The Tusk Conservation Awards have been created to recognise outstanding individual contributions to the field of African conservation. As Royal Patron of the Tusk Trust, Prince William presented the awards and gave an impassioned keynote speech about his personal commitment to conservation, saying:
“There is so much good work going on which we can celebrate and get behind. I think that sometimes, sat here, we can feel a little powerless to make a difference for species that we desperately care about. The focus that these Tusk Awards bring on a diverse group of brilliant conservationists provides a means of channelling our longing to help.”
The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa was presented to Tom Lalampaa for his groundbreaking work brokering peace through conservation among tribal groups in northern Kenya. Lalampaa has played a key role in creating a conservation area of 3 million acres with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), benefiting over 150,000 people to date. The NRT approach has been heralded as a leading model for community conservation in Kenya – and across Africa – with a proven impact on peace, livelihoods and conservation.
A television documentary ‘Prince William’s Passion: New Father, New Hope’ featuring coverage of the awards will be broadcast on ITV on Sunday 15th September from 6pm to 7pm.
Editors Notes:
The Tusk Conservation Awards have been developed in partnership with global investment firm Investec Asset Management. They aim to highlight the outstanding achievements of individuals working within the field of conservation.
Blue Ventures has transformed how coastal communities in Madagascar relate to their marine resources, catalysing a sea change in sustainable fisheries management, nurturing lucrative aquaculture businesses and creating the largest locally managed marine protected areas in the Indian Ocean.
Please contact [email protected] for more information.