Musuk Nolte has been given one of two $ 20,000 Vital Impacts Photography grants to work on ‘long-term documentary photography projects with local communities who are working to protect the environment and wildlife.’

Vital Impacts founder Ami Vitale points out that “as photographers, we are in a unique position to inform and influence change, but pressing the shutter is just the start. For images to have significance, they need to tell a story and reach people.”

Residents of the Quelcancca community return from one of the headwaters where they planted 23,000 seedlings of Queuna trees. Quelcanca, Cusco, Peru. © Musuk Nolte/Panos Pictures