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EXPLORING BOLIVIA'S BIODIVERSITYJanuary 25, 2005-August 7, 2005  Vicuñas© Hermes JustinianoExploring Bolivia's Biodiversity, an exhibition of over 30 spectacular color photographs, opened January 25, 2005, at the American Museum of Natural History. On view through August 7, 2005, the exhibition transports visitors through Bolivia's varied landscapes, from the jagged and majestic Andes to the dense lowland tropical forests of the Amazon and the dry forests of the Chaco. The vividly beautiful photographs highlight how the livelihoods and cultures of Bolivia's diverse peoples are inextricably tied to nature in many ways, from agriculture, architecture, and textiles, to traditional medicines and spirituality. The exhibition, which features informative captions in English and Spanish, also brings to light the collaboration between the Museum's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and Bolivian scientists and resource managers to survey critical habitats in protected areas and support community-based conservation projects, including the creation of community museums that interpret biological and cultural heritage for visitors.  Blue-and-yellow Macaws© Hermes JustinianoBolivia's tropical location and its dramatic variations in topography and climate result in a wide range of ecosystems, and its diversity of animal and plant life is among the greatest in the world. The country has designated over 17 percent of its land as protected areas. More than half of Bolivia's 8.7 million people are indigenous, descendents of those who lived there long before Spanish explorers arrived. The dozens of ethnic groups in Bolivia have adapted to the country's diverse landscapes and natural resources, and many continue traditions of weaving textiles and building homes from natural materials, and of farming and raising livestock.  Chiquitano Orchid© Hermes JustinianoExploring Bolivia's Biodiversity features images taken by a number of renowned photographers, including Hermes Justiniano, Willy Kenning, and Peter McFarren. Among the highlights of the exhibition are stunning photographs of Catarata el Encanto ("enchanted waterfall"); La Paz, the world's highest capital city, at more than twice the elevation of Denver, Colorado; the colorful woven shawls of Curva; and extraordinary Chiquitano orchids. Exploring Bolivia's Biodiversity will be adapted for permanent display at the Museum's partner institutions in Bolivia: the National Museum of Natural History in La Paz and the Noel Kempff Mercado Natural History Museum in Santa Cruz. This exhibition is made possible by the generosity of the Arthur Ross Foundation. |
