PRINCE WILLIAM GIVES HIS NAME TO TOP AFRICAN CONSERVATION AWARD

10 May 2013

Prince William is to give his name to a new lifetime achievement award, which will recognise the outstanding work of a top conservationist in Africa each year.

The Tusk Conservation Awards will include a lifetime achievement award that is to be known as The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa. The awards, launched in autumn 2012 in partnership with global investment firm Investec Asset Management, attracted fifty nominations from across Africa.

The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa is a lifetime achievement award, given to a distinguished individual for outstanding dedication and exceptional contribution over many years to conservation in Africa. The winning individual, selected from a shortlist of nominations received, will be presented with a grant, provided by Investec Asset Management, towards their chosen project.

This is one of two annual awards under the Tusk Awards umbrella.

The second award, named The Tusk Conservation Award and supported by Land Rover, recognises an up-and-coming conservationist whose work has already demonstrated an exceptional commitment to conservation and has made a significant impact. The award winner and runners-up will be presented with grants to further their work. The shortlist of five conservationists nominated for The Tusk Conservation Award is as follows:

• Alasdair Harris (Madagascar)
• Edwin Kinyangui (Kenya)
• Tom Lalampaa (Kenya)
• Josia Razafindramanana (Madagascar)
• Kerri Wolter (South Africa)

Iain Rawlinson, Chairman of Tusk, said, “We are extremely honoured that the Prince has given his name to this award. The prestige his name adds will ensure that the conservation world recognises the remarkable work of the winner of his award every year. We are delighted that Investec Asset Management has partnered with us to make these awards possible.”

Tusk CEO, Charlie Mayhew, said, “We are looking forward to announcing the winners of both these new awards in September and excited that Tiffany & Co has kindly agreed to design two uniquely crafted trophies to be presented on the night. We are also hugely grateful to British Airways, Dom Perignon and the Draycott Hotel for their invaluable support for this initiative.”

Further details of the five nominees shortlisted for The Tusk Conservation Award can be found on www.tuskawards.com

HRH The Prince of Wales and Secretary of State for Defra, will host a conference on 21st May to call for action to stop illegal trade in wildlife

09 May 2013

In recent months, poaching of elephants and rhinos has reached epidemic levels. Wildlife experts indicate the losses have reached such unsustainable levels - in some places in the tens of thousands - that certain populations of African elephant are for the first time threatened with extinction within a decade. Both the black and white rhino are also under unprecedented attack for their horn and this grave threat comes on the heels of a period where populations of wild tigers have decreased by more than 90 percent. Although the poaching of wildlife for ivory and other parts is nothing new, certainly the scale of the activity has reached heights not seen before. In addition, what used to be called simple “poaching” must now be called “trafficking”. Experts are finding more and more evidence that the illegal activity is being driven by international organized criminal networks and, in some cases, terrorist and rebel militia groups. It seems no country with valuable wildlife populations is immune from the activity, which not only robs citizens of natural resources, but also contributes to global instability.

The Prince of Wales and the British Government’s objective for the 21st May conference is to put what has become a battle against wildlife trafficking at the top of the global agenda. HRH The Duke of Cambridge and HRH Prince Henry of Wales will also attend the conference. The meeting will focus on promoting international efforts to:

• reduce demand for endangered wildlife and related products in markets around the world;
• increase capacity for global law enforcement against the organised syndicates engaged in this activity;
• assist rural communities to find long-term, viable alternatives to the trade.
   

New feature on the Duke of Cambridge's conservation interests and his work with Tusk

15 April 2013

Take a look at the link below to see the latest update on the Duke of Cambridge's website about his support of Tusk.

http://www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org/focus2/conservation#na