13/06/2007
Tisna Nando, of Fauna & Flora International's Indonesia programme, has been dubbed an ‘Eco Hero’ by TIME magazine, Asia.
As part of a special report on Asia’s environmental problems, Tisna was cited for her exemplary reconstruction work in Aceh after the 2004 tsunami.
The Calang district where Tisna works as Education and Awareness Manager was hit hard by the tsunami. Giant sea swells tore through coastal villages killing thousands. Survivors were left with a ravaged environment, difficult living conditions and few prospects. In restoring mangrove forest on the coast, Tisna created employment by organising the repair of natural sea defences. She also brought about the necessary conditions to farm crabs and shrimp – a vital source of food, and income, locally.
Her advocacy work with local people has reaped great rewards. Six village leaders subsequently signed an agreement to ban forest clearance in their districts in return for alternative income options from Fauna & Flora International such as rubber tree saplings. TIME Asia quoted one leader who had already noticed a clear improvement in the quality of their fresh water.
Vu Thi Quyen, a former Fauna & Flora International employee in Vietnam, was also recognized. From her beginnings working on Fauna & Flora International’s Cuc Phuong National Park project in 2002 she went on to establish Education for Nature – Vietnam, the country’s first home-grown environmental organization.
Education for Nature – Vietnam now has 22 staff. It has achieved much in just four years and has trained national park rangers, produced a TV campaign to stop bear bile consumption and taught 100,000 schoolchildren about Vietnam’s wildlife. Thanks to Vu Thi Quyen, Vietnamese people can now also report wildlife trafficking through a national hotline.
Vu Thi Quyen’s achievements mirror Fauna & Flora International’s aim of establishing in-country organizations - the only truly sustainable way of achieving effective conservation.
This article first appeared in the Spring 2007 edition of 'Update', Fauna & Flora International's quarterly newsletter. To receive your copy join Fauna & Flora International today.
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