×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Prince William announces Africa wildlife award

Will honour environmentalists working to conserve our wildlife, especially endangered species and their threatened habitats

Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has agreed to support a new annual award scheme that aims to celebrate outstanding achievement in the field of African conservation.

Tusk, the African conservation charity of which Prince William is Royal Patron, today announced the establishment of The Tusk Conservation Awards in partnership with Investec Asset Management.

Tusk has been working since 1990 to build a sustainable future for the African continent and its wildlife. It has been Tusk’s long-term ambition to create an awards programme to celebrate outstanding achievement in African conservation. The support of Investec Asset Management as the awards partner has enabled Tusk to turn that vision into reality, a statement said.

The charity has already begun the search for individuals who have undertaken outstanding,inspirational conservation work in Africa within the protection of endangered species or threatened habitat, promotion of environmental education or development of community driven conservation.

There will be two Tusk Conservation Awards in 2013.

• The first will be awarded to a distinguished individual for their outstanding dedication and exceptional contribution over a minimum of ten years to conservation in Africa. This award is considered a lifetime achievement award.

• The second will be awarded to an individual with a minimum of five years experience who has demonstrated a considerable commitment to conservation and has already made a significant impact. The award recognises an up-and-coming conservationist whose work shows real promise.

Nominations will be assessed by an independent panel of experts and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London in Autumn 2013. The award winners will receive substantial grants of £30,000 and £10,000 respectively, and in addition to signalling global recognition of their work, it is intended that the awards will help to develop their projects.

Charlie Mayhew MBE, Chief Executive of Tusk, said “We are very excited about the launch of these awards and immensely grateful to the Duke of Cambridge for his enthusiasm and his commitment to this initiative. We are now calling for nominations to be submitted by 31st January 2013, and want to make sure that the message reaches conservation groups and individuals right across the continent.”

Award Partner Investec Asset Management’s CEO Hendrik du Toit added, “Given our substantial business interests in Africa and our commitment to the continent and its people we identify with Tusk’s mission. It is a privilege to be associated with Tusk, which has been working for over two decades towards building a sustainable future for Africa’s natural heritage. We applaud the Tusk team for their unfaltering work across the continent”.

Details of the awards and nomination forms can be downloaded from the awards website: www.tuskawards.com

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.