3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress, Bangkok , November 19th, 2004

Finalist Gustavo Heredia from the ‘Agua Para Todos Project’ receiving his award from Achim Steiner, Director General of IUCN. Photo courtesy IISD Linkages - ENB

The twelve finalists of the first biennial Seed Awards have been announced at a reception at the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress in Bangkok in November. The finalist partnerships were chosen for their outstanding potential to spur economic growth, promote social development and foster environmental stewardship at the local level. The partnerships tackle a range of economic, environmental and social issues from malnutrition to water provision, conservation of medicinal plants to fishing stock depletion and are spread across the globe. What they have in common is their innovative and entrepreneurial approach – addressing challenges while creating jobs and improving livelihoods.

IUCN Director General Achim Steiner, speaking at the reception hosted by the World Bank and IUCN, introduced the twelve finalist partnerships to an audience of several hundred including representatives from grassroots organizations, the private sector, and government ministers. Steiner stressed that "Conservation cannot succeed if pursued in isolation - it must go hand in hand with economic and social development. These outstanding Seed finalists demonstrate how partnerships can contribute to this integration."

Seed Award Finalists 2004/2005

Africa Allanblackia Seed – a Novel Non-timber Forest Product for Positive Change, Nigeria Improving livelihoods and fighting the loss of tropical forests by establishing a new plant oil industry using a novel non-timber forest product – the Allanblackia seed. Potential for expansion across the region, wherever the Allanblackia is indigenous.   Cows to Kilowatts, Nigeria Installing a biogas plant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, produce affordable cooking gas and address waste management and water pollution caused by one of Nigeria’s largest slaughterhouses. Potential for replication across Africa.   Joint Initiative for a Cleaner Mohammedia, Morocco Building an environmental technology centre to reduce pollution levels in the city of Mohammedia, home to the country’s largest refinery, and assist local enterprises in the acquisition of upgraded technology. The aim is to franchise the model across the world.   Madagascar's First Experimental Community-run Marine Protected Area, Madagascar A partnership to demonstrate the economic, conservation and fisheries benefits of Madagascar’s first community-run Marine Protected Area as a possible prototype for future MPAs around the world.   VitAngo - Vitamin A from Mangoes, Kenya Reducing vitamin A deficiency and generate income by increasing production and solar drying of mangoes, improved marketing mechanisms and agroforestry education in schools and communities. Asia Creating New Markets for Biologically Diverse, High-Yielding Indigenous Rice, Cambodia, Madagascar & Sri Lanka A programme to market indigenous varieties of rice to improve incomes, conserve rice biodiversity and promote human and environmental health. Tremendous potential to spread across multiple rice-growing regions.   Environmental Certification Programme for Lead Battery Manufacturing, India Establishing an environmental audit and certification programme for lead battery manufacturing facilities to reduce lead poisoning and encourage the adoption of voluntary emission standards.   Harvesting Seabuckthorn at the Top of the World, Nepal Sustainable harvesting of wild seabuckthorn (highly nutritious and versatile berry), creation of seabuckthorn nurseries, and expansion of markets to safeguard knowledge of medicinal plants and biodiversity of Nepal.   Integrated Mangrove Restoration and Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture, Thailand Establishing sustainable shrimp aquaculture to benefit local communities while protecting and restoring mangrove swamps. Americas/Caribbean Agua Para Todos/Water for all, Bolivia A novel partnership model fully engaging the local population to provide access to low-cost potable water in peri-urban areas which could be replicated in similar circumstances worldwide.   The Maya Nut Programme, Nicaragua & Guatemala Increasing knowledge, production, sales, and consumption of the highly nutritious Maya Nut to improve nutrition, food security and family health. Potential to spread across Central America.   Rising in the East, Jamaica A training programme for unemployed rural youth that teaches techniques of sustainable organic farming and promotes small enterprise development, that could be replicated throughout Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

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