parks, who is in my view the most effective conservation organization on the continent. Your purchase of a stunning photograph becomes part of a much larger narrative that truly does make a difference. Prints for Wildlife 'Round One' was a beautiful story in a challenging year that somehow captured the very best of who we are and what we can achieve when we all pull in the same direction.”

The volunteers

Prints for Wildlife would never have been possible without a dedicated team of volunteers who spent days and weeks supporting the fundraiser. Some of them working tirelessly in the photo lab packing and shipping orders others supporting us on handling the wave of support on Social Media. Let us just name a few!

Martin Meyer / Our Social Media wizard

Martin (Instagram: @martinmeyer_wild) is a wildlife photographer based in South Africa. Martin is the one behind a lot of the messages and answers you get on the Prints for Wildlife Instagram account!

Julia Korn / Customer Service

Julia (Instagram: @days_of_ubuntu) is a media & communications student and trained field & trails guide and supported the first edition of Prints for wildlife already. In the second edition she will take on an even bigger role.

Julia: "During the time I experienced and learned about wildlife in South Africa I realized the importance of protecting these wild places. The animals, the trees and everything in between are so unbelievably stunning. I believe we need to do everything in our power to make sure that the generations after us can enjoy wild spaces like we do. And in this African Parks is doing an amazing job! This is why, from the moment I heard of Prints for Wildlife, I knew, I needed to be a part of it in one way or another!"

Christiaan Melis / Customer Service

Christiaan (Instagram: @christiaan_melis) is currently studying "ancient studies" and works as a photographer who specialises in documentary and landscape photography and works mostly with analogue techniques. He already supported the first edition of Prints for wildlife as a volunteer and will come back for the second edition to support us even more.

Christian: "For my work as a photographer I get to travel to some amazing places. Documenting cultures, landscapes and historical artefacts around the world taught me a lot. The most important lesson I have learned is that everything is connected, and that because of these connections the smallest link matters. So if I can be a link (even the weakest or smallest) in this project, in order to help African Parks and create awareness for the work of the rangers it is definitely worth my time and effort!"

Chase Teron / E-Commerce & E-Mail marketing advisor

Chase (Instagram: @Chase.Teron) is the owner of Artica Studios www.artica-studios.com and a professional photographer. After donating one of his gorgeous cheetah photos to the campaign in 2020 he offered to help us setting up Shopify in a more professional way - making the overall user experience better and taking our fundraiser to the next level!

Chase: "I was a contributing photographer last year and again this year because the selflessness and positivity of this campaign is unmatched. Marion and Pie created PfW to unite the global supporters of the African tourism industry to come together to create a profound level of stimulus to directly help the African Parks Network. The positive energy of the PfW initiative is something that our planet really needs right now and the ripple effects of this campaign are global. This collaborative approach of world class photographers, fans and supporters coming together via the PfW campaign for the African Parks Network is truly the easiest way that we can all give back and how we can make the biggest difference. I cannot recommend supporting this campaign enough as the supporters get breathtaking images for their homes, their friends, families or co-workers and all the funds go directly towards protecting the African wildlife for generations to come."

Graeme Green / Advisor

Graeme (Instagram: @graeme.green) is a photographer and journalist for international publications specialising in wildlife, conservation, human rights, development and global issues. He is also the founder of the New Big 5 project (www.newbig5.com).

Graeme: “When Pie got in touch ahead of the first Prints For Wildlife fundraiser asking for help, I was happy to get involved with such an obviously great cause, and it’s great to be asked back for this summer’s campaign. As a photographer and journalist, I’ve spent time in many of Africa’s incredible wildlife locations and learnt first-hand about the urgent issues facing animals, nature and people. African Parks do exceptional work to protect wildlife areas, working with local communities, experts and African governments. Photography can do so much to raise awareness about important issues and raising money is vital to keeping conservation work going. Prints For Wildlife is a great example of what can be achieved when people work together. It’s a pleasure to be able to help.”

Kady Kirchmayr / Social Media

Kady (Instagram: @kadyinvienna) is a Social Media strategist and avid photographer based in Austria. Thanks to her support we could keep you updated with daily Instagram stories full of beautiful photography, great storytelling and all the infos you needed about the fundraiser!

The paper

For this project we partnered with Hahnemühle and chose to work with the brand-new sustainable Hahnemühle Natural Line Hemp 290 gr paper. This paper uses one of the oldest and most diverse natural fibres in the world and is made of 60% hemp fibre and 40% cotton. The lightly textured surface gives the paper a pleasant, silky feel. Combined with the matt premium inkjet coating, this is a truly versatile fine-art inkjet paper. Colours and details are brilliantly reproduced, the depth of the black truly stands out and contrasts are reproduced with stunning effect. The acid and lignin-free fine-art inkjet paper meets the most discerning requirements for age resistance. A beautiful and sustainable printing solution.

Click here to learn more!