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President's Message Keeping Every Cog and Wheel "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution to intelligent tinkering." In the winter of 1995, a creature missing nearly 75 years from the Yellowstone landscape was reintroduced. Weathering decades of planning meetings, public debates, and political battles, the wolf was finally put back in place. Through the hard work, dedication, and tireless efforts of hundreds of resource professionals and others, a missing piece of our nation's natural heritage was restored. Today, several packs of wolves - the ultimate symbol of wilderness -- roam the Yellowstone landscape and the Idaho wilderness. Oftentimes, humans have failed to use intelligent tinkering to ensure all the cogs and wheels remain in place. As Leopold alluded to in the quote above, in some cases, we have had to do some intelligent tinkering to put missing parts back in their rightful place. During the same week the wolves were released, NANPA hosted its very first Summit, in Fort Meyers, Florida. Two historic events were happening at the same time, and my family was involved in both of them. I was attending the Summit, while my wife Jamie, who at the time was Assistant Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was one of major players in the wolf reintroduction program. Throughout the week, Jamie updated me on the latest wolf news. During one of our conversations, she said, "Tell them [nature photographers] thanks for what they have done to help make the wolf release a reality." She said that without a doubt, the thousands of images of wolves used in magazine articles, posters, calendars, and other products played a major role in ensuring the success of the reintroduction program. During an open forum session, I conveyed Jamie's message that neither she nor the conservation community could do it alone. They needed our help. To me, if there was ever any validation about the importance of photography to help make change, this was it. To have someone outside our profession affirm the significance of what we do to promote and protect the environment carries more credibility than doing it ourselves. Jamie went on to serve as the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. During her tenure, she reminded everyone about the role nature photography plays in creating awareness, developing support and inciting action in the protection of our wildlands and wildlife. One of the first actions she completed as Director was to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Service and NANPA, which formed a conservation partnership that to this day remains strong. During her time as Director, the California condor, the black-footed ferret and the Mexican gray wolf were reintroduced back into their habitats. More special places were added to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Effort was placed on restoring endangered species and wetlands. During each of these actions, Jaime acknowledged the importance of nature photography in getting the conservation message to the public. She recognized the power an image can evoke in people's hearts and minds. Nature photography makes a difference. Our images of nature, from the most charismatic megafauna to the smallest insect, have the power to create a sense of wonder in people, no matter the age. Equally as important, our images can make a change for the better. Our photographs have been instrumental in helping to protect and restore endangered species, protect ecosystems around the world, and increase public support for environmental protection. At the 2003 NANPA Summit in Albuquerque, some extraordinary photographers will share their stories with us. In all of these presentations, you will witness the dedication and the passion they possess in capturing the best of nature on film. You'll hear about their dedication to the craft of nature photography. And you'll see firsthand what being an advocate for the environment is all about. In their images and their words, they each have made major contributions to the protection of our wild, wonderful world. No matter the photographic skill level you possess, nor the size of the audience that sees your images, you can make a difference in how others become aware of this amazing yet fragile world of ours. Keep using your photography and your passion for nature to excite the world. Make a difference. Site Index Search Disclaimers Contact Us  North American Nature Photography Association 10200 West 44th Avenue, Suite 304 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-2840, USA Phone: 303-422-8527 Fax: 303-422-8894 E-mail: info@nanpa.org © 2001 All Rights Reserved |
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