By Bethan Hill,
Community Newswire
SCIENCE Award, 29 Jan 2010
A British conservationist has today been honoured with a prestigious award from the government of Cambodia for her wildlife conservation activities in the country.
Doctor Jenny Daltry, originally from Buckinghamshire, was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Sahametrei at a formal ceremony at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
The title is given to people from other countries for distinguished services to the king and to the nation.
Dr Daltry said: "I am overwhelmed and grateful. For a conservationist to receive this rare honour does, I think, signify the importance that Cambodia places on its wildlife, forests, and protected areas.
"Cambodia is changing fast, but economic development does not have to mean the loss of its wildlife or priceless environmental services.
The award was presented by His Excellency Ty Sokhun, head of the Forestry Administration in Cambodia. The ceremony was also attended by the Head of the EU Delegation and the British Ambassador to Cambodia.
Dr Daltry, 40, has spent much of the past 15 years doing conservation work in Cambodia, as part of her role as senior conservation biologist for UK-based organisation Fauna and Flora International (FFI).
In that time, she has led a number of field expeditions to the Cardamom Mountains, in the south-west of the country, helping to increase protection of the forests.
In 2000, she rediscovered a Siamese crocodile that was previously thought to be extinct and started a programme to conserve the species.
She has also established a Masters of Science programme at the University of Phnom Penh, to create a new generation of scientists who will be able to manage the country's wildlife and habitats in the future. To date, 147 Cambodians have enrolled on the course.
Dr Daltry said: "The achievement I feel most proud of is helping talented Cambodians, from government ministries to villages, to become leaders in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use."
Dr Daltry has also founded Cambodia's first peer-reviewed scientific journal, the Cambodian Journal of Natural History, to encourage the sharing of knowledge about wildlife and natural resources.
Fauna and Flora International, based in the UK, protects threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human needs. For more information, visit www.fauna-flora.org.
Doctor Jenny Daltry, originally from Buckinghamshire, was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Sahametrei at a formal ceremony at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
The title is given to people from other countries for distinguished services to the king and to the nation.
Dr Daltry said: "I am overwhelmed and grateful. For a conservationist to receive this rare honour does, I think, signify the importance that Cambodia places on its wildlife, forests, and protected areas.
"Cambodia is changing fast, but economic development does not have to mean the loss of its wildlife or priceless environmental services.
The award was presented by His Excellency Ty Sokhun, head of the Forestry Administration in Cambodia. The ceremony was also attended by the Head of the EU Delegation and the British Ambassador to Cambodia.
Dr Daltry, 40, has spent much of the past 15 years doing conservation work in Cambodia, as part of her role as senior conservation biologist for UK-based organisation Fauna and Flora International (FFI).
In that time, she has led a number of field expeditions to the Cardamom Mountains, in the south-west of the country, helping to increase protection of the forests.
In 2000, she rediscovered a Siamese crocodile that was previously thought to be extinct and started a programme to conserve the species.
She has also established a Masters of Science programme at the University of Phnom Penh, to create a new generation of scientists who will be able to manage the country's wildlife and habitats in the future. To date, 147 Cambodians have enrolled on the course.
Dr Daltry said: "The achievement I feel most proud of is helping talented Cambodians, from government ministries to villages, to become leaders in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use."
Dr Daltry has also founded Cambodia's first peer-reviewed scientific journal, the Cambodian Journal of Natural History, to encourage the sharing of knowledge about wildlife and natural resources.
Fauna and Flora International, based in the UK, protects threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human needs. For more information, visit www.fauna-flora.org.
1 comment:
Congratulations Dr. Daltry! And thank you for all of your conservation works in Cambodia.
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