Xavier Cortada's Smalltooth Sawfish.

Miami artist Xavier Cortada is mounting a major installation at Biscayne National Park this winter and spring, part of the park’s celebration of the United Nations’ “International Year of Biodiversity.”

According to a statement from the park, “Endangered World: Biscayne National Park will feature 360 brightly colored flags lining the roads and trails at Convoy Point for over a mile, each representing one degree of the planet’s longitude. Individuals and organizations will adopt an endangered or threatened animal that lives at that longitude and paint an image of that animal on one of the flags. At the same time, participants will commit to an ‘eco-action’ that directly or indirectly mitigates the plight of that animal.”

Cortada has created art installations around the world to raise awareness about issues like global climate change, deforestation and the plight of endangered species. In 2008, he traveled by icebreaker to the North Pole to create an installation that generated awareness about the imminent threat climate change poses to the planet’s biodiversity. In 2006, his Reclamation Project sought to remind Miami Beach residents and visitors of the island’s origins as a mangrove forest by having over 2,500 mangrove seedlings displayed in shop windows. He has created collaborative works at universities and cultural institutions around the world.

South Floridians are being recruited to take part in the Key Biscayne project as individuals or as part of community organizations. Participants can create flags and commit to actions on their own, or they could take part in flag-painting workshops held in December and January in various Miami locations. The flags will be on display from February 14 to May 1, leading up to BioBlitz, National Geographic’s 24-hour project to count as many living things as possible in Biscayne National Park.

“I am honored to bring this participatory eco-art work to a national park that serves as a refuge for 17 threatened and endangered species in my community,” Cortada said in a written statement. “The Endangered World: Biscayne National Park installation will do more than generate awareness about global biodiversity loss, it will engage participants—artists, teachers, business owners, community organizers, concerned citizens—in local action.”

On May 1 flag creators will be invited to participate in the event’s closing ceremonies. The flags will then become a part of an Endangered World traveling exhibit that will go to national parks around the country. Details, including lists of available species, instructions for participation and applications, are available by clicking the “Endangered World” link at XavierCortada.com.

For more details on the project, visit NPS.gov/bisc or call park ranger Gary Bremen at 305-230-1144.