ASEAN Champions of Biodiversity honoured
The award ceremony was held in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, the Philippines on November 26.
The
winners in the Youth Category are Indonesia ’s Adeline Suwana of the
youth organisation Sahabat Alam and twin Giovanna and Gabriella Thohir
of the Bekantan Twins Project while the Philippines ’ BusinessMirror
was recognised as the Media Champion of Diversity.
At the
age of twelve, Adeline Suwana founded Sahabat Alam, an internationally
known youth environmental organisation with thousands of members all
over Indonesia. Adeline and her organisation generate awareness of
biodiversity conservation through school seminars, events, talk shows,
films and other activities to encourage young people to do something for
the environment.
Meanwhile, Giovanna and Gabriella Thohir were
recognised thanks to their efforts in inspiring fellow youth and the
public in Indonesia to conserve the endangered bekantans (proboscis
monkeys).
Business Mirror, one of the leading newspapers in the Philippines , has made its contribution to biodiversity conversation by a weekly column of stories and reports in the field.-VNA