As part of the celebrations of the anniversary of UNESCO's Man & Biosphere Programme, we have interviewed Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado about issues we've been raising for the past 50 years: how can we, humans, reconnect with nature aiming for a harmonious co-existence in the living world?
"Sebastião Salgado - the photographer who regained his vision"
In a deeply touching interview, Sebastião Salgado told us how he delved into death and destruction while covering two major conflicts in the 1990s. And, how his wife opened his eyes to the possibility of fostering life and hope with ecosystem restoration in the farm where he he spent the best years of his childhood, located in the Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve. As a result, Salgado and Lélia established Instituto Terra, which is an advanced post of the Biosphere Reserve and has already planted more than 3 million trees.
As you may know, when it's about life... it's also about love!
I planted 3 million trees. They have re-built me.
Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado Júnior was born in 1944, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A multi-awared photographer, he is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, having registered some of the world's bloodiest conflicts, particularly in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia.
Overwhelmed by what he saw, he returned to Brazil to find the farm of his childhood almost completely deforested. Alongside with his wife and partners from all over the world, he embarked on a journey to restore the ecosystem in the region. His Instituto Terra became an advanced post of the Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve in 2009.
Acknowledgements:
This mini documentary was made with images from Instituto Terra and Ripple Effects, as well as pictures from Sebastião Salgado. We would also like to warmly thank Fernando Eichenberg (Studio Sebastião Salgado, Paris).