Telling stories of South Africa’s Great Seaforest
South Africa’s Great African Seaforest, which stretches north for more than 1 000km into Namibia, is a wonderland of abundance and rich biodiversity. It is home to many creatures found nowhere else in the world.
“It’s also the birthplace of more conservation storytellers per capita than almost anywhere else on earth,” says award-winning National Geographic photographer and Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) director of storytelling, Thomas Peschak.
He was speaking at a presentation hosted by SOSF at the Labia Theatre recently. The event aimed to promote a more diverse, inclusive community of storytellers, as well as unpack how important storytelling it is in ocean conservation.
Mr Peschak’s 25-year journey documenting earth’s coastlines began in the seaforest. As a marine biologist who turned to photojournalism to broaden his conservation impact, he spent much of his career documenting marine species.
In 2022, he embarked on his most ambitious conservation storytelling project to date. Shifting his focus from the Seaforest to the Amazon Forest, Mr Peschak spent 396 days tracing the course of the Amazon River and its tributaries across South America.
At the presentation, Mr Peschak shared footage and stories collected over the years, including his Amazon adventure, which spanned nine countries. He also recounted diving and photographing a watershed that stretches from 6 000-meter-high snow-capped Andean volcanoes to the Atlantic Ocean.
Jade Schultz, global communications manager of SOSF, said Mr Peschak was a world-class storyteller. “It’s great to collaborate with him again and share his latest inspiring body of work here in Cape Town, where both Thomas and the Save Our Seas Foundation have strong roots.”
Dr Jannes Landschoff from the Sea Change Project highlighted the biodiversity of the Great African Seaforest, and said every species — from tiny crustaceans and fascinating fishes to visiting whales — plays a vital role in this vast marine ecosystem.
“Through underwater tracking, research collaborations, and storytelling, the initiative aims to inspire a deep appreciation for biodiversity and its critical role in restoring the health of our planet.”
The evening’s talks concluded with a panel discussion led by zoologist, marine guide and photographer Steve Benjamin and included storytellers Pippa Ehrlich, co-director of marine documentary My Octopus Teacher; Shamier Magmoet, a National Geographic explorer, documentary filmmaker, and ocean conservationist; Roger Horrocks, an underwater cinematographer for My Octopus Teacher, Blue Planet 2, and Our Planet; Otto Whitehead, a storyteller and ecologist.