National Geographic Society

The stars align when Explorers come together! This week, #NatGeoExplorers from around the globe return to Base Camp in Washington, D.C., to convene for our annual Explorers Festival. It’s an inspiring week of innovation and collaboration – and, to hear about the latest discoveries, insights and solutions for creating a more sustainable future. Tune in to our Instagram and Facebook Stories as we share updates from #NatGeoFest. Photo by Mark Thiessen

Niue, the small island nation of the Pacific, is home to some of the most stunning reefs on the planet – reefs that have sustained and nourished the Niuean people for generations. Now, in the face of a rapidly warming climate, this tight-knit community is taking action to protect their ocean and their way of life. From National Geographic Society Pristine Seas comes “Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue,” a new documentary film out now on National Geographic TV.

Across expertises in oceanography, marine/coastal ecology, climate science, ocean exploration technology, community-based conservation and other related fields — our goal at the National Geographic Society is to inspire people around the globe to better understand and protect the world’s ocean. The stories surfaced by our #NatGeoExplorers aim to understand and conserve marine and coastal systems, and inspire us to find solutions to protect them. As of today, we have helped protect millions of square oceanic miles through our Explorer-led programs. Meet some of our Explorers leading this work: 🌊 Aristide Takoukam Kamla has worked on the conservation of the African manatee and other large aquatic wildlife in Cameroon, his native country, since 2008. He is a marine researcher, conservationist and Nature, Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Fellow as part of our Explorer-led program, Africa Refocused. (Photo by Jahawi Bertolli) 🌊 Sruthi Gurudev, an eco-journalist, writes about ocean conservation, creating a network of empowered youth around the world. At 22 years old, she proves that age doesn't matter when it comes to protecting the ocean. (Photo by Jennifer Adler) 🐋 David Gruber is the founder and president of Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), a nonprofit, interdisciplinary scientific and conservation initiative. They are on a mission to listen to and translate the communication of sperm whales. (Photo by Michael Lees) #WorldOceanDay

Filmmaker, photographer and #NatGeoExplorer Nova West routinely sails the ocean documenting exciting deep-sea research — from shipwrecks to inquisitive marine creatures — while aboard the E/V Nautilus, a deep-sea exploration vessel led by Nat Geo Explorer at Large Bob Ballard. The most challenging part of their job? Not the wild landscapes they work in, West shares, but working around people’s perceptions: “While on expedition you never know where you’ll go or who you’ll encounter, which can add an extra layer of considerations as a nonbinary explorer. Regardless, telling the stories of our wild planet always keeps me grounded and focused on ways I can be a role model and open doors for others.” Currently, West is focused on their filmmaking project, “Out in the Wild” and hopes it’ll mark a new era of holistic wildlife storytelling. “[My project] specifically focuses on sharing the untold stories of queerness in nature, which is an entire spectrum of behaviors and traits that have historically been omitted from wildlife filmmaking.” More about West’s work: https://lnkd.in/eZBDmPBG Here, with the E/V Nautilus in the distance, Nova preps their camera while on assignment in Lānaʻi, Hawai'i. Photo by Marley Parker/Ocean Exploration Trust #PrideMonth

Welcome the 15 newly-named #NatGeoExplorers as recipients of the 2024 Wayfinder Award presented by Kia! 🎉 From an Indigenous ecologist working to restore the American bison on tribal lands to a conservation scientist advocating for the protection of the Arabian Sea’s coastal habitat and species, the 2024 recipients are recognized for pushing the boundaries in science, conservation, education, technology and storytelling — all to propel the National Geographic Society’s mission forward of illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world. Thank you Kia America for sponsoring this year's awards! Meet the recipients: https://lnkd.in/eK_dh7Vb Photo of Rinzin Phunjok Lama by Tashi R. Ghale

How do monsoons impact the cultivation of rice? 🌾 #NatGeoExplorer, visual storyteller and geographer Alisha Vasudev’s participatory multimedia project “Saukaash Jaa,” or “Go Carefully,” supported by a grant from the National Geographic Society, looks at the impacts in three villages of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India. “With the southwest monsoon increasingly being characterized with short intense bursts of rainfall interspersed with long dry spells, I set out to understand how a staple crop like rice, that is known to withstand a lot of water, fares in the face of extreme rainfall,” Vasudev shares. Video credits: animated by Paus, translations by Anuvaad Solutions, with special thanks from Alisha Vasudev to People's Empowerment Movement, Sangmeshwar and members of the farming community in Ratnagiri, India. #WorldEnvironmentDay

Peatlands are one of the world’s most important forms of wetland environments. While they make up just three percent of the total land of Earth, they hold twice as much carbon than the world’s forests combined. As natural carbon sinks, they are constantly waterlogged, holding just enough water to create an anoxic, or oxygen deficient, environment. This allows vegetation to grow, but not decompose fully, allowing carbon to accumulate in the soil. The ability of peatlands to accumulate and store massive amounts of carbon is a huge asset in mitigating the effects of climate change; however, they also pose an enormous risk. Damage to peatlands from insufficient water, fire or conversion to other land uses can turn them into sources of carbon. The National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project team has worked to scientifically map and quantify the extent of peatlands in the Angolan Highlands Water Tower. Filling this research gap is essential in an uncertain climate future that depends on these intact, natural carbon sinks. Photo by Kostadin Luchansky #WorldPeatlandsDay

Congratulations to the awardees of the 2024 National Geographic/Buffett Awards for Leadership in Conservation: Julio César Hernández-Montoya and Peter Lalampaa! The Awards were established in partnership with The Howard G. Buffett Foundation to recognize and celebrate unsung conservation heroes. Two are presented each year: one for achievement in Africa and the other for achievement in Latin America. Julio César Hernández-Montoya has contributed to the conservation and ecological restoration of the islands of Mexico, and Peter Lalampaa works at the intersection of herding livestock and coexistence with wildlife in Kenya. Discover more about this year’s impressive awardees: https://lnkd.in/eQs9sSzv. Photo by © GECI / J.A. Soriano (left), Elizabeth Shrier Wild Elements Studios (right)

Photographer, marine biologist and #NatGeoExplorer Cristina "Mitty" Mittermeier has journeyed to every corner of the world to record the beauty of our planet and the various cultures and traditions of its inhabitants. “My intention as an artist is to share my thirty years of experience behind the lens in hopes of cultivating a greater understanding of our planet. I cannot claim to have all the answers, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that our world is as beautiful and wild as it is fragile. The sooner we find our way back to balance within its ecosystems, the closer we are to a future grounded in a deeper wisdom,” Mittermeier says. Her photographs tell the stories of communities all over the world that maintain a link with nature and have a deep understanding of the delicate balance of our ecosystem. In a new exhibition at Gallerie d'Italia – Turin, developed in collaboration with National Geographic, around 90 of her photographs showcase her important research work. "Cristina Mittermeier. A Greater Wisdom” is on display now through Sept. 1. Learn more at gallerieditalia.com. Photos by Andrea Guermani for Gallerie d'Italia/Intesa Sanpaolo

Photographer, storyteller and #NatGeoExplorer Arin Yoon’s work focuses on the military community; trauma and healing; notions of family; and issues of identity and representation. Yoon’s latest project, “To Be At War,” is a multimedia interactive website, designed by Min-chi Hsieh Roux, that examines the lasting impacts of war through first-person narratives from members of the post-9/11 military community. The photos seen here share the story of Iliana Cimarrusti and her journey grappling with the loss of her husband, Ernesto, who was killed during his third tour of duty in Iraq in March 2008. Visit https://lnkd.in/e-Z5X4zN to read their love story as told in Iliana’s own words, beginning with them both enlisting in the U.S. Army after high school in 2000, through his three tours to Iraq and coping with the aftermath of his death. Captions: Ernesto Cimarrusti during his second deployment to Iraq in 2005; the building that Cimarrusti and his squad used as shelter during his first deployment to Iraq; Cimarrusti holds his daughter Vivianaiy during homecoming from his first deployment. Photos courtesy of Iliana Cimarrusti #MemorialDay