（Correspondent: YANG Chen, June 5th）The Embassy of Honduras to China and the Consulate General of Belgium in Hong Kong, in cooperation with the WWF, are presenting a selection of photographs of tropical forests taken by King Leopold III of Belgium throughout his life.
The “Guardians of the Green: a Photographic Journey through the World’s Rainforests” exhibition has officially opened on June 4th, 2025, at the Hong Kong Central Library. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, highlighting a tropical forest conversation.
The Chief Librarian of the Central Library Miss LEE Mei Ling opened the ceremony with a welcoming remark. The Ambassador of Honduras Mr. Salvador Moncada, the Consul General of Belgium Mr. David Lomastro, and the Hong Kong Government representative delivered speeches. HRH Princess Esmeralda delivered a keynote speech.
In the exclusive interview, Princess Esmeralda put forward that arts can bring enormous inspirations to environmental issues. She mentioned that our messages for the moment were a bit lost—the message for environment and climate crisis. People are all overwhelmed and think they can't do anything or there are too much facts and numbers. Whereas art can bring such a powerful message of beauty; for example, these photos of the rainforest are meant to touch people, to show that those are the beauties that humans might lose. All through the history, art has always been a very powerful factor of change—change of minds especially.
Princess Esmeralda also shared a story behind the photo with us. The picture below was taken in Venezuela. It is very beautiful because we can see the beauty of nature of course, the river, and also the strength. And there is one man standing in front. “It’s always important to remember that everything we have to do is about ‘us’. It’s a relationship with the nature in harmony.”
Talking about the situation of the environmental protection in Hong Kong, Princess Esmeralda mentioned that there are a lot being done now for the environment in mainland China and in Hong Kong. In terms of city, she thinks there are a lot of things that are changing for the cities in the future, which are kinder to nature and kinder to people. “We know all the benefits of nature obviously, for bringing food and water, but also for the mental benefits. When people are in natural environment, they feel much calmer. To have more and more green spots in cities is very important—not only for against pollution, but also for the mental health.”
This exhibition showcases a breathtaking collection of photographs of tropical forests, captured by late King Leopold III of Belgium, a noted pioneer in environmental conservation and the father of HRH Princess Esmeralda. The sovereign was passionate about nature and science and a pioneer in the defense of the environment. As a keen photographer, he has left a considerable collection of black and white and colour pictures of inestimable value. Through these striking images, the exhibition aims to raise awareness about the critical threats facing tropical forests and the essential role they play in sustaining our planet.
The Amazon rainforest, for example, has seen extensive deforestation. According to the World Resources Institute, approximately 1.5 million square km of forest have been lost in the past 30 years. High rates of deforestation are also affecting the Congo Basin in Africa, and Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia.
The exhibition takes place within the framework of President Xiomara Castro of Honduras holding the Presidency Pro-tempore of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations. Tropical rainforests are vital ecosystems, home to an immense diversity of species. They regulate climate and weather patterns, store carbon, produce oxygen, and support the livelihoods and cultures of local and indigenous communities. These natural treasures are under threat due to alarming rates of deforestation, as a result of the conversion of forests to agricultural use, logging, urban expansion, and the extraction of minerals and fossil fuels.
“Guardians of the Green” serves as a call to action, urging the global community to recognize the fragility of these ecosystems and the urgent need for conservation efforts. It will be on display at the Central Library until June 24th.
"If there is one subject altogether transcending human horizons, it is undoubtedly the preservation of those everlasting possessions of which we are the temporary guardians responsible to future generations.
Have we any right arbitrarily to alter the natural condition of things, without taking into consideration the results which can be foreseen from our present imperfect knowledge of the universe?
We may excuse the faults committed in the past by our ancestors on account of their ignorance as to the consequences of their acts. But our successors will make no such excuse for us." ——King Leopold III of Belgium
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