In Sri Lanka, tea picking is all done by hand and it is women who do all the hard work. These tea pickers here are the unsung heroes of Sri Lanka. Their physically demanding, labour-intensive work – often under harsh conditions and in challenging landscapes – forms the backbone of one of most important industries in the country.

When humans first arrived on the island we know today as Madagascar, they encountered amazing wildlife likely never seen before: pygmy hippos, man-sized lemurs, giant tortoises and - the progenitors from and the creatures responsible for this egg - elephant birds.

These two Sri Lankan children were wonderful photography subjects as they waited for their train to depart. They were charming and playful, using the universal language of hand gestures to communicate their enjoyment in the moment, and to mimic my actions in photographing them.

In southern Morocco, an argan oil cooperative union has empowered 1,200 women with stable jobs and financial independence, improving gender equality and household wellbeing in rural areas. These cooperatives also support environmental sustainability by promoting new approaches to managing argan tree forests.

This year’s World Elephant Day celebrates the matriarch, the ‘elder stateswoman’ of the herd. They hold a pivotal role in elephant society, guiding their family groups to vital resources and shaping their responses to potential threats. A matriarch’s ability to make sound decisions, especially during stressful times, significantly enhances the group’s chances of survival.

Indigenous Peoples represent around six per cent of the world's population, and their knowledge and traditions are believed to help solve many of today’s challenges in the areas of climate action and biodiversity. As keepers of knowledge that help safeguard some of the most biodiverse areas of our planet, and as guardians of the environment, their survival is our survival.