In June 2023, UNESCO designated the Tribugá-Cupica-Baudo region as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, the first such site on Colombia’s Pacific coast. Stretching nearly 600,000 hectares from Cabo Corrientes to Punta Cruces in Bahía Solano, the reserve shelters one of the most intact mosaics of ecosystems in the country: coral reefs, dense mangroves, and rainforest that feed directly into the Pacific.
Benjamín González, co-founder of Guardianes Del Mar, removes lead weights from a recently recovered ghost net. The reclaimed metal is later melted down and repurposed into new diving weight belts.
A local fisherman carries a freshly caught red snapper, destined for the kitchen at Benjamín Gonzaléz’s La Jovesina eco-lodge in Guachalito, Colombia. Here, subsistence and artisanal fishing are lifelines that help preserve culture, sustain local families, and protect the marine ecosystem through sustainable practices.
KOYRA, KHULNA DISTRICT, BANGLADESH-FEBRUARY 2025: Subidita Munda stands in front of her home in Koyra, Bangladesh. Homes here are often made from a combination of eco-friendly materials including clay, mud, straw, and bamboo, and feature a thatched roof. These homes are structurally resilient, and provide stability during heavy rains and tropical storms. In the event that houses are lost in the aftermath of storms and flooding, these materials are readily available and make it easier for communities to repair or rebuild damaged homes more quickly.
At a modest household shrine in Khulna, Bangladesh, Gita Mondal sits before statues of her gods.
In Koyra, Bangladesh, a group of Hindu women undertake a demanding 4-kilometer journey to fetch clean water, a task that falls solely on their shoulders.
