GUARDIANS OF LIFE

This visual essay book, featuring full-color photographs taken by National Geographic photojournalist Yüyan, documents conservation practices by Indigenous communities in nine different parts of the world: Alaska, Palau, Ecuador, Mongolia, Australia, Greenland, California, Alberta–Montana, and Vancouver Island. Each location corresponds with a specific conservation effort—such as the Iñupiats’ efforts to restore the bowhead whale population in Alaska or the Cofáns’ attempts to preserve the rainforest in Ecuador—and is addressed in an essay by one of a group of writers (including an activist, a politician, and a bestselling author) detailing the work being done. These brief essays introduce terms like “traditional ecological knowledge” (which is essentially “the fine-grained, practical understanding that comes from centuries of experience in a specific landscape”) and include quotes from the people directly involved in the conservation efforts. The majority of the book consists of Yüyan’s photographs, which reflect the experiences of those who tirelessly work to protect their corner of the Earth and celebrate the breathtaking places and animals that need protecting. The text brims with fascinating facts and insights, from the “lemony taste” of the green tree ants in Wujal Wujal, Queensland, to 500-year-old Siberian larch trees that show no signs of aging. Yüyan’s stunning photographs evoke the essences of his human and animal subjects with a sense of profound respect. Whether depicting a shaman with hands outstretched toward the sky, parents pushing baby strollers across sea ice, or spotted jellyfish dancing underwater, the photographs capture the wonder that exists in the natural world—if only we take a moment to stop and look. The perfectly balanced combination of photos and text makes for a breathtaking expression of awe for the beautiful planet we all call home.