Cristina Mittermeier

Alley of Giants, Madagascar, 2009;

Archival Pigment Print

These monumental Grandidier’s baobabs are survivors of the forests that once covered western Madagascar. Their swollen trunks store thousands of litres of water, helping them endure long dry seasons. Hotter temperatures, erratic rainfall, forest loss and fire are leaving these ancient giants ever more isolated.

Cristina Mittermeier is a Mexican-born photographer, marine biologist and conservationist recognised as one of the leading figures in conservation photography. Born in Mexico City in 1966, she began her career in marine science before turning to photography as a powerful means of communicating environmental issues. Her work explores the relationship between people and nature, with a particular focus on oceans, wildlife, climate change and Indigenous communities.

In 2005, Mittermeier founded the International League of Conservation Photographers, helping establish conservation photography as a recognised discipline. She later co-founded SeaLegacy with photographer Paul Nicklen, using visual storytelling to inspire action to protect the world’s oceans.

Baobabs do not survive alone. Their night-opening flowers are pollinated by fruit bats and lemurs, while other animals disperse their seeds. As forests become fragmented, fewer young trees are established to replace these ancient giants.

RENEWAL IN ACTION

Reconnecting Forests

Within Madagascar’s Menabe Antimena Protected Area, conservation organisations and local communities are restoring dry forests and protecting wildlife corridors. By enabling fruit bats, lemurs and other seed dispersers to move more freely, these connected landscapes are helping ancient baobabs regenerate naturally and new generations of trees become established.