Subscribe now

Paintings of the disappearing rainforests

8 December 2008

There are lots of books out there that illustrate the irrevocable damage that we are doing to the rainforests – but this is one with a twist.

The images in Rainforest: Light and Spirit are not photographs, but paintings by artist Harry Holcroft, who has travelled the world’s rainforests for the past four years.

The Danum Valley, Borneo, one of the only remaining areas of true primary rainforest.

Kapok trees, Upper Amazon Peru.

Orangutan in a palm grove, Sarawak, Borneo.

Strangler fig, Borneo.

Fruit bat.

Gold and blue Macaws, Peru.

An oxbow lake, Challalla, Bolivia. This kind of lake occurs when the river switches its course and forms a bow-shaped lake that is independent of the river.

Chameleon, Madagascar. It appears green in this picture, but can turn bright blue when under threat.

River rainforest on "Indian black soils", Amazon, Brazil.

Destruction of the rainforest, Brazil.

Pygmy elephant, the forests of Borneo.

Macaws in deep jungle, Amazon, Brazil.

Baobab tree, Madagascar.

Longhouses on the Miri River, Borneo.

For more paintings see Rainforest: Light and Spirit by Harry Holcroft and Ghillean Prance.

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up