Wereld Natuur Fonds Nederland


02 mei 2003

Prins Bernhard reikt natuuronderscheidingen uit

Z.K.H. Prins Bernhard heeft vrijdag 2 mei 2003 zeven mensen onderscheiden met de Orde van de Gouden Ark. Een persoonlijke onderscheiding van de Prins, waarmee hij waardering uitspreekt voor de bijzondere verdiensten van deze mensen op het gebied van internationale natuurbescherming.

Onderscheiden tot Commandeur in de Orde van de Gouden Ark:

Dr. Claude Martin (Zwitserland)

Onderscheiden tot Officier in de Orde van de Gouden Ark:

Drs. Annette Lanjouw (Nederland)

Dr. Anna A. Lushchekina (Rusland)

Drs. W.J. Veening (Nederland)

Dr. John G. Robinson (Verenigde Staten)

Onderscheiden tot Ridder in de Orde van de Gouden Ark:

Alejandro M. Arias (Argentinië)

Miguel Cifuentes Arias (Costa Rica)

De Orde van de Gouden Ark is in 1971 door Prins Bernhard ingesteld. Onderscheidingen zijn eerder uitgereikt aan onder andere Lenie t Hart (voor haar inzet voor bescherming van de zeehonden), Pieter Winsemius (voor het op de agenda zetten van milieu en natuurbescherming), Ed Nijpels (voor aanzet tot milieubeleid en maken van afspraken over CO-2 reductie en goodwill ambassadeur voor WWF-werk. ), Tom van t Hof (voor zijn pionierswerk en initiatieven op het gebied van bescherming van onderwaterparken en inzet voor natuurbescherming op de Nederlandse Antillen).

THE GOLDEN ARK AWARD WINNERS

2003

Mr. Alejandro Manuel Arias, Argentina.

For his dedication to the research and conservation of marine mammals, in particular the Southern right whale (Nl: Zuidkaper). Mr. Arias is honoured for his contribution as one of the authors of the National Ocean Law in Argentina and his current work for the government of Argentina, managing marine issues including the conservation of marine mammals, birds and turtles, and their relation to commercial fishing. He is also honoured for his many activities to promote awareness and education about marine mammals in Argentina.

Mrs. Drs. Annette Lanjouw, The Netherlands.

For her vision on and commitment to conservation, in particular to the cause of the mountain gorilla (Nl: Berggorilla) and its habitat, as the Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme. Ms Lanjouw is honoured for her crucial and successful role in a cross-boundary partnership effort to conserve mountain gorilla habitat. The outstanding work of Ms Lanjouw is based on a vision for a sustainable future for the many areas, of which mountain gorilla habitat is a prime example, where conservation causes can not be separated from urgent humanitarian needs.

Mrs. Dr. Anna A. Lushchekina, Russia.

For her dedication, never lasting efforts and endurance in the cause of the conservation of steppe ecosystems in Mongolia, Central Asia and Russia. Mrs. Lushchekina is honoured in particular for her conservation work for the Saiga antelope (Nl: Saiga-antiloop), especially on the last European population in Kalmykia, Russia. She is also honoured for her many years of work for the conservation of Mongolian gazelle (Nl: Mongoolse gazelle); arranging for adequate protection in the Russian part of its range and cooperation in cross-border management of the species between Mongolia, China and Russia.

Drs. W.J. Veening, The Netherlands.

For his dedication and vision, especially on the importance of biodiversity

conservation within development assistance programmes and his energy in

promoting those ideas in the Netherlands, the EU and on international fora. For his groundbreaking work on the concept of the Netherlands and the World Ecology which outlines the impact of the Dutch economy on nature worldwide and puts responsability for nature protection in the South also with consumers and producers in Western countries. For his activities to protect the wider Amazon region and finding ways of financing nature conservation in the Guiana Shield region through the innovative GSI project. He is co-founder of IES, the Institute for Environmental Security.

Dr. John G. Robinson

In recognition of his outstanding visionary and catalytic role in achieving conservation of wildlife and wild areas across the globe, through the establishment of the programme to train future conservationists from around the world at the University of Florida; through his building the international division of the Wildlife Conservation Society into a major force for successful conservation in multiple countries across the globe; through his building alliances across the conservation, government and private sector communities; and through his leadership role in global thinking on hunting and sustainable use issues.

Mr. Miguel Cifuentes Arias, Costa Rica.

For his vision, energy and devotion to the cause of conservation, as President of the Charles Darwin Foundation, managing the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador, and for fifteen years as the founder and director of WWFs Central American office in Costa Rica. Mr. Cifuentes is honoured for his extensive experience in the development of methodologies for protected areas and nature-based tourism in Latin America, his insights on conservation, economics and policy in South and Central America, as well as his practical knowledge about the needs and opportunities for concrete actions in priority sites in these regions. He is also honoured for his long-term contribution as a teacher in the graduate program of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (CATIE) in Costa Rica.

Dr. Claude Martin, Zwitserland

Dr. Claude Martin krijgt de prijs uitgereikt op 26 mei 2003. De tekst van de motivering van zijn Gouden Ark is nog niet beschikbaar.