On September 4th, the awards ceremony was held once again to recognize those who dedicate their lives to environmental conservation in our country. This annual award aims not only to acknowledge the impact of ongoing conservation initiatives but also to serve as a source of inspiration for future generations of conservationists who are joining the collective effort to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Inspired by the legacy of engineer Carlos Ponce del Prado and his work in the conservation of natural areas and their biodiversity, the 2023 award recognized five individuals in four categories. This year's winners were Fanny Cornejo Fernández and María Elena Paredes as Conservation Champions, Pompeyo Guillen Huánuco as Distinguished Park Ranger, Roger Alvarado Isla as Outstanding Park Ranger, and Daniel Rivas Galindo as Outstanding Young Conservationist.
The awards ceremony was led by the Minister of the Environment, Albina Ruiz, who, along with representatives from institutions such as Sernanp, Profonanpe, Conservation International, WCS and the Ministry of the Environment, presented the awards to the Peruvian environmental leaders and park rangers who actively work in favor of the conservation of Peru's biological diversity.
Roger Alvarado, a park ranger at the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, dedicated his award to the more than 700 park rangers in Peru: “To take action in conservation, we must have 3 pillars: passion to love what we do; empathy to put ourselves in the place of the communities and work with them; and finally, resilience to overcome the obstacles that come our way.”
For her part, Maria Elena Paredes, an indigenous leader belonging to the people Sawawo Hito 40 highlighted the work they do in their community with young people: “I thank my organization, with whom we strengthen conservation and work initiatives in our community, to continue sharing with young people, strengthening their capacities and enabling them to continue protecting their forests.”
In addition, valuable Research Grants were awarded in collaboration with the Association for the Conservation of the Amazon Basin (ACCA) and the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), in an effort to promote research in this field. This year, SPDA awarded grants to Miguel Bellota, Maribel Paco, and Luciano Pastorelli; and ACCA to Janet Mamani, whose research demonstrates the value of continuing to generate knowledge that can be applied to conservation projects for climate action.
During the ceremony, a heartfelt and well-deserved posthumous recognition was given to Pedro Vásquez Ruesta, winner of the Environmental Personality category in 2017 and promoter and manager of the conservation of Peruvian biodiversity.
The Carlos Ponce Award once again recognizes conservation initiatives that emerge and thrive in various regions of Peru, often far removed from the spotlight enjoyed by projects built in more established, traditional areas. Furthermore, it invites us to focus our attention on the legacy of the work of those who inhabit, care for, and honor their territories; the true protagonists in building a sustainable and resilient Peru.
About Carlos Ponce del Prado
Carlos Federico Ponce del Prado was one of the best-known and most beloved figures in the recent history of nature conservation. Throughout his life, Ponce was a member of countless institutions, to which he always contributed his words of encouragement and support, as well as his knowledge and great diplomatic skills. In 1983, he founded the Peruvian Foundation for Nature Conservation (ProNaturaleza), where he served as its second president and several times as vice president. In 1986, he was invited by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to work in Washington, D.C., as Director of the Peru Program. His time in Washington coincided with the internal division of TNC International that led to the creation of Conservation International (CI), for which he began working in 1987, initially in Washington and later in Lima, as regional vice president for the tropical Andean countries. He retired from CI in 2006. Since then, he has served as an advisor to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
