Kenyan researcher wins top ecology award
David Western (right) and Kenya Wildlife Service Director Julius Kip'ngetich chat during a past event. Mr Western will receive the 2010 World Ecology Award from the Harris World Ecology Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. File
A Kenyan researcher and conservationist has been awarded the prestigious world ecology award from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Dr David Western, a former Kenya Wildlife Service director and the founder the African Conservation Centre in Kenya, will receive the 2010 World Ecology Award from the Harris World Ecology Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
He becomes the second Kenyan to receive the award after Dr Richard Leakey among other prominent recipients including Cable news network (CNN) founder Ted Turner and John Denver.
The World Ecology Award is presented to an eminent individual who has raised public awareness about global ecology and made significant contributions to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
In a gala party held in his honour yesterday at Serena hotel, Dr Western was praised for his continued efforts to sensitize the public on global ecology and the significant contributions towards environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
Dr Western has spent more than 42 years engaged in research in Kenya studying the interactions between livestock, wildlife and humans, with the aim of developing conservation strategies applicable at an ecosystem scale.
During his helm at KWS, he is credited for having introduced an eco-tourism concept named 'parks beyond parks’ policy which was to have residents live in harmony with the animals as they benefit from the proceeds from the parks.
Nobel laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, lauded Dr Western for his persistence saying, “People with such dreams and convictions have a fire which you cannot put out.”
Dr Western established the wildlife planning unit in Kenya in 1978, was the chairman of the African Elephant and Rhino Specialist Group in the 1980s, founding president of the International Ecotourism Society, chairman of the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya and Carter Chair of Conservation Biology, Wildlife Conservation Society.
In his speech, Dr Western acknowledged the support of other professionals, “We have done this together.”
At the same time Prof Wangari lamented that the ministry of Environment receives a little share from Treasury.
Also present was the environment ministry PS, Jacob ole Miaron and the KWS director Julius Kipng’etich.
