As the world commemorates World Environment Day under the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” the Safal Eye in the Wild (SEIW) Photography Competition today took its conservation mission beyond the lens and into action through the establishment of the Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition Green Zone at Lenana School.
The initiative saw the planting of over 1,000 indigenous and fruit tree seedlings, demonstrating how conservation storytelling can translate into tangible environmental impact while advancing climate action and environmental stewardship.
Speaking during the event, Head of Safal MRM Foundation Siprosa Rabach said the Green Zone reflects the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that the conservation conversations inspired through Safal Eye in the Wild result in measurable environmental impact.
“Today is a special day for us because we are launching Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition Green Zone demonstrates how environmental awareness can be transformed into meaningful action. Through the Foundation where we are going to plant more than 1,000 seedlings. Safal Eye in the Wild was founded on the belief that conservation is not simply something we observe through a camera lens; it is something we actively participate in. As we mark World Environment Day, the establishment of the Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition Green Zone demonstrates how environmental awareness can be transformed into meaningful action. Through the Foundation, we are creating opportunities for communities, young people and environmental champions to become active stewards of nature while contributing to a more sustainable future,” said Rabach.
Driven by the Safal MRM Foundation and supported by Mabati Rolling Mills (MRM), the Green Zone serves as a physical expression of the vision behind Safal Eye in the Wild; a conservation-focused photography competition that uses the power of visual storytelling to raise environmental awareness, inspire action and create educational opportunities for future generations.
Dennis Litu, the teacher in charge of environment, and climate change revealed that the photography competition saw the participants plant a mixture of fruits and other indigenous trees.
“We agreed to do at least 1,000 and partner in different varieties. We have planted in the orchard here where we will have different fruits including avocadoes,” said Litu.
The activity brought together MRM employees, conservation advocates, photographers, community stakeholders and partners, including Chandaria Foundation, in a collective effort to demonstrate that conservation extends beyond awareness and requires practical action.
“Submissions for the Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition Green Zone ends on 20th of June and we are calling on more people to submit their work. It is a photography competition sponsored by Safal MRM Foundation and MRM. Photography has the power to influence how people see the world. Through Safal Eye in the Wild, we are using that power to inspire action, foster environmental responsibility and create lasting impact. Today’s Green Zone is proof that conservation storytelling can move beyond awareness and contribute directly to environmental restoration,” added Rabach.
This year’s World Environment Day, led globally by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), calls for accelerated adoption of nature-based solutions to address climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. The establishment of the Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition Green Zone responds directly to that call by creating a living environmental legacy that will contribute to biodiversity restoration, carbon sequestration, environmental education and healthier learning environments.
The Green Zone also highlights the growing role of the Safal MRM Foundation as the sustainability and social impact arm supported by Mabati Rolling Mills. Through its four pillars of Education, Health, Environment and Shelter, the Foundation continues to invest in programmes that improve community well-being while addressing long-term development challenges.
The conservation initiative under the Foundation’s Environment Pillar, Safal Eye in the Wild seeks to build a movement that connects conservation, education and opportunity. The competition encourages photographers, nature enthusiasts and communities to document and celebrate the natural world while supporting environmental awareness and educational advancement.
In a demonstration of community-led sustainability, many of the seedlings planted during the exercise were sourced from Lenana School, helping strengthen existing environmental programmes and ensuring local ownership of the initiative. The Green Zone will serve as a living classroom where future students can engage with conservation, biodiversity and climate resilience for years to come.
The newly established Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition Green Zone is expected to deliver long-term benefits, including improved biodiversity, increased tree cover, enhanced carbon absorption, environmental learning opportunities and a healthier ecosystem for future generations.
As communities around the world mark World Environment Day, the initiative reinforces the central message behind Safal Eye in the Wild: that every image can inspire action, every action can create impact, and every effort contributes to building a greener, more sustainable future.
