A Guyanese from the South Rupununi has been awarded with a prize by a prestigious UK charity for his efforts in the Indigenous-led protection and conservation of an endangered bird.
A release yesterday from the South Rupununi Conservation Society announced that UK charity, the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), had recognised Leroy Ignacio of Guyana with a Whitley Award for galvanising one of the country’s first Indigenous-led conservation movements to strengthen protection for the Red Siskin, a small endangered finch, which has become a flagship species for conservation in the rainforest nation.
The award was presented in May 01, by Charity Patron, Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal, at the Royal Geographical Society in the UK, in a ceremony that marks three decades since the very first Whitley Award was presented and 25 years since the Princess’ involvement as Patron.