Patricia Medici
Patricia Medici (Brazil) received the Future for Nature Award 2008 for her internationally outstanding tapir protection efforts. Since 1996 she has been leading a successful lowland tapir research and conservation program in the Atlantic Forests of Brazil. Patricia is not only founding member of the Institute for Ecological Research but has been the Chair of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group since 2000 as well.
The Lowland Tapir
The Lowland Tapir is a vulnerable species living in the rainforests and wetlands of South America. Habitat destruction and hunting are the biggest threats to tapirs. Patrícia is now, together with her Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative Team, expanding the initiative by establishing tapir projects in other key biomes of Brazil. The first of these is in the Pantanal, where no tapir research has ever been conducted.
Dr. Charudutt Mishra
Dr. Charudutt Mishra (India) was given the Future for Nature Award 2008 because of his persistent and brave efforts to protect the snow leopard. Charudutt works with local pastoral communities to garner support for the conservation of the snow leopard and other Himalayan wildlife. Next to that, he has also been engaging with governments to help set up protected areas. Charudutt is also co-founder and Director of the Nature Conservation Foundation.
The Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is an endangered species. There are believed to be less than 1000 snow leopards in India and approximately 5000 worldwide. The prize amount of € 50,000 will be used to reinforce snow leopard conservation in the Himalaya. In doing so, the Project Snow Leopard will be the first national species-conservation programme across India’s higher Himalayas.
Michiel Hötte
Due to his pioneer work to preserve the Amur leopard, Michiel Hötte (the Netherlands) was granted the Future for Nature== Award 2008. In 1997 Michiel established the Tigris Foundation, through which he initiated, designed and ensured funding of a conservation programme that helped to stabilise Amur leopard numbers. Michiel Hötte is also co-founder and co-ordinator of the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance, a coalition of 10 western and Russian conservation NGO’s.
The Amur leopard
With an alarming small population of about 30 animals in the wild, The Amur leopard is probably the rarest big cat on earth. Ten years ago, the Amur leopard was virtually unknown, even within the conservation community. The Amur leopard suffers from very frequent fires converting forests to grasslands. Long-term survival of the Amur leopard is therefore only possible if the current habitat degradation by fires is halted. The prize amount will be used to instigate co-ordinated efforts to abate forest fires.
