Hey Free Spirits!

This is the fifth and final installment of my Inktober project entitled “Endangered Species.” I hope you have enjoyed my works thus far. If you missed any of my earlier posts you can check them out here:

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Now, on to the grand finale!

---

I wanted to end this project with a BANG! It is the inspiration behind my entire theme. I actually had a completely different idea for my project than the endangered species. The official Inktober prompt list is released to the public on the first of September every year so artists can get a jump start on the project. If you plan accordingly, this makes the challenge a lot easier, giving you two months to complete your sketches rather than just one. Do I plan accordingly? Of course not. I’m a procrastinator, hardcore. It’s something I’ve been trying to work on my entire life. I’m usually scrambling everyday trying to complete an entire sketch, sharing it on social media and my blog, while also dealing with my normal day to day responsibilities. Plus I always have to be extra and put my own little twist into it, which makes it even more work. At the end of every October I tell myself, “Next year I’m going to be prepared and have everything done ahead of time.”

So September 2024 rolled around and the prompt list was released. The gears in my brain were turning…slowly. I was completely uninspired by this years list. It was different than lists from previous years and was repetitive. I was unenthusiastic about the project idea I had come up with but decided to go with it and started working on it the second week in September, ahead of schedule! Hooray!

Yet, not hooray. It just wasn’t flowing well. I didn’t want to work on it and it felt more like a chore. I knew I wouldn’t complete 31 sketches with this enthusiasm but I had no other ideas until…

---

…the week before October first. I came across a video on Instagram of a guy actively fighting fires in the Amazon Rainforest. I mean, we’ve all heard of big massive fires happening all over the world but how many of us have actually stopped and thought about what is actually happening out there.

Paul Rosolie is a member of the Junglekeepers organization, a non-profit group in the Peruvian Amazon tirelessly working to save this essential eco-system. He was posting videos of the fires and the devastation was indescribable. The thick black smoke made it difficult for him to breath or even see while he was recording. The ash fell from the sky like a snowy day. All you could see was flame and smoke. The photos from the after-math were even more horrid. I won’t go into details for imagining is certainly enough.

From this, I decided I needed to do more research on the matter and what I found was frightening. In the first eight months of 2024, over 13 million acres burned in the Amazon.

*Data from 2024 reflects the area burned through August. Historically, the majority of the destruction occurs in the final months of the year. Current trends point to a critical and worsening situation.* (https://rainforestfoundation.org/engage/brazil-amazon-fires/)

That means, the worst is yet to come.

What!?! That is insane! How is so much of the Amazon burning every year!?! The rainforest does not naturally burn. It’s a combination of global warming and the expansion of agriculture. Slash and burn agriculture has become an environmental issue all over the world. Farmers clear the jungle to make way for roadways, farms and pastures for live stock. It’s literally as it sounds, Slash it all down and then burn it. In the past, the surrounding jungle that was still standing would be humid enough and hold enough moisture to stop the fires from spreading. Now, due to climate change, the jungle is drying out and temperatures are rising. Consequently, these man-made fires are out of control as they are burning through millions of acres of the jungle. If we do not get a handle on this soon, we will reach a tipping point. A point of no return where the jungle will no longer be able to replenish itself. Plants and animals are quite literally turning to dust.

How do we stop this? The junglekeepers have been fighting incessantly to spread awareness and get some kind of media coverage on this catastrophe with little success. I immediately knew I wanted to help! That’s it!! That’s what my project will be about! Endangered species from all over the world leading up to one of the biggest eco-issues on the planet! And wouldn’t you know it, the last prompt from the official Inktober list is “Landmark”. I’d say this is one of the biggest landmarks in the world! Let’s keep it that way!

The most effective way to help the rainforest has been to expand and secure the land rights of the indigenous people. The parts of the jungle that are rightfully governed by the indigenous people have shown to have fewer fires and lower temperatures. They also have a higher biodiversity and more carbon dense forests than areas managed by the state. They are the true wardens of the jungle and know the importance of a thriving ecosystem. If you want to learn more about this and how to help, you can check out the Junglekeepers and The Rainforest Foundation.

There are also ways that we can adapt our day to day to help preserve the Amazon rainforest and other crucial ecosystems around the world. The reason forest clearing happens is to meet the demand for certain products such as beef, palm oil and wood/paper products. If we cut back or eliminate when able our consumption of these products, the demand is no longer there and corporations will have to shift their business practice in order to make money. It’s up to us who we give our money to. Only buy wood or paper products that have the FSC label. The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests via timber certification.

Also, do your research and learn what foods have palm oil and how to avoid it. There are a lot of companies that use this in many different kinds of food. Check the ingredients list before you buy. Try other options instead of having meat with every meal. Perhaps pick a few days a week to try new recipes that don’t require meat. Choosing vegan is amazing and will make the most impact yet this is not for everyone. Eating meat doesn’t have to be viewed as inherently evil. Many Indigenous communities around the world depend on meat for survival, practicing respectful and sustainable methods that harmonize with the ecosystem rather than depleting it. Modern society needs to adapt to these practices, integrating them into our daily lives. It begins with us, by taking the time to relearn and, most importantly implement, a more sustainable way of life.

---

This was a huge project for me and sometimes it was a bit heavy. My brain has been consumed by all this information and it’s been scratching at the surface, waiting to be shared with you! It’s quite a relief to finally get it out and express all that I have learned through my art. If this project inspires even just one person to take action in some way, then I’ve made my first ripple.

I apologize for being a week late on this post but I wanted to make sure this topic was given it’s due justice. There is still so much I can go on about but I’ll save that for another time perhaps. I do want to expand on the sketch more in the future and possibly create a fine art piece inspired by it.

I hope you thoroughly enjoyed this year’s project. Let me know in the comments what you thought. What did you love about it? What is something you would have changed?

Or, do you have any tips or information to add in the name of conservation? Please share!

Thanks so much for following along this journey with me. I hope you’re having a crisp and refreshing autumn!

Stay wild free spirit!