The international photo contest Wiki Loves Earth is off to a great start! So far, 37 countries have joined the competition, with 9 countries already underway, and 5 more set to launch this week.
We’ve already received almost 6,000 stunning photos from 175 participants capturing the natural beauty of protected areas around the world!
This is just the beginning — there’s still time to join!
Contribute to documenting nature and raising awareness by uploading your photos or helping organize in your country.
Contact wle-team@wikimedia.org.ua for any further questions.
Today marks the start of Wiki Loves Earth 2025, the international photo competition devoted to the natural heritage of our planet!
9 countries celebrate the beginning of the competition today: Azerbaijan, Benin, Czech Republic, Germany, Ghana, Malta, Nepal, Sweden, United Arab Emirates.
And we even have the first 145 uploads!
3 more countries will start the contest also very soon in May: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Serbia.
Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just love nature, this is your chance to make an impact by sharing images of protected landscapes and biodiversity from your country.
Check the actual contest dates of your country on the list: https://w.wiki/Cwd9
How to participate:
Capture stunning photos of natural heritage sites.
Check the criteria and upload them to Wikimedia Commons under a free license.
Contribute to open knowledge and help raise awareness of nature conservation.
Start uploading now, because every photo helps build a free and accessible archive of our planet’s beauty!
Files used in the video: Marko Dekic, Matviyiv Liubomyr, CC BY-SA 4.0
On April 19, as part of the Central Asian WikiConference held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the international organizing team of Wiki Loves Earth hosted an online session titled “Wiki Loves Earth: From Central Asia to the World”.
The session highlighted the role of the international photo contest Wiki Loves Earth in promoting and documenting natural heritage through freely licensed photography. It focused on the growing participation of Central Asian countries and the region’s contribution to the global initiative.
The discussion covered the development of the contest across Central Asia, showcasing standout photographs from the region. It also provided insights into how to organize a local edition and highlighted the impact of submitted photos in enriching Wikipedia and raising awareness about natural heritage sites.
This nomination highlights the vital connection between a healthy environment and fundamental human rights. Show us how nature and communities interact — from protected areas that sustain local livelihoods to environmental defenders standing up for our planet.
Your photos can make a difference by spreading awareness and contributing to free knowledge on Wikimedia Commons. Join us in capturing the landscapes worth preserving — for all of us, and for future generations!
The last round to apply for funding to organize your local WLE!
Although it is possible to organize a local contest without financial means, having some funding for promotion and prizes would help draw attention to the contest.
If you have such a need, apply in the last relevant round for WLE!
Cycle 5: 1st May – 27th June 2025, deadline: 01.05.2025.
Make a note: if you apply in this round, the earliest start date for your project will be at the end of June.
If your application was rejected in the previous round, feel free to apply again, taking the provided feedback into account.
In honor of World Migratory Bird Day, let’s celebrate the beauty and diversity of birds captured through the lens of the Wiki Loves Earth photography competition!
This annual contest invites photographers worldwide to showcase natural heritage, including stunning avian species in their natural habitats.
Some remarkable examples of the beautiful birds from different parts of the world, captured in the previous edition of the contest:
These photographs exemplify the power of photography to raise awareness about the importance of preserving natural habitats for migratory birds. As we observe World Migratory Bird Day, let’s appreciate and protect the incredible bird species that enrich our planet!
A stunning image of Lake Fusine won 6th place in the Landscapes category of Wiki Loves Earth International last year! Through this photo contest, we continue to explore and celebrate the world’s most breathtaking protected areas.
Let’s discover more about Lake Fusine – A Hidden Gem in the Julian Alps!
Tucked away in northeastern Italy, Lake Fusine is one of the most stunning natural spots in the Julian Alps. This protected area is part of the Fusine Lakes Natural Park, preserving its pristine beauty and diverse wildlife.
The park is home to two glacial lakes, Lago Superiore & Lago Inferiore, with breathtaking turquoise waters that change with the seasons. Surrounded by dense forests and overlooked by Mount Mangart (2,677m), the scenery is simply magical.
Wildlife lovers might spot chamois, lynxes, and golden eagles, while hikers can enjoy scenic trails with panoramic views. Whether you visit in summer or winter, this place offers peace, adventure, and picture-perfect landscapes.
Which site would you like to explore in the next post?
The wide and beautiful natural heritage can be showcased, and Wikipedia articles can be illustrated not only with images but also with videos. In this special nomination, we recognize videos depicting natural monuments worldwide.
If you are a local organizer, you can decide whether to promote and choose the local winning videos for this nomination. However, take your time to think!
For the fifth time, Wiki Loves Earth supports the initiative WikiForHumanRights, which partners with the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Its goal is to raise awareness of nature protection and human impacts on nature.
As the previous year, we accept photos from the whole world!