UNITED NATIONS FORESTS FOR PEOPLE ... - the United Nations

0 downloads 200 Views 2MB Size Report
and activities that offer economic alternatives to exploiting the forest. ... Born in Puerto Rico, Ariel received his Ma
UNITED NATIONS FORESTS FOR PEOPLE AWARDS Heroes

Short Films

Photographs

UNITED NATIONS FORESTS FOR PEOPLE AWARDS CONTENTS

page

Foreword .…………….……………….…………...….……………….……………… 1 FOREST HEROES .………………………………………………………………..……. 2

INTERNATIONAL FOREST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL .………………..……. 8

INTERNATIONAL FOREST PHOTOGRAPH AWARD .……………..……. 14

AWARDS JURY .…………………………………………..…………………....……. 21

MAP: Over 600 entries from 68 countries competed for the Awards

FOREWORD

In 2011, the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Secretariat launched the first-ever Forest Heroes Awards and Forest Film Festival in celebration of the International Year of Forests. The resounding success of this advocacy effort was the inspiration for the 2012/2013 UN Forest for People Awards. The Awards have 3 categories – Forest Heroes, the International Forest Short Film Festival and the International Forest Photograph Awards. Each Award focuses on the dynamic and unique relationship between forests and the people who depend on them. Almost 600 entries and nominations from 68 countries have competed to win these prestigious Awards. Each entry shares a unique story of how forests inspire and contribute to our lives. An international jury, consisting of lauded practitioners and experts, for each of the 3 Award categories has been established. It is my pleasure to introduce you to the winners – these amazing individuals who make a difference for our forests, our trees and our communities.

Jan L. McAlpine Director United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 1

AWARDS

FOREST HEROES All over the world people are working in quiet and heroic ways to sustain, protect and manage our forests. The Forest Hero Award celebrates these “unsung” heroes who inspire positive change for forests. We received 47 nominations from 30 countries. The highest number of nominations are from: India, Brazil, and USA. The jury selected 5 regional winners and 3 honourable mentions. WINNERS, by region for:     

AFRICA | Rose Mukankomeje, Rwanda ASIA & THE PACIFIC | Preecha Siri, Thailand LATIN AMERICA & THE CARRIBEAN | Almir Narayamoga Surui, Brazil EUROPE| Hayrettin Karaca, Turkey NORTH AMERICA | Ariel Lugo, USA

HONOURABLE MENTIONS, in alphabetical order   

Ian Dickenson, Australia James Ligare, Kenya Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo, Mexico

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 2

AWARDS

FOREST HERO | AFRICA ROSE MUKANKOMEJE, RWANDA Dr. Rose Mukankomeje has devoted her life to the protection and restoration of Rwandan forests. As her nation emerged from crisis, and in the face of great personal adversity, Rose took the initiative to bring Rwandans together to protect their natural resources from over exploitation and environmental degradation. One of her most successful initiatives is public awareness for environmental management, through Umuganda – a national community programme done once a month. It is a unique home grown solution which ensures that the growth of forests in Rwanda supports livelihoods and benefits the rural poor. Rose also raised attention for the need to protect critical ecosystems like wetlands by encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural techniques. Her work helped to improve the livelihoods of people without compromising Rwanda’s rare and vulnerable ecosystems. As a lasting legacy of Rose's achievements in the field of forestry, Rwanda’s National Forest Policy won the 2011 Future Policy Award. Through border-to-border restoration programmes, this policy aims to heal and restore natural resources, creating the basis for a healthy and resilient society of the future. Rose is a biologist by training and in 1992 received her PhD in the Sciences. She is currently the Director General of the Rwandan Environment Management Authority (REMA). She has also served as Member of Parliament (1995-2001); Director General, Science, Technology & Research, Ministry of Education (2002-03); Vice Chairperson, Centre for Innovation & Technology Transfer; and Vice President, Kigali Institute of Education. UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 3

AWARDS

FOREST HERO | ASIA & THE PACIFIC PREECHA SIRI, THAILAND Mr. Preecha Siri is a community leader with a vision for forest management. He is a source of inspiration for his community in revitalizing sustainable forest management systems. He has dedicated his life to demonstrating his belief that protecting nature is protecting a way of life. He believes that rights with responsibilities are inseparable when it comes to protecting and promoting sustainable resource management systems and self-sufficient traditional livelihood practices. With his guidance, his community has successfully adopted an integrated system of wet terrace fields, rotational farming, beekeeping, native tea and bamboo farming along with forest conservation demonstrating a successful model of ecosystem management. These innovative income generation plans have helped to create community funds and build community resilience. Today, the community manages 3,120 hectares of forestswhere 14 streams originate and 567.52 hectares of agricultural land. His village is now a learning center for the global community on sustainable lifestyle, attracting growing numbers of researchers and visitors every year. A recent milestone studies published is Climate Change, Trees and Livelihood: A Case Study on the Carbon Footprint of a Karen Community in Northern Thailand. Both Preecha and his community have received distinguished awards. He received the Friendship Award (2009) from the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Community Servant Award (2010) from the Network of Community Organizations. Preecha was born in 1954 and is a Karen farmer. He did not receive formal education but gained his wisdom and knowledge from observation and interaction with the forest. UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 4

AWARDS

FOREST HERO | EUROPE HAYRETTIN KARACA, TURKEY Hayrettin Karaca, born in 1922, built a successful textile business. However, in the 1970s, as he traveled across Turkey he became very concerned about the environmental degradation that he saw, especially the soil erosion. Hayrettin realized he could not remain silent and began to document the situation and warn authorities and the public about the threats facing Turkey's natural environment. In 1980, Hayrettin established an arboretum on his land in Yalova, which today holds over 14,000 species and subspecies of trees, and 3,800 herbaceous plants and perennials. The Karaca Arboretum has become the in situ breeding ground of endangered plant species endemic to Turkey and is open to the public. In 1992, together with Nihat Gökyiğit, Hayrettin founded the TEMA Foundation to raise public awareness of environmental problems -specifically soil erosion, deforestation, biodiversity loss and climate change. Today TEMA is one Turkey’s leading environmental NGOs with over 460,000 volunteers across the country. TEMA has planted more than ten million seedlings and launched numerous public campaigns to influence the practices of government and business on sustainable rural development, reforestation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management. Hayrettin, considered the 'grandfather' of the Turkish environmental movement, has received a number of awards for his work, including the UNEP 500 in 1992, the Eminent Services Award of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in 1998 and the Right Livelihood Award in 2012.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 5

AWARDS

FOREST HERO | LATIN AMERICA & THE CARRIBEAN ALMIR NARAYAMOGA SURUI, BRAZIL An environmentalist and political activist, Almir Narayamoga Surui caught the eye of tribal elders; at 17 he was elected chief, and is the first member of the Surui to attend college. For more than 20 years he has been fighting to save both his Paiter-Surui tribe and the Amazon rainforest. Almir successfully lobbied the state government to build schools, wells and medical clinics for the Surui and other tribes in the rainforest preserves. He spearheaded the creation of a “50-year plan” to ensure the economic vitality of the Paiter-Surui. The plan encompasses large-scale conservation efforts, reforestation projects and activities that offer economic alternatives to exploiting the forest. Almir convinced the World Bank to re-structure a regional development program to better benefit local indigenous groups. Almir’s efforts are credited with almost single-handedly bringing his tribe back from the brink of extinction. Almir hopes to generate income for the tribe by selling forest carbon credits. To achieve this goal, he contacted Google Earth to teach the Surui how to use digital technology to monitor and map the forest. His efforts to build partnerships between indigenous peoples and international actors for sustainable development have earned him accolades around the world. He received the 2008 Human Rights Prize from the International Society for Human Rights in Geneva. In 2011 Almir was named as one of the 100 most creative people in the world by Fast Company, the world's leading progressive media brand which focuses on innovation and leadership. Almir was born in 1974 in the state of Rondonia, in western Brazil.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 6

AWARDS

FOREST HERO | NORTH AMERICA ARIEL LUGO, USA Dr. Ariel Lugo has dedicated his life to the conservation of forests and the improvement of communities around the world. Ariel is an active scientist! His talent for environmental research is paired with a unique ability to create new linkages between forests and diverse audiences. His most recent project helps to prevent violence and promote healthy childhood development by encouraging the participation of youth in planting seasonal organic products and native trees. Ariel believes in the use of a variety of tools to engage and inspire people to discover the scientific and artistic significance of forests. While Ariel has published over 470 scientific articles, he continues to explore new ways to turn forest policy into practice. His thought leadership has earned him innumerable honors, including the Zayed International Prize for the Environment, Distinguished Service and Distinguished Scientist Award from USDA, an Honorary Doctorate from University of Puerto Rico and a Meritorious Executive Rank Award from President George W. Bush. He also contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Scientific Assessment that received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. Ariel is currently the Director of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry (1986-present). He has consulted with UNESCO and also served in the Executive Office of the President, Council on Environmental Quality (1978-79); as Project Leader, US Forest Service (1979-92); and Acting Deputy Chief, International Forestry in Washington D.C. (1995). Born in Puerto Rico, Ariel received his Master’s Degree in Science (Biology) and a Ph.D. in Ecology.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 7

AWARDS

INTERNATIONAL FOREST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL UNFFS partnered with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival to honor the creative efforts of film makers who visually capture how forests inspire, shelter, nurture and contribute to our lives. This year’s Film Festival is for short films of five minutes or less. We received 128 entries from 38 countries. The highest number of entries are from USA, India, UK, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. WINNERS, in alphabetical order:  Amazing Grace by Rowan Pybus, South Africa  An Unseen World by Paul Rosolie, USA  Feel like a Mountain by Elio Alonso Vasquez Miranda, Peru  Ma forêt by Sébastien Pins, Belgium  Reynaldo by Dan Childs & Nick Werber, UK HONOURABLE MENTIONS, in alphabetical order:  The Water Forest by Rose Rogers, UK  The Mother Forest by Maria Luz Fang-asan, the Philippines  Adaptación by Sofia Carrillo, Mexico  Mbuti: Children of the Forest by Molly Feltner, USA  Our Little World by Apip Rea, Indonesia  What's Happening In Our Forest? by Jamie Cundiff, USA The 21 finalists of the International Forests Short Film Festival can be seen here: http://www.un.org/esa/forests/international-day-offorests/video.html.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 8

AWARDS

WINNING SHORT FILM | AMAZING GRACE ROWAN PYBUS, SOUTH AFRICA Rowan is an award-winning Cape Town filmmaker and photographer. His company Makhulu (“Big”) opened in 2003 and is established as a leading South African production house for live events. Rowan created content for global brands including Red Bull, Volkswagen and Adidas, directing and producing music videos for bands like Jeremy Loops and The Dirty Skirts. His collaboration with artist Faith47 created several acclaimed short films exhibited across Europe. Rowan supports NGOs assisting impoverished communities across Africa, helping to raise their profiles, and is a founding member of Greenpop. Creativity and originality are paramount. “New technologies are being developed all the time and I enjoy combining technological innovation with new ways of thinking. That is what enables me to tell stories in unconventional ways.” Career highlights include filming the Volkswagen World Junior Masters, video travelogue for Africa Travel Co., street art projects in The Gambia, touring the USA with SA’s biggest band, and helping save Victoria Falls from rampant deforestation.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 9

AWARDS

WINNING SHORT FILM | AN UNSEEN WORLD PAUL ROSOLIE, USA A naturalist and explorer, Paul specializes in the western Amazon. Working with indigenous communities to protect forests through responsible ecotourism, Paul spent over seven years with people who know the forest best. Paul’s work took him to Borneo, India, Brazil, and Peru. In the Amazon he traveled with poachers into deep jungle documenting black market endangered species trade (the third largest black market globally, following guns and drugs), researched giant anacondas, raised a giant anteater, and explored an undocumented ecosystem known as called the ‘floating forest’. He also spends periods in solitude with his raft in remote corners of the jungle, filming, writing, and observing wildlife. Paul’s current focus is storytelling: on-the-ground experiences led him to believe the Amazon (and other tropical rainforest ecosystems) are at a crucial moment in history; it’s the responsibility of our generation to ensure they survive. His current focus is Mother of God (Harper Collins), a first-hand account of conservation and high adventure in the Amazon’s Wild West.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 10

AWARDS

WINNING SHORT FILM | FEEL LIKA A MOUNTAIN ELIO ALONSO VASQUEZ MIRANDA, PERU Alonso was born in one of the most culturally vibrant cities in Latin America: UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage Arequipa, Peru, and was selected for Røde Kors Nordisk United World College in Norway, amongst the most notable international boarding schools in Europe. His films focus on Social and Environmental Issues, with a TV advertisement for Norwegian National Television and short documentaries such as the life of Edwin Gonzales, victim of personnel landmines. Award-winner at the United Nations Environmental Program, GreenGo Short Film Contest in Budapest, Chilean National Television Council, and nominee at The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Faith Shorts Film Festival in London and Plural + Film Festival in New York (United Nations Alliance of Civilizations), Alonso’s work was recognized by Ministry of Production of the Republic of Peru and premiered at the Meeting of the Parties regarding the 25th Anniversary Ceremony of the Montreal Protocol in Geneva, and the Oslo City Hall with Norway’s Queen Sonja.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 11

AWARDS

WINNING SHORT FILM | MA FORÊT SÉBASTIEN PINS, BELGIUM Born in 1990 in Namur, Belgium, Sébastien has always been fascinated by the delicacy and mysteries of nature. He was attracted early to photography, capturing the connections between man and nature and receiving many prizes throughout Europe. At eight years, he wrote and directed his first theatre scene, at 15, discovering pyrotechnics and becoming a professional pyrotechnician at 20. With audio-visual training at the SAE Institute in Brussels, he made his first documentary, awarded in the Festival Nature Namur (BE) in 2010. At the Institut des Arts de Diffusion in Louvainla-Neuve (BE) he made another on the symbiosis between men and bees, awarded in the Festival Nature Namur in 2011 and others, and broadcast on television (RTBF, RTC). Realizing the need for fiction films on nature, he produced “My Forest”, a short film on men and trees. Flimography: La charte de la terre (2010), Symbiose (2011), Ma forêt (2012).

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 12

AWARDS

WINNING SHORT FILM | REYNALDO DAN CHILDS & NICK WERBER, UK London-based Dan Childs graduated in Biology discovering filmmaking during a local film challenge, screening in the Brighton Fringe Festival. Combining digital cameras with vintage lenses, Dan created promotional films and animations, also filming in Peru’s Amazon with journalist Nick Werber. Specializing in evolution within tropical ecosystems at college, Dan wanted to experience the rainforest’s biodiversity, championing the conservation and social projects of the Crees Foundation, a rainforest conservation charity in Peru’s Manu region. Dan is currently working as director and cinematographer on feature-length documentaries in the UK and China. Nick Werber’s passion for writing and the natural world, with a degree in creative writing, inspired him as an environmental journalist. In 2010 Nick began chronicling the Crees Foundation’s work, writing, photographing and filmmaking. In Peru, Nick learned about rainforest issues and met inspiring people, including sustainable forestry pioneer Reynaldo Ochoa. In January 2011, with filmmaker Dan Childs, Nick completed several films about Crees’ work in Manu, including this one about Reynaldo.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 13

AWARDS

INTERNATIONAL FOREST PHOTOGRAPH AWARD This is the first ever global initiative by the UNFFS to acknowledge and honour efforts to visually capture the significant, extraordinary and unique connection of people and forests. We received 426 entries from 39 countries. The highest number of entries are from: Russia, Indonesia, Ukraine, Turkey and India. WINNERS, in alphabetical order:  Budur by Atakan Baykal, Turkey  Faces of the Mau: Community Leader by Riccardo Gangale, Italy  Morning from Situ Gunung by Prasetyo Nurramdhan, Indonesia  My favorite place by Olga Lavrushko, Ukraine  Pahmung krui Damar Forest by Eka Fendiaspara, Indonesia  Sleeping beauty by Pablo Pro, Spain HONOURABLE MENTIONS, in alphabetical order:  Farming the forest by Lamphay Inthakoun, Lao  Forests are “honey” for traditional tribals by Aulia Erlangga, Indonesia  Hungry animals in winter by Muzaffer Ketmen, Turkey  Mangrove forest reforestation by Irwandi M. Gade, Indonesia  Once a playground and source of life by Budi Setiawan, Indonesia  Pine forest by Zulkarnaen Syri Lokesyware, Indonesia  Pray by Danang Sujati, Indonesia  What if this is the last tree? by Dwi Kristiyadi, Indonesia  Wood Man by Somenath Mukhopadhyay India The jury would further like to provide special acknowledgements to:  Am I visible? by Ajay Chandwani, India  Beech avenue in autumn by Robert Clamp, United Kingdom  Collecting fodder by Sandesh Timilsina, Nepal  Northern Hawk Owl by Finella Pescott, Canada  Rubber farmers by Rahmat Rahim Nur, Indonesia  Walking alone by Ali Mustofa, Indonesia

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 14

AWARDS

WINNING PHOTOGRAPH | BUDUR

ATAKAN BAYKAL, TURKEY Atakan is a forest engineer living in Turkey. His adventure in photography started in 1997. He has been a professional Nature Photographer with the general Directorate of Forestry (GDF) since 2008. He captures Turkish Forests through documentaries and photographs. Atakan was born in Kırklareli, Turkey in 1979. He graduated from Istanbul University - Forestry Faculty in 2000. He has worked in the GDF since 2002.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 15

AWARDS

WINNING PHOTOGRAPH | PAHMUNG KRUI DAMAR FOREST

EKA FENDIASPARA, INDONESIA Eka revels in landscape, wildlife and nature photography. While he studied to be a teacher of mathematics, he took classes in photography – turning his hobby into a second career. Eka Fendiaspara was born in Padang Ratu, Indonesia in 1983. Since 2007 he has been teaching math in a high school in West Lampung and at the Terbuka University since 2012. In 2010 he became an instructor of an extracurricular photography class. He continues to be an active contributor to a number of online photography communities.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 16

AWARDS

WINNING PHOTOGRAPH | FACES OF THE MAU

RICCARDO GANGALE, ITALY Riccardo has documented visual journeys from ‘Food for the cities’ in Ethiopia for FAO, the struggle of landless people in South Africa, withdrawal of the Rwandan troops from Congo, gacaca trials in Rwanda, to the daily life and living condition of the Casbah in Algiers for galbe.com. Riccardo has undertaken assignments for UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, WHO and the Global Fund in Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Somalia. Based in Kigali from 2003 to 2008, Riccardo worked as a freelance correspondent for the Associated Press for the Great Lakes region, covering socio-political issues in Congo Burundi, Uganda and Kenya. From 2008 to date Riccardo has been based in Nairobi. Riccardo was born in Rome, Italy in 1975. He has a Masters in professional. His photographs have been published in the New York Times, Time Magazine, The Guardian, Liberation, Der Spiegel, Le Monde and The Washington Post.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 17

AWARDS

PHOTOGRAPH | MY FAVOURITE PLACE

OLGA LAVRUSHKO, UKRAINE Olga was born in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine in 1991. In June 2013 she will graduate from the Zaporizhzhian State Engineering Academy. Olga is an explorer at heart -discovering cities on her bicycle always with a camera at hand. She draws inspiration from everything from long walks to music festivals.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 18

AWARDS

WINNING PHOTOGRAPH | MORNING FROM SITU GUNUNG

PRASETYO NURRAMDHAN, INDONESIA Prasetyo was born in Bandung, Indonesia in 1992. He was first attracted to photography in high school and is a self- taught photographer. Prasetyo now lives in Jakarta.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 19

AWARDS

WINNING PHOTOGRAPH | SLEEPING BEAUTY

PABLO PRO, SPAIN Pablo specializes in films and documentaries on nature and social issues. He has worked on Child of our Time (BBC), Earth Story and On the Road. Pablo has also been commissioned by the National Geographic, BBC, Canal Plus France and Discovery Channel. In Spain, Pablo has worked as a camera operator for many flagship productions. He has also worked in the field of advertising as Director of Photography for Coca-Cola, Aquafina, Nike and Telefonica. From 2003 to 2007 he taught courses on photography at the Film School in San Antonio de los Ba os, Cuba. Pablo was born in 1968 in Madrid, Spain. In 1993 he graduated with a degree in Cinematography. He is the recipient of Best Photography Awards for La China 2007, En el hoyo 2008 and El Palacio de la luna 2009. UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 20

AWARDS

INTERNATIONAL JURY JAN MCALPINE Director United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat Ms. Jan McAlpine has been Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFFS) since November 2008. She has been working on environmental, trade and social issues for over 30 years, with a specific focus on international forest policy matters for the past 15 years. Ms. McAlpine previously served as Senior Negotiator and Advisor for Forests for the United States Department of State (Foreign Affairs), and participated in international processes on forests including the UN processes on forests after the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF), the FAO Committee on Forestry, UNCTAD and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). She served as Chairman of the ITTC as well, putting special efforts into attracting NGOs and communities to participate in the ITTO. Ms. McAlpine has been instrumental in conceiving and implementing three significant international forest initiatives: the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, the regional Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) processes and the Liberia Forest Initiative. All three initiatives have attracted millions of dollars in funding for sustainable forest management. Most recently, she was a Visiting Scholar and Senior Research Fellow for International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) at the University of Michigan, where she was played a leading role in organizing and facilitating discussions at the National Summit on Coping with Climate Change. She was given an appointment to Sweden’s Royal Academy in 2009, and the German Society of Foresters – the oldest in the world – gave her a medal for her global work on forests in 2011. Jan McAlpine grew up in Central and Southern Africa, in Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Kenya and South Africa. Ms. McAlpine was a member of the jury for all 3 Awards. UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 21

AWARDS

JURY FOR FOREST HERO AWARDS

JOHN COLMEY Director of Communications Center for International Forestry Research

John Colmey is the Director of Communications at the Center for International Forestry Research and a former award winning Bureau Chief for TIME Magazine in Hong Kong with 25 years of experience in Asia and Africa. John first fell in love with forests through the books of John Muir and hiked throughout the parks of the US, including the Appalachian trail when he was 18, and later across Asia. He has a degree in forestry from the University of Minnesota and graduate degrees in economics and journalism from the London School of Economics and Columbia University.

DANIEL SHAW Communications Officer Global Forest and Climate Change Programme, International Union for Conservation of Nature As Communications Officer for the Global Forest and Climate Change Programme IUCN since 2010, Daniel Shaw worked for 15 years as a communicator within the broad domains of international environmental conservation, global health and international education. After working with the WWF species and freshwater units, Daniel completed a degree in philosophy at Durham University, focusing on environmental ethics and later, postgraduate studies in environmental philosophy and public health. Before IUCN, he spent seven years at the World Health Organization. Daniel considers himself lucky to have known individuals and groups who are - in their own way - forest heroes. UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 22

AWARDS

EDUARDO ROJAS-BRIALES Assistant Director-General Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization Born 1962 in Spain, Eduardo Rojas-Briales holds an MSc in Forestry from University of Freiburg and a PhD from Polytechnic University of Madrid. From the Catalonia Forest Service, he worked as Forest consultant with Munich’s Deutsche Forstservice GmbH, then Director of the Catalan Forest Owners Association and Head of the Forest Policy Area of ‘Centro Tecnológico Forestal de Catalu a’, initiating the Mediterranean Regional Project Centre of EFI. As Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and IUFRO Forest Legislation Working Group, among other posts and professorships, Rojas-Briales was nominated UN CommissionerGeneral, EXPO 2015 by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

JURY - INTERNATIONAL SHORT FOREST FILM FESTIVAL WILLIAM GRANT Chairman Emeritus Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival

William R. Grant was director of Science, Nature and History program for over a decade at public television station WNET New York, becoming director of its largest production department in 1997. At WGBH Boston as managing editor of Frontline, then executive editor of NOVA, Grant was executive producer of several notable PBS series, including Nature, one of public television’s mostwatched series, and mini-series including Savage Skies, Savage Earth, Savage Seas, and Stephen Hawking's Universe, among others. Grant’s programs won 15 Emmy awards and 9 George Foster Peabody awards. He was a founding member of the board of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and is currently Chairman Emeritus. UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 23

AWARDS

CHAIM LITEWSKI Chief, Television Section United Nations

Chaim Litewski, born in Rio de Janeiro, obtained an M.A. from Polytechnic of Central London/Westminster University. His articles appeared in Sight and Sound, Screen, Image International, among others. Mr. Litewski produced films for British Film Institute’s Production Board, UK’s Channel Four, NBC (USA), and Italy’s RAI. He was correspondent with Brazil’s Globo Television in London and an international news coordinator with Globo Television, Rio de Janeiro. In 1991, Chaim joined United Nations Television New York as a Producer. He covered conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, and human rights in over 100 countries, including the Rwanda Genocide and the South Asia Tsunami. He currently heads the United Nations Television Section. LISA SAMFORD Executive Director Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival

Wyoming native Lisa Samford left journalism to become an awardwinning documentary filmmaker, specializing in remote expeditions. Working primarily for Discovery, PBS, National Geographic, and network television she filmed across five continents on projects ranging from violent crime, espionage, and ethnographic/scientific exploration to portraits of author Wallace Stegner, conservation pioneer Mardy Murie, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Executive Director of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival since 2002, Samford holds BS and MA degrees in Communication. She serves as trustee for the University of Wyoming Art Museum Foundation, and sits on board of directors for nonprofit organizations on the arts and education/children’s issues.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 24

AWARDS

MARK SHELLEY Executive Producer Sea Studios Foundation Sea Studios Foundation is the culmination of Mark’s lifelong ambition to harness film-making to spotlight our times’ most pressing issues – from climate change to invasive species, from loss of biological diversity to that of large predators and landscape fragmentation, and the vital role of our oceans. A passionate advocate, Mark believes the first step toward inspiring action is to help the public appreciate the science underlying the earth’s systems. A producer of award-winning films, Sea Studios is best-known for its award-winning National Geographic prime-time series, Shape of Life, and Strange Days on Planet Earth, hosted by Edward Norton and Mark as executive producer.

S. NALLA MUTHU Cinematographer, Director & Producer Grey Films

Nalla is a cinematographer, director and producer since 1987. In a twenty-year career he’s shot feature films, documentaries, news, corporate films and television. Nalla worked with the BBC, Channel 4, and Discovery International. As an expert Hi-definition, Hi-speed cinematographer, his work received international acclaim. Nalla’s passion for the Royal Bengal Tiger translated into two documentaries. ‘Tiger Queen’ highlights the power struggle in a tiger family and was broadcast on National Geographic Wild and Animal Planet. ‘Tiger Dynasty’ portrayed a scientific translocation of tigers for the BBC and Animal Planet. Nalla’s technical skills and poetic style won the Indian National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 2012. UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 25

AWARDS

JURY - INTERNATIONAL FOREST PHOTOGRAPH AWARD NACHO ABIA President Olympus Imaging America

Since 2011, Nacho has served as both President of Olympus Imaging America and Director of Olympus Imaging Corporation of Japan and Olympus Corporation of America’s Boards. His regional responsibilities cover North and South America. Previously, he worked as Managing Director of Olympus Europa in Hamburg (Germany), for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. From Barcelona, he positioned the company as leader of its various markets, including Consumer Electronics and Photography. Nacho has a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering, an MBA and a Diploma in Advance Management by IESE.

PHILIP BLOCK Deputy Director of Programs & Director of Education International Center of Photography Phillip Block was Founder and Director of Light Work from 19721982, when he developed artist sponsorship models and an artists’ residency that became the model for statewide sponsorship. From 1975-1979 he was Adjunct Curator of Photography at the Everson Museum of Art. In 1998 he was appointed Deputy Director for Programs at the International Center of Photography. Mr. Block served on The Kodak Education Advisory Council and The W. Eugene Smith Foundation, and advised the Gallery Association of New York State and the New York State Council for the Arts, jurying the Scholastic Art and Writing Award JGS Prize, Aperture Book prize, and Overseas Press Club Awards. UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 26

AWARDS

ALINKA ECHEVERRÍA Independent photographer

Alinka Echeverría (b. 1981) of Mexico City and London, graduated from The International Center of Photography in New York, with an M.A in Social Anthropology at University of Edinburgh. Named ‘International Photographer of the Year’ by the Lucie Awards in 2012, Echeverria won 2011’s HSBC Prize for Photography, with awards from PX3 Prix Pour la Photographie, CENTER, Magenta Foundation and American Photo. Echeverria’s work was in over fifty exhibitions, including solos at the 2012 Lima Biennial of Photography, the Moscow Photobiennale, London’s EB&Flow Gallery and Buenos Aires’ Festival of Light. Collections include: Museum of Fine Artes in Houston and Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

JUAN M. GABARRÓN Director & CEO The Gabarron Foundation, New York

From Valladolid, Spain, with an IT career and a Masters in EBusiness, Juan also received a degree in International Business from the Institute for Executive Development at Tongji University, Shanghai, China. As director of ArtFutura Castilla y León film festival (2003-2004) and founder of International University Film Festival FESTCINE, Juan moved to NY in 2005 to manage the US headquarters of The Gabarron Foundation, one of the most important Spanish Cultural institutions in New York. In 2012 he collaborated with UNFF to bring to scale in two Award programs. He is on the Board of Directors of the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce in NYC, chairing its Arts, Science & Sports Committee.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 27

AWARDS

MARK GARTEN Chief of Photography United Nations

Mark Garten, Chief of Photography at the United Nations, has been creating images for 26 years, and has a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Buffalo. Now at the United Nations, he leads a team of photographers. Travelling the globe with UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, Mark observed the impact of UN programmes, documenting internally-displaced people in Colombia’s jungles, camps in Pakistan, refugees in Jordan and Turkey, conflicts in Iraq, Lebanon and Somalia, climate change issues in Africa and ice flows in the Arctic Circle. Mark shows ways we can help through his images, through media around the world.

UNITED NATIONS

FORESTS FOR PEOPLE 28

AWARDS