The “Capture the Future” initiative invites young creators worldwide to document biodiversity and community life in UNESCO biosphere reserves, using mobile photography to connect technology, culture, and sustainability.
vivo has partnered with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme to launch “Capture the Future,” a global storytelling initiative encouraging young people to document the relationship between communities and the natural world through mobile photography. Announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the project reflects a growing effort to connect emerging technology with environmental awareness and youth engagement.
The collaboration centers on UNESCO biosphere reserves, protected areas designed to balance ecological conservation with sustainable human activity. By inviting participants to record stories from these landscapes, the initiative aims to highlight examples of biodiversity protection, cultural heritage, and local resilience through a visual medium that has become increasingly accessible.
Mobile imaging technology now occupies a central role in how people observe and share experiences of the environment. Smartphones allow individuals to document ecological change, local traditions, and daily life in ways that can quickly reach global audiences, particularly through social platforms and digital storytelling communities.
The initiative will begin with an international open call for visual submissions running from March through May, drawing participants from UNESCO’s global youth networks. Selected storytellers will later travel to biosphere reserves in Europe to take part in a co-creation camp, where they will develop projects exploring the intersection of nature, culture, and sustainable development.
Participants will receive guidance from two groups of mentors: imaging specialists associated with vivo and sustainability experts connected to UNESCO. The program also includes regional workshops designed to strengthen storytelling skills while deepening participants’ understanding of ecological issues and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The partnership reflects a broader trend in which technology companies increasingly align innovation with social or environmental initiatives. For smartphone manufacturers, mobile imaging is no longer only a technical feature but also a cultural tool capable of shaping how people interpret the world around them.
By focusing on youth perspectives, the initiative places storytelling at the center of environmental awareness. The resulting narratives—drawn from diverse biosphere landscapes and communities—aim to illustrate how local experiences of nature and sustainability can resonate across borders in an increasingly connected world.
