Conservation Action Prize
Call for Nominations
Previous Recipients of the Conservation Action Prize
The Harris Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis presents the Conservation Action Prize to recognize individuals who are particularly active in the frontline of biological conservation. The award, a trophy and cash prize, honors individuals intimately involved and successful in seeking solutions to conservation problems, developing conservation strategies, implementing programs that conserve natural resources, habitats and biodiversity, educating the public on issues pertaining to biological conservation, or providing leadership through example. These individuals are rarely recognized publicly for their dedication; yet, their work underpins the day-to-day successes in the conservation of biodiversity and habitats. The prize recognizes conservationists active in Missouri and Illinois as well as those active nationally or internationally.
- the prize honors the “unsung heroes” of conservation; those physically conducting work in the field that otherwise would go unrecognized by many of their peers or the general public;
- individuals should have a minimum of five years experience working in conservation;
- individuals may be conservation professionals, volunteers, or academics with significant local or national conservation achievements;
- the prize is open to individuals working in the bi-state region (Missouri and Illinois) as well as those based in tropical countries;
- nominations should be sent to the address below and should include a letter that outlines why the nominee deserves the prize, a list of their accomplishments, curriculum vitae and up to three supporting letters.
2003
Wilford "Wolf" Guindon has devoted himself to the conservation of the cloud forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica. His love for this area began with his arrival in Costa Rica in 1951 as one of the original Quakers seeking to establish a new life in this peace-loving country. He is a founding member of the Monteverde Conservation League and has been intimately involved in many conservation efforts including working with local farmers to replant trees and create small forests on their farms (bosques en fincas). Wolf worked with George Powell to establish the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and in 1972, transferred the administration of the Reserve to the Tropical Science Center that Wolf joined and later became the coordinator, a position he held from 1974-1984. His rapport with local farmers and landowners facilitated land purchases and the expansion of the reserve. He developed trails and protected the forest from poachers and squatters. Wolf was a founding member of the Monteverde Conservation League in 1986 and participated in negotiations for the land purchases to create the largest private reserve in Costa Rica: El Bosque Eterno de los Niños that surrounds the Cloud Forest Reserve. In 1998, he received awards presented by Costa Rica's President Miguel Angel Rodriguez from the Ministerio del Ambiente y Energia and Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion for "distinguished work in support of and consolidation of the system of National Areas of Conservation." Wolf’s knowledge of the natural history of the area is legendary and this has greatly aided conservation efforts, research and education programs. His capacity to work with people, to defuse confrontations and resolve disputes with regard to human dignity and without violence has greatly facilitated the conservation of Monteverde forests. He has championed collaboration among conservation organizations and has been successful in getting people to work towards the common goal of safeguarding biodiversity within the reserves he loves.
2002
Mark Jenkins, Senior Warden, Meru National Park and Bisanadi and Mwingi National Reserves in Kenya obtained his Diploma in Agriculture from the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, United Kingdom in 1986. He joined the Kenya Wildlife Service in 1989 and, for three years, trained and led a quick response, anti-poaching team operating mainly throughout northeast Kenya and Tsavo National Park. He learned techniques in elephant capture in the Kruger National Park and worked with the Natal Parks Board in South Africa as a conservation team member involved in the safe capture, care and relocation of antelope and rhino. From 1995-1997 he worked in the Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda providing advice on rehabilitation of the park decimated by years of warfare. Prior to accepting his current position, Mark worked in the Niassa Game Reserve in Northern Mozambique rebuilding basic infrastructure and training a ranger force. Meru National Park is recognized nationally as one of the most effectively managed National Parks in Kenya.
2001
Douglas Ladd, Director, Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy (Missouri Chapter) has been involved with conservation planning, natural area assessment, management, restoration, and research for more than twenty-five years, with particular emphasis on vegetation, and fire ecology. Recent work has concentrated on vegetation and fire ecology of mid-western prairies and woodlands, developing assessment and ecological monitoring protocols for terrestrial vegetation, and eco-regional conservation planning. In addition to numerous articles and reports, he is the author of two plant field guides, North Woods Wildflowers and Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers, and co-author of Discover Natural Missouri and Distribution of Illinois Vascular Plants.
2000
Sharon Matola, Director of the Belize Zoo, is an environmental activist and ardent campaigner against ill-advised development projects in Belize. She has created one of the world's most remarkable zoos. In 1982 she was invited to care for the animals to be used in a nature film in Belize. Funding for the film ran out and Sharon, left with the animals, established the Belize Zoo. She has written two children's books about the animals of Belize, and both have become popular throughout the country. She broadcasts a weekly radio program that is conservation-based and has influenced attitudes of children as well as top-level government officials. She has been instrumental in getting laws passed to protect the natural resources of Belize and in 1991, a new 30-acre zoo and its Tropical Education Center opened to the public.