Road to destruction

Tim Laman's Image

Fires tear through the forests of Borneo.

Vast areas are deliberately burned to clear space for agriculture and palm oil plantations. Palm oil is now a common ingredient worldwide, and though it may be a valuable income for developing countries it comes at a massive ecological cost. Fuelled by excessive demand, in recent decades huge swathes of vital rainforest have been replaced by this crop.


Behind the lens

Tim Laman

Tim Laman

USA

Tim is a field biologist and wildlife photojournalist with a reputation for returning from the wild with shots of nearly impossible subjects. His pioneering research in the rainforest canopy led to a PhD from Harvard University and the first of many articles for National Geographic magazine. His work has garnered numerous awards, including many in Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Image details

  • DJI Phantom 3 Pro drone and DJI FC300X camera
  • 1/640 sec at f2.8
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.

More images from Tim Laman

View all

Support our important work


Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.

Donate now

Discover more

Sign up to our newsletter

Receive email updates about Wildlife Photographer of the Year news, events, science, products, services and fundraising activities. We may occasionally include third-party content from our corporate partners and other museums. We will not share your personal details with these third parties. You must be over the age of 13. Privacy notice.