RIDGWAY – Local Artist Yvonne Reed, originally from South Africa, is helping to preserve African wildlife and culture through art. Reed became interested in African wildlife and conservation as a teenager, when she volunteered to spend 18 months following the migratory path of an elephant herd through southern Africa.

Today, Reed works with the Peace Parks Foundation, which is establishing wildlife corridors between existing reserve areas and parks in southern Africa so that those important ecosystems, and the rural people who depend on them, can survive.

Reed summed up the complicated situation of land preservation. “Conservation wasn’t working in southern Africa,” she explained. “Conservation groups were disjointed and focusing on little areas rather than the big picture.

“In the late 80s Dr. Anton Rupert, president of the World Wildlife Foundation South Africa, began meeting with African leaders calling on all of South Africa to get involved. He realized that for species to survive, conservation groups must come together,” Reed said.

In 1997, The Peace Parks Foundation was established with a vision of establishing trans-frontier conservation areas, known as Peace Parks, to link parks and reserves across national boundaries, thus forming large protected areas. These Peace Parks provide corridors that link the ancient migratory paths of many African species.

“Elephants are highly intelligent,” Reed said. They are able to regulate their population, and they migrate through the seasons to alleviate overgrazing and destruction of any one area. “But this can’t happen where there are fences,” she said.

The Peace Parks Foundation has been highly successful in their mission over the last decade. Their trans-frontier parks initiative spans nine countries, linking two oceans, and allowing the preservation of cultural and biological diversity throughout southern Africa.

Reed has been working for the Peace Parks Foundation for 13 years, and convinced 19 South African wildlife artists, herself included, to donate some of the proceeds from the sale of their artwork to the foundation.

“It is beneficial to the artists because it gives their work exposure all over the world and generates income for them,” Reed said.

Reed has introduced these artists’ work and the Peace Park’s message to many different countries with her shows.

“In Norway we grossed around $44,000 in art sales; Germany was almost as lucrative. Twenty-seven percent of these sales went on to the Peace Parks Foundation,” said Reed

The largest trans-frontier park funded by the Peace Parks Foundation is slated to happen this year. It will be the world’s largest conservation area, encompassing five countries, 36 national parks, two important river systems, 120,000 elephants, pristine wilderness the size of Italy, and 2.5 million rural people who will benefit from the preservation of their native lands as well as the tourism that it generates.

Reed recalled a trip she took into the bush a couple of years ago, when they set out to find a herd of desert elephants that was said to be the last to survive in the area.

“It was a miraculous gift to come upon that herd. There were only 11 left,” she said. “When that corridor opens they will be able to migrate in drought times, and hopefully survive.”

Reed is humble about her work and her art. “It is just a hobby for me. I want the credit and recognition to go to the South African artists who have generously donated their work.”

Reed has a workspace in Ridgway, where you can view her work and the work of the South African artists. This summer Reed has a busy schedule, taking the show on the road at events from Glenwood to Denver to Salt Lake City. Contact Reed at 970/626-5219 or donreed777@aol.com.