Wikimedia Ukraine is launching a new photo contest, “Wiki Loves Earth,” on April 15, 2013. The goal of the contest is to collect free pictures of Ukraine’s Natural Heritage sites, landscapes and ornamental gardening objects in order to illustrate articles on Wikipedia.
Anyone can take part in the competition; however, registration on Wikimedia Commons is required. The Organizational Committee has begun preparation work on the competition list and already has almost 8,000 possible photographic entries, including nature reserves, landscape parks, protected areas, natural heritage sites, zoological gardens and parks, flora and ornamental gardening objects.
To enter the contest, find an item or place you are familar with from the competition list, submit a picture you have taken (past or present), and upload it to Wikimedia Commons beginning April 15 through May 15, 2013. The photographers with the best pictures will be awarded prizes. The winners will be announced at the awarding ceremony in Kyiv on World Environment Day on June 5, 2013.
According to Yuri Perohanych, Wikimedia Ukraine Executive Director, this photo contest will draw society’s attention to the existing problems surrounding Ukraine’s natural heritage protection, and the contest itself will highlight green/eco tourism in Ukraine.
Contest Coordinator Yevhen Buket pointed out that the idea to hold such a photo competition came from the successful international photo contest Wiki Loves Monuments in Ukraine this past September. The goal of the Wiki Loves Monuments contest was to collect pictures of cultural heritage monuments in Ukraine.
Wikimedia Ukraine invited the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, environmental organizations, as well as donors and sponsors to help with the organization of the competition and to contribute to the contest prize fund.