Art for the Earth

A project to protect 265 bird species, 142 mammal species, and over 3,100 plant species, by SOLFL

What do art and conservation have in common? They share a question: What are we leaving behind for the future?

We suspect that many of the readers of this magazine are the type who are helping to answer the above questions, and you’ll be pleased to know there’s a school in Florida that’s helping to do the same. In 2026, students at SOLFL launched a project called Art for the Earth. They want to help. So can you.

As of the time this publication went to print, SOLFL is leading efforts to protect a cloud forest in the Northern Highlands of Guatemala, one of the most biodiverse (and most at-risk) ecosystems on Earth. The goal: to purchase the land and donate it for permanent protection. You can help the kids out. Keep reading.

This isn't just any forest. It's home to more than 265 bird species, 142 mammals, and over 3,100 plant species, many found nowhere else. It also functions as a "water forest," quietly collecting mist and rainfall that sustains nearby communities and keeps entire ecosystems alive. The stakes are high.

Rooted in people and place, the effort is supported by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum and led by Indigenous communities alongside FUNDAECO, Re:wild, and Art into Acres – with the vision for this forest to become Guatemala's first National Indigenous Protected Area.

For SOLFL students, it’s not just something to learn about; it’s something to be part of. A real-time look at biodiversity, climate, water systems, and what it means to care for something bigger than yourself. Because legacy isn’t just a concept. It’s a choice. 

The kids would love for you to get involved, donate to conserve an acre and protect this Guatemalan cloud forest. You can do that here.

As part of SOLFL's Web of Life: Tree Alchemy unit, students created a collaborative mural series exploring the top three critically endangered rainforest ecosystems on Earth and one of local South Floridian Endangered Pine Rockland Forests. Through research, artistic practice, and collective making, they investigated the interconnectedness of flora, fauna, and environmental stewardship across both global and local landscapes. 

Sundaland Rainforest, Indonesia
Acrylic on canvas, 2026, 6 x 8 ft
Upper Elementary (4th-5th Grade)

Learn more about SOLFL at solfl.com