©Tommaso Protti, VALE DO JAVARI, BRAZIL – AUGUST 12, 2021: Kanamari men performe the ancient Hai Hai cerimony in Sao Luis village in Vale do Javari. Contacted in the first half of the 20th century, possibly by rubber tappers or other explorers of the territory’s resources, for decades the Kanamari managed to maintain an extraordinary resistance to external influences and persecution. They preserve their language, their ceremonies and their material, immaterial and spiritual culture.

Now in its third year, Vital Impacts has awarded seven environmental photography fellowships totaling $50,000 and eleven year-long mentorships to visionary photographers illuminating the profound and often fragile connection between people and the planet. As support for indepth environmental storytelling declines and the urgency of these stories continues to grow, Vital Impacts champions the artists whose images spark empathy, inspire action, and remind us of our collective responsibility to protect the Earth we call home.

Vital Impacts is thrilled to announce the 2026 recipients of $50,000 in Environmental Photography Fellowships, honoring the legacy of visionary leaders including Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chico Mendes, Madonna Thunder Hawk, E.O. Wilson and Ian Lemaiyan. Fellows were selected for their locally rooted storytelling that highlights solutions and community resilience. In addition, 11 emerging photographers will participate in year-long intensive mentorships, developing their craft and vision.

This year’s judging panel included Alessia Glaviano, Head of Global PhotoVogue, Azu Nwagbogu, Founder and Director of African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo Festival Evgenia Arbugaeva, National Geographic Storytelling Fellow and Academy Award Nominee, Kathy Moran, Deputy Director of Photography at National Geographic and Pat Kane, Vital Impacts Environmental Jane Goodall Fellowship Winner.

Tommaso Protti (Brazil) has just been awarded the Dr. Jane Goodall $20,000 Environmental Photography Fellowship for his project,  ‘Terra Vermelha’, a decade-long investigation into deforestation and Indigenous resilience in the Brazilian Amazon. “The Vale do Javari represents one of the most urgent front lines to document in the rainforest today,” said Protti. “This grant offers a vital chance to advance my investigation, focusing on the Univaja group’s struggle to defend their territory and lives.” While deforestation is not only an environmental catastrophe but a profound crisis of human rights and Indigenous sovereignty, this work is ultimately hopeful—because it amplifies Indigenous leadership, resilience, and the possibility of meaningful protection when these stories are seen and supported.

©Tommaso Protti, VALE DO JAVARI, BRAZIL – AUGUST 12, 2021: Vegetation at night in Vale do Javari indigenous territory. Javari is the most preserved area of the rainforest where live the biggest population of Indigenous tribes in the world. The region is also home to the world’s largest number of uncontacted tribes but increasingly a new frontier for logging, mining and drug running.

Tommaso Protti is a photographer focused on Latin America whose work explores themes of environment, crime, migration, and rural conflict. Originally from Italy, he has been based in Brazil for over a decade.

He is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal and Le Monde, and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, TIME, National Geographic, and The Washington Post. His photographs have been exhibited at institutions including the Saatchi Gallery in London, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, and the Benaki Museum in Athens.

His long-term project Terra Vermelha investigates overlapping social and environmental crises in the Brazilian Amazon. In 2019, he received the Carmignac Photojournalism Award and a World Understanding Award from Pictures of the Year International.

Protti holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Rome Tre and a master’s degree in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London College of Communication.

Instagram: @tomprotti

©Tommaso Protti, AMAZONAS, BRASIL – JUNE 14, 2022: The Solimões River at the tri-border of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru — a strategic crossing that has become one of the Amazon’s main drug trafficking corridors. From here, cocaine produced in the Andes is smuggled downstream through remote waterways, hidden in cargo boats and fishing vessels, before making its way to Brazil’s major cities and international markets.

Terra Vermelha is a long-term visual investigation into the intersection of deforestation and crime in the Brazilian Amazon. Over the past decade, I have documented how land grabbing, illegal logging, and gold mining are destroying ecosystems while fueling a hidden war. Indigenous leaders, land defenders, and environmental activists are routinely threatened, attacked, and killed, making the Amazon one of the most dangerous places in the world for those who protect the land.

The title—meaning “red earth” in Portuguese—refers both to the Amazon’s red-brown soil and to the bloodshed that has haunted the region for centuries. Behind the forest canopy, an invisible frontier advances, marked by corruption, impunity, and unchecked exploitation. Vast areas are cleared at record speed to supply beef, soy, and timber to global markets. Cities born of extractive economies now rank among the most violent in the world, driven by drug trafficking, inequality, and unregulated expansion. Rivers are poisoned, communities uprooted, and every minute a football field of forest disappears.

©Tommaso Protti, SANTA CRUZ, BRAZIL – JUNE 16, 2022: Antonio (left) with his father on their boat along the Itaquai River, near the riverine community of Santa Cruz, 15 km from Atalaia do Norte. A fisherman by trade, Antonio has twice been fined for catching pirarucu inside Indigenous reserves. In the Vale do Javari, illegal fishing of pirarucu—one of the world’s largest freshwater fish—is not just a subsistence practice but part of a wider criminal economy linked to trafficking and violence, which has placed Indigenous patrols and local communities under constant threat.

The project focuses on the nine states of the Legal Amazonia, which contain more than 60 percent of the rainforest and lead in both deforestation and environmental crime. Organized crime groups now operate in over one-third of Amazonian cities, reinforcing the link between forest loss and territorial control. Terra Vermelha examines how historical exploitation, rooted in occupation and colonization, has produced intense land disputes involving Indigenous peoples, landless farmers, and traditional communities in conflict with agribusiness and land grabbers. These disputes, driven by insecure land rights and illegal economies, frequently end in killings.

At the core of this work is the tension between exploitation and preservation. The advance of the so-called arc of deforestation—an agricultural frontier pushing toward the most intact areas of the forest—meets the resistance of Indigenous and riverine communities determined to defend their territories and the natural resources that sustain them. In this way, the project frames the Amazon as a stage of contemporary human dystopia, where environmental and social crises converge.

©Tommaso Protti, TALAIA DO NORTE, JUNE 15, 2022: Residents of Atalaia do Norte wait at the port for police to return after searching a nearby region up the river for the remains of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira. Phillips and Pereira were murdered during a boat trip through the Vale do Javari, the second-largest indigenous area in Brazil. Two brothers were arrested by the Federal Police for suspected involvement in the murders. A few days later, one of them confessed to the killings, and told the police where he had buried the bodies as well as the location of the boat they used. According to Global Witness, Brazil is the country with the most murders of environmental and land-defence activists since it started reporting on eco-defenders with 342 lethal attacks since 2012. More than 85 percent of killings have happened within Brazil’s Amazon.

Building on this investigation, I now intend to expand Terra Vermelha to the Javari Valley, one of the most remote and contested regions of the Amazon and home to the world’s largest concentration of uncontacted Indigenous tribes. As part of this submission, I am including two portfolios: one offering a general overview of Terra Vermelha, and a second dedicated to work already completed in the Javari.

Located in the tri-border region between Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, the Javari Valley spans more than 8.5 million hectares and is home to at least 26 Indigenous groups. Officially demarcated in 2001, it remains a stronghold of cultural resilience and ecological richness, yet it faces escalating threats. Illegal gold mining, drug trafficking, and evangelical incursions have intensified, bringing violence and insecurity. The region drew international attention in 2022 with the murders of Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and journalist Dom Phillips, who were documenting illegal fishing. I was present during the search and witnessed the arrival of their bodies in Atalaia do Norte—a tragedy that underscored how deeply entrenched criminal networks have become in the territory.

©Tommaso Protti, ATALAIA DO NORTE, BRAZIL – AUGUST 15, 2021: Despite originating from various villages in the Vale do Javari indigenous territory, this Kanamari family now finds themselves living on a boat on the banks of the Javari River in Atalaia do Norte. They initially came to the town seeking social welfare programs, food, and medicine, but have since become trapped here for months due to bureaucratic obstacles and the high cost of fuel. Living in abject poverty, they lack access to clean drinking water and are forced to endure unsanitary conditions, resulting in a high prevalence of disease.

The Javari’s position along the Solimões River, a key artery for international drug routes, has further increased criminal pressure. In response, the Indigenous association Univaja, which represents seven Indigenous groups, has emerged as a vital force of resistance. Univaja organizes patrols to monitor and defend the territory, prevent invasions, protect isolated peoples, and promote cultural initiatives that strengthen community autonomy. Their work exemplifies Indigenous resilience at one of the most urgent frontlines of deforestation and exploitation.

With support from Vital Impacts, I intend to produce a comprehensive portrait of the Javari Valley by engaging with diverse Indigenous communities and examining the fragile balance between preservation and exploitation. I will spend time with groups such as the Matis and the Marubo, documenting their cultures, traditions, and land patrols, while also portraying the urban frontiers along the Javari River, where external economies and criminal networks collide with Indigenous life. Years of work in the Amazon have built a network of trust that allows me access to some of the region’s most isolated areas, as well as its urban margins, where outside pressures are most visible.

©Tommaso Protti, BOA ESPERANCA, FEBRUARY, 2022: An illegal gold mine in Pará state.

This new chapter aims to present the Javari not only as an ecological crisis, but as a regional emergency rooted in systemic crime and impunity. By highlighting Univaja’s efforts, the project will show how Indigenous solidarity and vigilance form one of the most effective barriers against deforestation and the erosion of cultural and territorial rights. Terra Vermelha continues to portray the Amazon as a contested frontier where environmental destruction and organized crime are inseparable. As scientists warn of approaching tipping points that could lead to irreversible ecosystem collapse, documenting the struggles and strategies of Indigenous groups such as Univaja is essential to understanding what is at stake. This work seeks to galvanize support for the protection of one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems—and for the people risking their lives to defend it.

©Tommaso Protti, VALE DO JAVARI, BRAZIL – AUGUST 12, 2021: In the Vale do Javari, the most preserved area of the rainforest, Kanamari women offer caicuma – a cassava based drink – to cacique Mauro Silva Kanamari during the Hai Hai ceremony in Sao Luis village. The Kanamari tribe, who were contacted in the first half of the 20th century, have managed to maintain an extraordinary resistance to external influences and persecution, preserving their language, ceremonies, and material, immaterial, and spiritual culture. This region is home to the world’s largest population of Indigenous tribes, including uncontacted tribes. However, logging, mining, and drug running pose a significant threat to this delicate ecosystem.

©Tommaso Protti, ATALAIA DO NORTE, AUGUST, 2021: Kanamari children, originally from various villages in the Vale do Javari indigenous territory, find themselves stranded in a makeshift camp on the banks of the Javari River in Atalaia do Norte.

©Tommaso Protti, ATALAIA DO NORTE, BRAZIL – JUNE 15, 2022: a flooded bar located along the Javari River in Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. Atalaia do Norte serves as the entry point for the Vale do Javari, Brazil’s second largest indigenous territory, and is also home to the world’s largest concentration of isolated indigenous people.

About the Fellowships

Vital Impacts is dedicated to supporting visual storytellers who capture compelling, solutions-focused environmental stories at the local level. We are grateful to be able to offer one $20,000 fellowship and six $5,000 fellowships to help bring these vital stories to life. Fellows have twelve months to develop their projects, with support from Vital Impacts to publish and showcase their work.

“Our aim is to support and nurture the next generation of environmental storytellers through grants and mentoring programs,” said founder Ami Vitale “We aspire to create opportunities for these emerging voices to explore complex environmental issues with originality and nuance at this critical moment.” 

The 2026 Mentorship Recipients

In addition to the grants, ten emerging photographers from diverse regions will participate in an intensive mentorship program designed to enhance their storytelling skills and artistic vision.

Over the span of twelve months, these individuals will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one sessions with industry experts, renowned photographers, and influential photo editors. Through these sessions, participants will refine their storytelling skills, receive guidance on navigating the industry, and establish vital connections.

About Vital Impacts

Over the past fifty years, Earth’s wildlife populations have declined by nearly three-quarters, a profound shift that challenges us to rethink how we care for the natural world. Yet even in the face of these losses, there is extraordinary reason for hope. Around the planet, communities, scientists, and storytellers are working together to reimagine solutions, restore ecosystems, and protect the places we all depend on.

Vital Impacts is a women-led 501c3 non-profit founded in 2021 by Ami Vitale and Eileen Mignoni to advance conservation through visual storytelling, community partnership, and strategic investment in local solutions. We harness the power of art, visual journalism, and community partnerships to support conservation and illuminate pathways toward a more resilient future. Central to our work is investing in storytellers. More than 1,000 journalists across 87 countries have received mentorship through our programs, gaining the tools and support to report on environmental issues with depth, sensitivity, and solutions-driven focus. Their stories bring global visibility to local challenges and to the people working creatively to solve them.

This storytelling network is paired with deep community engagement. Through partnerships, Vital Impacts has raised $3.5 million for local conservation initiatives. These resources help safeguard critical ecosystems, support community-led conservation, and ensure that those working closest to the land have the support they need to succeed.

We are also cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards. Our in-person student programs have reached 30,000 young people, inviting them to see themselves as active participants in shaping a healthier, more compassionate world. By connecting students with powerful stories and the people behind them, we spark curiosity, agency, and a lifelong commitment to caring for the planet.

At the heart of Vital Impacts is the belief that stories transform understanding and that understanding drives action. By elevating local voices, bridging science and narrative, and directing resources where they create lasting change, we are building a global community of people who recognize that restoring the planet is not only possible but already underway.

Instagram: @vital.impacts

Executive Director: Ami Vitale

Ami Vitale is a National Geographic Explorer at Large, award-winning photographer, writer, documentary filmmaker, and the founder of Vital Impacts. Her work explores the vital connections between people, wildlife, and the planet. With nearly three decades of experience working in over 100 countries, Ami uses storytelling as a tool for conservation, empathy, and action.

Her career began in conflict zones, where she witnessed firsthand how environmental degradation—including resource scarcity, displacement, and climate instability—profoundly affects human lives. These early experiences shaped her conviction that environmental and social issues are inseparable, guiding her toward long-term, solutions-focused work that highlights resilience, collaboration, and possibility.

Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including Conservation International’s Lui-Walton Innovators Fellowship, the Lucie Humanitarian Award, the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service, the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting, and six World Press Photo awards. She is an honorary fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and an inductee into the North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame.

Through both her nonprofit leadership and her own creative work, she remains deeply committed to empowering emerging voices and advancing a more hopeful, solutions-driven future for our planet.

Instagram: @amivitale