On a bright Saturday, the community paused to reflect and connect through a powerful photography exhibition, Wildfire Resilience: A Transcontinental Conversation, at TreePeople’s Schuman Family Foundation Center. Through stunning images and personal storytelling, the exhibit connected visitors to the striking shared experiences between Nigeria and the American West. They saw how wildfires affect entire ecosystems and learned about the inspiring local action currently underway to protect both people and the natural world.
Featuring the work of photographers Aaron Colussi and Etinosa Yvonne, the exhibit bridged science and conservation, showcasing their distinct perspectives. Yvonne, based in Abuja, Nigeria, is a self-taught documentary photographer, photojournalist, and multidisciplinary artist whose work explores culture, tradition, the environment, social injustice, and the human condition. Colussi, based in the Rocky Mountains, is a photographer, videographer, and director whose work often takes him on the road. He is a recent recipient of The North Face Expedition Award and has worked with the BBC Nature Unit, Netflix Nature Unit, and as a Forest Service wildland fire contractor.
Together, their images offered a rare opportunity to see wildfire resilience through a global lens, from tropical forests to fire-prone landscapes in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
“I come away from this exhibit feeling really hopeful,” said Dr. Cassie Rauser, The Fielding Family CEO of TreePeople. During the event, she sat down with Dr. Iroro Tanshi to discuss the significance of the exhibit and its part in a broader tour. As a multi-award-winning conservationist, scientist, and researcher, Dr. Tanshi takes a fearless approach to solving environmental problems, and this exhibition focuses on bridging wildfire resilience, conservation, healthy ecosystems, and community-led solutions.
Just as the photography represents a mutual exchange of experiences fighting wildfire, Dr. Tanshi said, “To me, we’re all stacking our hope on top of each other. If you’re inspired by my work, that inspires me. A reason for this tour is to get hope from people [following the effects of wildfires].”
Dr. Tanshi is the recent recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa and is widely recognized for her fearless, evidence-based approach to solving environmental challenges. She co-founded and leads the Small Mammal Conservation Organization (SMACON), which supports conservation research, scientific infrastructure, and community-based environmental protection. Building on the success of fire risk management work in Nigeria, she recently launched the Tropical Fire Alliance, a global effort to protect tropical forests from destructive wildfires through locally led action.
We’re thrilled that our neighbors could explore a moving visual journey that shows how communities around the world are responding to wildfires with courage, creativity, and care.
