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).

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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