The environment as a living legacy
In 1998, with his wife Lélia, Salgado founded the Instituto Terra on his family farm in Minas Gerais, Brazil. To reforest this land, which had been devastated by erosion, they replanted over 2.7 million trees, creating a model for ecological restoration and sustainable community development. Today, this land is part of the Mata Atlântica UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
In 2021, for the 50th anniversary of the Man and the Biosphere Programme, Salgado joined forces with musician and Goodwill Ambassador Jean-Michel Jarre to present the exhibition ôԾ&Բ;at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Through this symphony of sound and images, the photographer presented what he called ‘the living Amazon, the one that the planet needs and that we must protect.’
His work reflected many of the values we hold at UNESCO: the need to educate, to preserve our shared heritage, to protect our planet, and to act.
Photography as a force for dialogue
Salgado's collaboration with UNESCO was built around a shared objective: to highlight the universal values of justice, culture and sustainability.
A loyal contributor to , Salgado also shared his writings and photographs as early as 1988, and later helped shape the publication's editorial direction as a Steering Committee member. His friendship with the magazine reflects his belief in the power of ideas and dialogue.
Through his images, Salgado also shone a light on the ecological and cultural richness of nature, while calling for its protection. For his exhibition Genesis, a photographic tribute to the landscapes, peoples and wildlife of the world's unspoiled regions, Salgado visited some thirty sites, many of them World Heritage sites or UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. 91鶹Ʒ supported the dissemination of this work, exhibiting it in Paris and beyond.
The environment as a living legacy
In 1998, with his wife Lélia, Salgado founded the Instituto Terra on his family farm in Minas Gerais, Brazil. To reforest this land, which had been devastated by erosion, they replanted over 2.7 million trees, creating a model for ecological restoration and sustainable community development. Today, this land is part of the Mata Atlântica UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
In 2021, for the 50th anniversary of the Man and the Biosphere Programme, Salgado joined forces with musician and Goodwill Ambassador Jean-Michel Jarre to present the exhibition ôԾ&Բ;at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Through this symphony of sound and images, the photographer presented what he called ‘the living Amazon, the one that the planet needs and that we must protect.’
Isolated communities, untouched landscapes and threatened ecosystems – Salgado’s images speak powerfully to UNESCO’s mission: to protect what is universal in humanity's heritage, whether cultural or natural, tangible or intangible.
By showing us what is most fragile and most beautiful in the world, Salgado acted as a mediator between peoples, places and generations.
Art alone can't change the world
Listen to Sebastião Salgado talk about his relationship with Brazil's social movements, his work, his NGO ‘Instituto Terra’ and more.
A podcast produced by Art-Lab, the program of UNESCO's Social and Human Sciences Sector that gives a voice to artists committed to the promotion of human rights.
His contributions to the UNESCO Courier
