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E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE |
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2006 Blue Planet Prize Winners |
2006 BLUE PLANET PRIZE: ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRIZE WINNERS |
TOKYO, JAPAN, Jun. 22 -/E-Wire/--
Dr. Akira Miyawaki (Japan) For establishing a theory to restore and to reconstruct forests based on the concept of "Potential natural vegetation" and by implementing the theory succeeded in reconstructing disaster-preventing environment-conserving forests and tropical forests, contributed in restoring the green on earth
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Dr. Emil Salim (Indonesia) For contributing in establishing the concept of sustainable development and furthering global environmental policies through various United Nations' committees especially as the chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development
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This year marks the 15th awarding of the Blue Planet Prize, the international environmental award sponsored by the Asahi Glass Foundation, chaired by Hiromichi Seya. Two Blue Planet Prizes are awarded to individuals or organizations each year that make outstanding achievements in scientific research and its application, and in so doing help to solve global environmental problems. The Board of Directors and Councillors selected the following recipients for this year.
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1. Dr. Akira Miyawaki (Japan) Director, Japanese Center for International Studies in Ecology (JISE) Emeritus Professor, Yokohama National University
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Dr. Miyawaki put forward the forest restoration/reconstruction theory based on the concept of "Potential natural vegetation", or restoration of the habitat's indigenous vegetation in accordance with its natural conditions. He has investigated the vegetation of whole of Japan with the cooperation of plant ecology laboratories from universities throughout Japan, and edited and published "Vegetation of Japan", a 10 volume series with both existing vegetation maps as well as potential natural vegetation maps over 6,000 pages text, which became a culmination of vegetation research in Japan. He then implemented his theory based on the investigation in more than 1500 locations in Japan and abroad. In 20 to 30 years, he restored a natural disaster prevention/environment conservation forest close to a natural forest domestically. He also succeeded in reconstructing tropical rain forests overseas. He has exhibited the possibility and results in restoring the green on earth which is the foundation of the ecosystem.
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2. Dr. Emil Salim (Indonesia) Professor, Faculty of Economics and Post Graduate Course, University of Indonesia Former Minister of Population and Environment, Republic of Indonesia
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Since the early 1980s when the United Nations began in earnest to undertake the resolution of environmental problems on a global scale, Dr. Salim has contributed to the development of global environmental policies as a representative of Asia, as well as guiding environmental strategies in the developing region of Asia as a whole. He served as the Environment Minister of Indonesia for 15 years as the country followed a path of economic development. He pioneered the development of the idea of integrating environmental considerations into development plans, and presented a model for sustainable development while also dedicating his efforts to establishing environmental governance in Indonesia. Dr. Salim's innovative achievements have been highly acclaimed internationally. As a result he has not only filled significant roles in the leading environmental activities of the United Nations, including the World Commission on Environment and Development and the Johannesburg Summit, but enhanced Asian presence at global discussions about environmental problems.
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Both recipients will be awarded a certificate of merit, a commemorative trophy and a supplementary award of 50 million yen. The awards ceremony will be held on November 15, 2006 (Wednesday), at the Tokyo Kaikan (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo). The commemorative lectures by the prize recipients will be held at the United Nations University (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) the next day, on November 16 (Thursday).
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*This press release may also be viewed on the Internet from June 22, 2006 at www.af-info.or.jp.
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Report on the Selection Process (15th Annual Prize, 2006)
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A total of 1,000 nominators from Japan and 1,300 nominators from other countries recommended 106 candidates. The fields represented by the candidates in order of numbers, were ecology (32), atmospheric and earth sciences (19), environmental economics and policy making (16). The candidates were drawn from 25 countries, with those from developing countries numbering 19 persons, or 18 % of the total. These candidates were individually evaluated by each Selection Committee member, then the committee was convened to narrow down the field. These results were examined by the Presentation Committee, which forwarded its recommendations to the Board of Directors and Councillors. The Board formally resolved to award the Prize to Dr. Akira Miyawaki, and Dr. Emil Salim.
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/SOURCE:
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The Asahi Glass Foundation |
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06-22-2006 |
/CONTACT:
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Mr. Shunichi Samejima
Shunichi Samejima THE ASAHI GLASS FOUNDATION 2nd Floor, Science Plaza, 5-3 Yonbancho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0081 Japan Phone +81-3-5275-0620 Fax +81-3-5275-0871 e-mail: post@af-info.or.jp URL: http://www.af-info.or.jp |
| /WEB SITE: |
http://www.af-info.or.jp
http://post@af-info.or.jp
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