From space, Earth is a magnificent sight, splashed with vivid colors, patterns, textures, and abstract forms. Views from above can also provide telling information about the health of our planet. To help us understand the more than 150 breathtaking satellite photographs in Earth from Space, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, an aerial photographer and devoted environmental activist, discusses the impact of deforestation, urban sprawl, intensive farming, ocean pollution, and more. Using high-resolution imagery, we can monitor the evolution of vegetation around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site, snow loss on Mount Kilimanjaro, and the health of migratory bird populations. Earth from Space’s compelling selection of satellite images raises important questions about our future, while also showcasing the planet’s beauty—leaving no doubt that it is something crucial to protect. – Courtesy Abrams

By the age of twenty, Yann Arthus-Bertrand was the director of a nature reserve in central France. At the age of thirty, he and his wife spent three years studying a family of lions in the Massaï Mara reserve in Kenya, also becoming a licensed hot-air-balloon pilot, which is where he first discovered his interested in seeing “earth from above.” Arthus-Bertrand later founded the first aerial photography agency in the world, published a number of books including The Earth From the Air, which sold over 3 million copies, created the Goodplanet Foundation, which raises awareness of environmental issues, and became a designated Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program in 2009. His most recent book, Earth from Space (Abrams 2013), includes his own images, satellite images from various organizations, and insights from scientists, activists and other experts.

See more of Arthus-Bertrand’s work here.