Photographer releases first images of rainforest expedition

Spanish photographer Daniel Beltra has unveiled new images from his recent expedition to the Amazon rainforest.

The award-winning documenter recorded the images of the rainforest in Brazil and other parts of South America after winning a fully funded assignment to visit three important rainforest regions in the world from the Prince's Rainforests Project.

Beltra, who is now based in Seattle, hopes the vivid images will help encourage ordinary citizens across the world as well as global leaders to help preserve the world's endangered rainforests, which are increasingly at threat from illegal loggers and multinational companies.

"Travelling to the Amazon has been an incredible experience," he said.

"I have been able to capture some powerful images that show the many different elements of the rainforest - the beauty, the wildlife, the local people and also the destruction."

Beltra plans to continue his journey to central Africa and south-east Asia to photograph more of the world's at-risk rainforests.

The images will be on display at exhibition at Kew Gardens in October 2009.
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