Earlier this year, we shared the results of a global survey sent to Flickr photographers asking how open spaces play an important role in their photography. Whether they were professional photographers or hobbyists, the results were clear: protecting open spaces is critical to the photography industry. You can read more about the detailed findings to that survey in the Flickr blog.

Efforts in Nature Preservation

As we continue hearing similar sentiments from photographers all over the world, we pursue our own ongoing conservation efforts by partnering with organizations whose campaigns aim to protect these sacred and beautiful public spaces. One of these is the effort to Save the Boundary Waters, which was started in 2013 by the organization Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness (NMW). Their primary goal is to permanently protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, located in Northeastern Minnesota, from sulfide-ore copper mining. The Boundary Waters Wilderness consists of massive interconnected waterways and unspoiled forest and is part of the U.S Wilderness preservation system.

Flickr members have been documenting their visits to this much loved area in Northern Minnesota for years. The photos from their memorable adventures, which number in the thousands, show untarnished lands and clean waterways, and clearly convey why initiatives like Save the Boundary Waters are so important to the photography community. To see some of those beautiful shots, visit this Flickr gallery and enjoy the view!

Why the Boundary Waters?

The Boundary Waters is known for its unique, highly sought after recreational opportunities which include canoeing, hiking, paddle boarding, camping, dogsledding, capturing wildlife photography and more. It is also a designated International Dark Sky Sanctuary where visitors can view stars at their brightest and witness stunning displays of the Northern Lights or brilliant Milky Way scenes, making it an epic destination for photographers.

The recreational opportunities available within this popular Wilderness Area help supply the surrounding local economies with jobs and revenue, touching towns from Ely to Grand Marais, MN. The Boundary Waters is equally an important part of a critical ecosystem that supports local wildlife and also contains 20 percent of all the freshwater in the entire U.S. National Forest System. Simply put, the resources that this large area of wilderness provides to the surrounding communities, the wildlife and their habitats are life sustaining and irreplaceable.

So what can you do to help?

Whether you have been to the Boundary Waters or another public open space, your voice and support in protecting these lands is crucial. Here are some easy ways to help:

• Visit Save the Boundary Waters’ website and learn more about the campaign. 
• Reach out to Congress and ask your elected officials to support legislation that will better protect these lands. 
• Consider joining a volunteer team at Save the Boundary Waters.
• Share photos of your visits to this beloved wilderness or other beautiful open spaces, in our Flickr for the Planet group and get the discussion going with other like-minded nature photographers.

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