TAG: GS-3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
CONTEXT:
Vera Voronova of Kazakhstan and Ysabel Agustina Calderón Carlos of Peru have recently been awarded the Midori Prize for Biodiversity 2024.
EXPLANATION:
About MIDORI Prize:
- The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity is an international award that recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
- Established by the AEON Environmental Foundation in Japan in 2010, the prize is awarded every two years and emphasizes the importance of biodiversity in ensuring a sustainable future for all life on Earth.
Objective: To honour individuals who have contributed significantly to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at global, national, or regional levels.
The winner receives a monetary award of USD 100,000 and a commemorative gift. The prize is awarded during the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meetings, highlighting the role of biodiversity in achieving global sustainability.
Selection Criteria:
- Leadership in promoting biodiversity conservation.
- Outstanding work in protecting ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity.
- Efforts to raise awareness or engage communities in biodiversity protection.
Relation to Global Biodiversity Goals:
- The MIDORI Prize supports the targets of international biodiversity frameworks like the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Recent Recipients: The prize is awarded to individuals from diverse fields, including scientists, conservationists, and activists who have made groundbreaking contributions to biodiversity protection.
Significance
- Since the prize began in 2010, 19 individuals from 17 countries have received it. Past winners have made significant contributions to biodiversity conservation, such as Dr. Paul Hebert’s work on DNA barcoding, which helps identify species, and Melina Sakiyama’s efforts to engage youth in environmental protection. The prize serves as a platform to inspire others and aligns with global initiatives like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets goals to protect biodiversity.
Past Winners of the MIDORI Prize
- Dr. Paul Hebert (2020): DNA barcoding for species identification.
- Melina Sakiyama (2020): Involvement of youth in biodiversity.
- Dr. Kathy MacKinnon (2018): Conservation of protected areas.
Source:
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