Montier-en-Der Photo Festival, France – Coral reefs: a challenge for humanity

This year, the Montier-en-Der International Festival of Animal and Nature Photography will feature the photo exhibition ‘Coral reefs, a challenge for humanity’. This powerful work will be presented from the 15th to the 18th of November to visitors of the Montier-en-Der festival, drawing their attention to the seriousness of coral reef degradation. 

The exhibition displays the work of photojournalist Alexis Rosenfeld and journalist Alexie Valois through remarkable pictures of corals and extensive multimedia content (articles, interviews and 360° underwater photos), thus giving the public the opportunity to visually immerse themselves in the little-known world of coral reefs. It poses the beauty of these jewels of biodiversity, the stakes of scientific monitoring and the importance of conservation efforts.

Also, an exceptional conference will be held on November the 17th at 14H with the photographic exhibition’s author and two key figures of France’s marine conservation field: 

• Bernard Salvat is an eminence in France’s coral reef research. He founded the ‘Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement’ (CRIOBE), a distinguished French laboratory on coral reef research based in French Polynesia. He is former President of the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) and chaired the Coordinating and Planning Committee (CPC) of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) in 1999-2000. He participated in the founding of the French Coral Reef Initiative (IFRECOR) in 1999 and worked until 2010 on its development in French overseas territories. 
• Anne Caillaud is IUCN French Committee’s Overseas program manager. She has more than 10 years professional experience in marine resources management, particularly in coral reef conservation issues, as she has previously worked in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and in the International Coral Reef Initiative’s (ICRI) secretariat. Her strong understanding of public sector mechanisms and governance requirements give her valuable insight into much-needed conservation strategies. 
• Alexis ROSENFELD is the creator of ‘Coral reefs, a challenge for humanity’. Submarine photo specialist, for the past 20 years his work has appeared in the French and international press. He produces corporate stories for major companies and has co-authored “Iles pionnières” (Actes Sud) and “Madagascar, l’ile océan” (Editions Autrement). Alexis Rosenfeld is a member of Divergence Images.