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26/12/2016
Events held in Mexico and Japan during MIDORI Week

◆ Award Ceremony in Cancún, Mexico

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The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2016 was awarded at a ceremony held in Cancún, Mexico, on 2 December 2016 at an initial plenary hosted by the Government of Mexico during the high-level segment of the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 13).


The MIDORI Prize is a biennial international prize co-organized by the AEON Environmental Foundation and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at the global level.


topics_20161226_02The winners of the 2016 Prize are: Dr. Alfonso Aguirre-Muñoz, Executive Director of Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C. (Mexico); Dr. Yury Darman, Director of WWF-Russia Amur Branch (Russia); and Dr. Vandana Shiva, Founder and Director of Navdanya (India).


Each of the Prize Winners was presented a wooden plaque, a commemorative gift and a monetary prize of 100,000 US dollars in support of their work in safeguarding biodiversity by Mr. Naoki Hayashi, Executive Director of the AEON Environmental Foundation. Also attending the ceremony were Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, representing the co-organizer of the prize, and Japan’s State Minister of the Environment, Mr. Yoshihiro Seki, representing the supporter of the prize.


topics_20161226_03 At the ceremony, H.E. Mr. Rafael Pacchiano Alamán, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico, delivered the following message.

“By awarding the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2016, the AEON Environmental Foundation and the CBD Secretariat reward the achievements of individuals who dedicate their lives to protect biodiversity. At a time when the international community needs to step up to halt the loss of biodiversity, such leadership not only recognizes the work of inspiring leaders but motivates the world to take action for life on earth. The exemplary qualities and successes of the 2016 MIDORI winners are sure to act as a source of inspiration for others as they pursue their efforts and take action for the benefit of biodiversity, for the benefit of us all.”



◆ Winners’ Forum in Tokyo, Japan

Following on from the award ceremony in Cancún was the Winners’ Forum, which was held in Tokyo, at the U Thant Hall of the United Nations University, on 7 December 2016.


topics_20161226_04 The Forum comprised lectures given by the three Prize Winners, and a panel discussion, titled “Economic Decarbonization and Biodiversity: Implications of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals,” moderated by invitee Mr. Takejiro Sueyoshi, Trustee of the AEON Environmental Foundation and Special Advisor to UNEP Finance Initiative in the Asia Pacific Region.



More about the Winners


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