Prints for Wildlife: Turning Art into Action

↑ "Trunk Tangle" by Mary Schrader

Words by Marion Payr  |  August 2025

It was during those quiet, uncertain days that Prints for Wildlife was born — not from a place of strategy or long-term vision, but from an urgent emotional need to give back. I had spent much of my life photographing nature, traveling across the globe, building a connection to the landscapes and wildlife that had given me so much joy. When tourism — a lifeline for many conservation efforts — came to a halt during the pandemic, I knew we, as humans, couldn’t just watch as the natural world bore the brunt of human inaction.

Together with my dear friend and fellow photographer, Pie Aerts, we reached out to our community. The response was humbling. Within weeks, dozens of photographers came forward, donating their work to help raise funds for frontline conservation efforts. No ego. No gimmicks. Just generosity. Just love for nature. Prints for Wildlife launched as a simple idea: to use photography to support those protecting wildlife on the frontline.

Now, five years later, that idea has grown into a global movement. More than 240 photographers have joined us and donated their incredible artworks. We’ve raised over $2.1 million and shipped thousands of prints to homes in over 50 countries. But even more importantly, we’ve built a community united by a shared belief: that art has the power to create real change.

Why 2025 Matters More Than Ever

This year, Prints for Wildlife returns with a new theme: Edition Hope. And honestly, the timing couldn’t be more urgent.

While the world has moved past the pandemic, a quieter, more insidious crisis is threatening the planet we all share. Across the globe, conservation funding is being slashed. Environmental protections are being weakened. Nature is once again being treated as a resource to extract rather than a gift to protect.

This isn’t just alarming — it’s heartbreaking, especially for someone like me, who has witnessed firsthand what happens when ecosystems are nurtured and protected instead of being exploited. But amid the setbacks, there is also resilience. There are still people fighting. Still communities rising. Still hope.

And that’s what this edition is about: refusing to give up. Holding on to what matters. Believing in the power of collective action, even when the odds feel stacked against us.

Photography as a Tool for Change

When I first picked up a camera, I never imagined it would one day become a tool for conservation. But over the years, I’ve learned that photography can do more than document beauty — it can stir empathy. It can build bridges between people and places they may never visit. It can make the abstract — climate change, extinction, loss — feel deeply personal.

That’s why every image in this year’s collection is more than just a photograph. It’s a call to action. Over 200 photographers — from icons like Joel Sartore, Suzi Eszterhas, Florian Ledoux, and Shane Gross to young, emerging voices from across the globe — have donated their images, each with its own story, its own heartbeat. These are not just pictures; they are love letters to the planet.

Printed on sustainable Hahnemühle Natural Line Hemp paper and limited to just 50 copies each, the prints are available for $125. The fundraiser runs from August 21 to September 21, 2025 — just one month to make an impact.

And here’s the part I’m proudest of: 100% of net proceeds go directly to Conservation International, one of the world’s leading nonprofits in science-led, community-driven conservation.

“We need to reestablish our frayed connection to nature in order to value and protect it. This is where imagery is so powerful”, said Conservation International CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan. “These stunning, unique prints from world-renowned and deeply committed photographers offer us a chance to bring nature into our homes, while contributing meaningfully to its protection for the benefit of all life on our planet.”

Working in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, businesses, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to restore forests, protect oceans, conserve biodiversity and secure sustainable livelihoods for communities living closest to nature. In the face of escalating climate change and biodiversity loss, its work is more vital than ever.

Hope, Framed

I often think back to that first print we sold in 2020. I remember some of the buyers sharing photos of their prints framed on their walls, writing, “This makes me feel like I did something meaningful today.”

That stuck with me because that’s what Prints for Wildlife is all about — giving people a tangible way to act. In a world where the problems can feel too vast, too distant, too heavy, we offer something different: a chance to connect, contribute, and carry hope from our homes into the world.

When you buy a print, you’re not just getting a piece of art. You’re funding real-world conservation. You’re helping communities protect what’s left of their natural resources and threatened wildlife. And you’re saying — with your wallet, your wall, your heart — that nature matters.

Join Us

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the state of the world, I see you. I’ve felt it too. But I also believe that we are never powerless. We can always choose to care. To act. To give back.

Prints for Wildlife began as an answer to crisis — a response born in stillness. Today, it’s a testament to what we can do when we come together for a cause greater than ourselves.

I invite you to join us in our new campaign. Frame a piece of hope and help protect the wild, wonderful planet that inspires us all. Let’s turn photography into action — one print at a time.

Marion Payr is the co-founder of Prints for Wildlife. Learn more about and support Prints for Wildlife at www.printsforwildlife.org