Arte y Conservación, a pioneering Colombian organization, contributes significantly to conservation efforts across the region. It has conducted over 300 scientific illustration workshops in Latin America, with book sales funding reforestation projects near Bogotá, Colombia’s capital.
Recently, Arte y Conservación participated in the sixth-largest bird fair in South America, held in Mindo, Ecuador, a crucial migratory route for American birds, where it offered scientific illustration workshops.
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Transcript
Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.Paula Romero:
We were invited to give a workshop at the bird fair …
… to provide attendees with insights into the world of scientific illustration, specifically centered on birds.
Paula Romero:
Illustration and art awaken people’s sensitivity and encourage them to connect and appreciate different species.
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Emmanuel Laverde and Paula Romero founded Arte y Conservación, a Colombian organization that has conducted more than 300 scientific illustration workshops across Latin America.
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The annual South American Bird Fair, hosted in Ecuador last year, attracted around 1,400 bird watchers from around the world.
Enmanuel Laverde:
Arte y Conservación was founded around 2006, 2007 to give back a little of what nature has given us.
The mission of Arte y Conservación is to build a connection between individuals and the natural world.
Enmanuel Laverde:
The South American Bird Fair is of vital importance as it brings together individuals united by a common interest in birds. While birds may be the primary focus, they serve as a bridge to explore the broader context of the natural world.
Events like this provide initiatives, such as ours, with a platform to showcase and share our work with the world.
Paula Romero:
During the pandemic, we started a publishing venture, first with a book focused on orchids and hummingbirds.
In 2022, we published a book on butterflies, and in 2023, one on American felines.
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Book sales finance about 20 hectares of protected areas near Colombia’s capital, Bogotá.
Enmanuel Laverde:
We have a reserve in the eastern hills of Chia, Cundinamarca, an adjacent municipality to Bogotá.
This location holds significant environmental importance as it sits in the upper reaches of the Bogotá River, an area deeply affected by urbanization, making it a crucial sanctuary for species like the northern tiger cat, the Andean coati, and various bird species.
About 60% of our book sales go into conservation projects in the reserve. So far, there are nearly 1,500 copies sold.
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The organization aims to plant 25,000 trees to complete the initial phase of its reforestation efforts.
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Since 2022 a total of 7,000 trees have been planted in the reserve. Another 3,000 are scheduled to be planted next.
Enmanuel Laverde
I believe that conservation through art has to be present in many more countries involving a broader community of art enthusiasts passionate about nature
We want to continue publishing books and offering courses that not only delve into nature and the conservation of charismatic species but also serve as inspiration for children to pursue a career in nature painting, reinforcing the idea that it is worthwhile.