PROJECT INFORMATION  
Project Canada is a solo freelance project by Arthur Sevestre, a nature photographer, writer and biologist (MSc.) from the Netherlands.
contact information: e-mail: arthur@project-canada.com, tel.: +31 (0)6 38110464  

Project mission: To raise awareness of the natural values of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
A raised awareness will motivate people to contribute to a more sustainable future for the areas natural system. It will also make them realise that in fact they are part of that natural system and that humanity does not stand above nature. This means that taking care of the natural world around you, is taking care of yourself. So even though the Canadian Rockies are the specific subject for this project, the principle goes for the whole world.

Project goals: Show people how rich the natural system in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is and what humanity's role in that system is.
Unlike the largest part of the natural systems remaining in the rich western 'developed' world, the Canadian Rocky Mountains still harbour completely intact ecosystems, including large predators like bears, wolves, cougars, lynx and wolverines. This is much more important than most people realise. An intact ecosystem with a healthy diversity is much stronger and more stable and has a much larger capability of adapting to change. In this day and age where climate change is an undeniable fact (if we do not count the roughly 2% of scientists financed by oil companies and oil-hungry governments), that is literally a priceless thing. After all, all those areas that will not have the strength to adapt when the changes really hit home (they have already started in many places) will likely collapse and be lost forever. We will never be able to replace them. That is the true meaning of 'priceless' here and it outweighs any other economic value for natural areas. Project Canada aims to clarify this. The interesting fact is that it has been proven many times already that this most certainly does not have to mean that our economy will have to suffer. Developments towards (more) sustainable practices have brought great increases in revenue for many companies that have taken the big steps of reducing waste, CO2 emissions etc.

Project objectives: Publishing articles and photographs in magazines and newspapers; producing photo exhibitions and books; giving presentations in schools and communities.
Through a variety of media and communication methods Project Canada aims to reach as many people around the world as possible. By specifically addressing the youth, it is hoped to enthuse the future leaders for the environment. For information about bookings for presentations, please contact Arthur Sevestre.

Project history: The project started in 2005.
See the 'Publications and Press' page for a list of publications so far.

Project budget: So far, Project Canada has been mostly self-financed. My mother and main sponsor carried some of the costs as well, for which I am eternally grateful. In 2007 I was happy to find a few people willing to sponsor the project as well, making it possible for me to prolong the second fieldwork period somewhat and to finance part of the third fieldwork period as well. Currently I am working hard to be able to afford more time in Canada in 2008 and hopefully I will be able to secure some sponsoring and funding as well.

Project structure: Project Canada is a freelance solo project by Dutch nature photographer, writer and biologist (MSc.) Arthur Sevestre.
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Why Project Canada?

Many millions of people visit the Canadian Rocky Mountains every year. Most of them leave for home again mightily impressed by what they have seen. Magnificent views lie behind every corner, and deer, elk, moose, bears etc. can often be found without leaving the car or even the highway. And it must be said: This huge area is beautiful. However, this beauty easily leads to the impression that the Canadian Rockies are an enormous and indestructible stronghold of nature, where people are merely spectators. Unfortunately this is far from the truth. Instead of spectators, humans are becoming more like bulldozers.

Take the image of the Vermillion Lakes in the header of this page as an example. Right behind the first trees on the left is the Trans Canada Highway, which claims the life of much wildlife. Behind that is a road up a mountain towards a skiing area. Running in front of the mountains on the right side is the busy railway connecting Vancouver with the east, that also kills much wildlife each year. In the center of the image, just behind the trees, lies the small town of Banff,  packed with tourists through most of the  year. If you would not know this area, you would not think from the photo that this is but a small oasis of peace and beauty in a place that is heavily affected by humans. 4.5 million visitors pass this little area each year and that is not counting the locals and all the transport trucks.

And so it is with many parts of this huge area. The area is still beautiful and the quality and quantity of natural values is unmatched in the Western 'developed' world. However, when one gets to know the area a little better it becomes clear that the changes brought by humans are enormous. For example, the valley where Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise have been built used to be an important wildlife corridor. With the towns in place, along with the highway, railway and tourist attractions throughout the area, wildlife has little space left to travel through this valley. This is also the case  in many other places around the Rockies. Ironically, it is often in the national parks that tourists have a huge impact on the natural values. Also, mostly outside the national parks, the search for coal, wood, and oil takes its toll on the Rockies. Because of all these things, connectivity that has existed throughout the area for thousands and thousands of years is getting weaker and weaker. If these developments will continue, the natural values will be pushed back onto shrinking 'islands' in an 'ocean' of cultivated or even urbanised land. It does not have to be this way and it is not too  late yet to save and strengthen the natural system of which we ultimately are part.

However, it seems as if so far these changes still continue and that the speed of those changes is only increasing. In about fifteen  years, the number of visitors to the Rocky Mountains is expected to double itself. Many baby boomers will probably move to the 'quiet' Rocky Mountains to spend their retirement there, so the towns will only grow faster. With unrest in the Middle East it seems likely that oil reserves in Canada will be exploited more and more. Most importantly, global warming is expected to bring even more radical changes within the coming decades. And the list goes on.

If the natural values in the Canadian Rockies are to have a chance, if we want this area to remain a stronghold of nature, things will have to happen. One of the first things necessary is that people are aware of the situation and about what can be done to improve it. That is exactly what this project is all about.

Its main goal is to raise awareness of the natural values in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, as well as of how the ever-increasing human activity is affecting these values. This goal will be achieved by producing photographs and articles in national and international magazines, and eventually by producing a book and a photo exhibition.

The project is a freelance solo project that I work on as a photographer, writer and biologist from the Netherlands. So far, the project is almost exclusively financed by myself. I have been in the area from 16 September to 16 November 2005 to initiate the project. During that period I have explored part of the Rockies in Alberta and British Columbia. I have also been building a network with organisations like The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, The Grizzly Bear Alliance and  Parks Canada. This network will provide me with information and more contacts. Last but not least I have been able to build a reasonable portfolio of images since that time too. 2007 saw two fieldwork periods, which have been extremely useful to make more photos, meet more people to extend my network and just to learn more about the area. More time in Canada is already booked for 2008 and I hope to spend at least half of the year there! Things are going forward well!

This website provides an overview of the project as it progresses. Apart from a selection of photographs taken during my stays in Canada, information about relevant developments are given too. During the period that I spend in Canada, regular updates are posted in the "News" section of the site.

Please feel free to browse through the gallery and to read more about the project. The photos are for sale and the revenues will be used to finance the project. If you have any questions or comments about any part of the project, please feel free to contact me by email.

Kind regards,

Arthur Sevestre