If you have been in the city center recently you’ve no doubt noticed the exhibition that is occupying the Lange Vijverberg, the leafy walk that looks out onto the Hofvijver. From 27 May - 30 August, this inaugural exhibition, entitled ‘The Wild Wonders of Europe’ will remain for all to see. In fact, The Hague is one of a handful of cities in Europe lucky enough to host the outdoor display, along with Genova, Prague and Brussels. The touring exhibition is set to visit over 30 European cities to inspire a better understanding of European wildlife and biodiversity. The incredible images are the result of a three-year initiative which has seen 68 of Europe’s top wildlife photographers capturing images that demonstrate Europe’s unique natural heritage.

So what is the exhibition about? As its name suggests, it is a display of photography, taken by multi award winning photographers, that endeavors to commemorate the UN year of biodiversity and aim to help protect endangered plant and animal species.

“The Wild Wonders of Europe is a World First.” explains Staffan Widstrand, Wild Wonders of Europe Managing Director, “Never before has the Crown Jewels of the natural heritage of an entire continent been shown to the World, through a concentrated effort by a large team of the top nature photographers from that continent.

The Wild Wonders of Europe is not just about a lot of beautiful pictures. Within the images lie some very powerful messages, which are the foundation of the entire project. What the exhibition means to express is that our natural heritage is wonderful, enjoyable, varied and vitally important to us all. The exhibition aims to celebrate that nature conservation works.

“We wanted to tell the good news story that almost nobody knows about, that we have a strong wildlife comeback in Europe right now. A comeback that is the result of a shift in attitude amongst Europeans over the past 30 years. Europe has taken a lot of decisions in favour of wildlife and nature, and this has had clear positive results, but few people know about this news.” Staffan Widstrand elaborates.

The Natura 2000 system is the World’s largest network of protected areas, now covering over 18 % of the land area in the EU.

European species such as wolves, bears, wolverines, red deer, bison, otters, beavers, wild boar, seals, geese, ducks, cranes, vultures, herons, owls and eagles are coming back in numbers.

But at the same, Europe has major biodiversity problems connected with intensive, unsustainable forestry and farming practices that have little regard for biodiversity. Europe’s marine fisheries are a total disaster, for example, the incredible Bluefin tuna, which is now on the verge of extinction, were consequently the only species that had to be photographed in captivity. A species that, for thousands of years, supported entire cultures.

“Biodiversity means the variety of Life on Earth. And we want to be a part of helping to defend it. That is why we have chosen to launch the Exhibitions and the book during the “UN International Year of Biodiversity 2010,” says Business Director, Peter Cairns.

Finally, the initiative aims to provide one of the seldom heard answers to the contemporary question: “What is Europe?” The debate so far has mostly circled around cultural heritage, politics, agreements, wars, institutions, currencies. But the basis for every European culture, since the dawn of human life in Europe, has been the natural heritage that was here. Olive trees, cork oaks, chestnuts, tuna fish, deer, aurochs, bison, mushrooms, berries, grape vines, cod, herring, salmon, moose, acorns, grouse, geese, wild boar, hazelnuts, pine trees, firs, oaks and more. The variety of life that provided our food, shelter, tools and medicine, allowing us to become the civilisation we are now.
 

All photographers of The Wild Wonders of Europe are multiple award winners in international and national competitions. Among them, winners of the “World Press Award”, the “Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award”, the “National Geographic Photo Contest”, the “European Wildlife Photographer of the Year” and many others. Many have produced books of their own on the subject of conservation and photography. All of them are frequent presenters of multi media shows at photo festivals around Europe.

As part of its support for the Wild Wonders of Europe project, Epson provided over 350m2 of exceptional quality photographic prints that form the touring outdoor exhibition.

The exhibition was officially opened in The Hague on 27 May by Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of The Netherlands.
 

Make sure you take time in passing to soak up the spectacular display along the Lange Vijverberg.

Holly Marder

* Information provided by The Wild Wonders of Europe

Images:

Birds Markus Varesvuo

Apollo butterfly, Fliesser Sonnenhaenge, Austria by Niall Benvie, Scotland

Big Beak Birds - White Pelicans of the Danube Deltaby Manuel Presti, Italy

Transylvania - Myth and wilderness of the Carpathians by Cornelia Doerr - Germany

Turquoise Lakes and Limestone Carst in Plitvice NP by Maurizio Biancarelli, Italy

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