life on the island
One of climate change’s most deadly properties is that it occurs at a speed and rate that is basically invisible to the majority of those living fast-paced, urban lifestyles - a geological time that is as imperceptible as the revolutions of the earth. The same is true of biodiversity loss, which often begins on a microscopic level, making it a difficult process to notice simply by glancing out of your window.
From Kurils With Love takes us on a journey to discover the delicate ecology of the Kurils islands and celebrates the incredible work of Vladimir Burkanov — who has dedicated his life to studying and protecting the islands' utterly unique biodiversity. So-called 'extreme scientists' like Vladimir are the unsung heroes of conservation — and this story will take you closer to their crucial work on the ground.
the extraordinary Ecology
of the kurils
In some places, biodiversity loss has become not just a threat, but a dominant force structurally and ecologically, transforming previously vibrant hubs of plants and animals into barren lands — grave monuments to the era of accelerated biodiversity loss we’re living through. Luckily ecologists are working day in day out all over the world to preserve ecosystems and help biodiversity thrive. And it turns out that their work as communicators is becoming as crucial and inspiring as their conservation work.
The Kuril Islands are one of the most remote volcanic island chains in the world. With over 56 islands of various ages and degrees of isolation, the Kurils are home to unique flora and fauna. Detached as they are from the Russian and Chinese mainland, they have often been overlooked in dialogues about biodiversity loss.
With the Kurils being nearly 10,000 kilometres away from the mainland, how could the islands' biodiversity loss affect any other area? Well, the intricately woven ecosystems that allow for our planet to thrive also put huge swaths of the globe at risk when one element, no matter how geographically far, is out of balance. If one piece of the ecosystem, however small and distant, is taken away, the possibility of ecosystem breakdown becomes a real threat. If bird or fish migration patterns are significantly altered, it can cause damage to animal and plant species hundreds of thousands of miles away.
Losses on the islands are stark. Vladimir has documented an 80% decline in the seals and sea lions of this region over the last 30 years. While there are multiple factors attributable to this decline, such as climate change, overfishing and pollution, one thing is clear: the catastrophic ripple effects of an ecological collapse on this scale are already being felt all over the world.
But, even from the most remote island chain in the world, Vladimir's work is resonating far across the globe. Taylor Rees, the American director of From Kurils with Love, was amazed by the scale of his work. “Vladimir has seen the decades-long changes in the region firsthand and also the sad decline of some important top predators in the area, like Steller sea lions and sea otters. His (Vladimir’s) vision is to turn large parts of the region into marine protected areas and national parks to safeguard their beauty for future generations, protect biodiversity and improve overexploited coastal and oceanic ecosystems in the Kurils Islands.”
Places like the Kuril Islands are pillars of global biodiversity, singular foundational ecosystems that facilitate global migration patterns, sustain wildlife and provide valuable carbon sinks. Civil society, artists, creators, and campaigners around the world are called upon to engage in amplifying the research findings and activism of these scientists on the ground.
