WERELD NATUUR FONDS
Prins Bernhard reikt natuuronderscheidingen uit
Z.K.H. Prins Bernhard heeft vrijdag 7 mei 2004 tien 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 Officier in de Orde van de Gouden Ark:
Prof. Nico W. Visser (Nederland)
Major General Joseph G. Singh (Guyana)
Dr. Ajay S. Rawat (India)
Dr. Martin von Hildebrand (Colombia)
Dr. Daniel C. Taylor (U.S.A.)
Mr. Antoon van Hooff (Nederland) (bevorderd van ridder tot officier)
Onderscheiden tot Ridder in de Orde van de Gouden Ark:
Dr. Tirtha M. Maskey (Nepal)
Dr. Igor Y. Chestin (Rusland)
Mrs. Gabriella M. Fredriksson (Nederland)
Mrs. Neiva M. Robaldo Guedes (Brazilie)
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).
///////////////
Motivatie voor de onderscheidingen:
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Prof. Nico W. Visser for his
continuous interest in and support to nature conservation and in
practical terms without neglecting the scientific structure
particularly for his contribution to the important International
Convention on biodiversity all over the world.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Major General Joseph G.
Singh for his love for nature and belief in conservation like no other
in Guyana to the benefit of all. He shared his love and knowledge not
only with his troops but also with the Government of Guyana and the
Guyanese people resulting in a major protected area in Southern Guyana
of 1.5 million hectares.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Dr. Ajay S. Rawat in
recognition of his significant contribution to Indian conservation as
an academic and as an environmental activist, and for successfully
bridging these two approaches for the benefit of nature and people.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Dr. Martin von Hildebrand
for his lifelong work to preserve the Colombian Amazon rainforest and
the people that live in it by establishing resguardos giving them
rights of self governance and by founding the COAMA programme and the
Fundacion Gaia Amazonica, resulting in the protection of one quarter
of the extensive Colombian Amazonian forest.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Dr. Daniel C. Taylor for his
uncompromising dedication and contribution to sustainable,
community-based conservation and development, especially in some of
the worlds most mountainous areas, and for the future generations work
in Afghanistan, India, Nepal and Tibet.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Dr. Tirtha M. Maskey in
recognition of his conservation leadership and especially his critical
interventions in Nepal from overseeing its National Parks to helping
save several endangered species from local extinction and for his
foresight and commitment to initiate participatory natural resource
management in and around Nepals protected areas.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Dr. Igor Y. Chestin for his
outstanding vision and commitment to conservation in Russia, and
particularly his initiatives to protect some of Russias largest
forests, as well as to engage civil society in the environment, in
addition to creating an anchor for WWFs work and thus, significantly
contributing to its global influence and achievements.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Mrs. Gabriella M.
Fredriksson for her important field research on the Malayan Sunbear
which contributes to the conservation of primary rainforests, but
especially for her effective innovative approach to nature
conservation resulting in a non-governmental protective system at the
regional level in Kalimantan.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Mrs. Neiva Maria Robaldo
Guedes Cardoso for combining pioneering scientific research with
raising awareness and effective protection resulting in the comeback
of the Hyacinth Macaw in the Brazilian Pantanal.
The Order of the Golden Ark is awarded to Mr. Antoon van Hooff for
enthousiastically supporting a large variety of nature conservation
initiatives, amongst which notably the Shipstern Reserve in Belize and
by showing an original and innovative approach in exhibiting the world
of animal and plant life, thereby providing a new dimension to nature
education for many.
Fotomateriaal:
Digitaal beeld van de uitreiking van de Gouden Ark zijn beschikbaar
via WNF-persvoorlichting.
Meer informatie:
Marie-Christine Lanser-Reusken, persvoorlichter Wereld Natuur Fonds
Tel. 030-6937374 of mobiel 06-21548657 of email: mlanser@wwf.nl
07 mei 04 18:00