Nos héros
We begin by profiling six of IUCN's conservation heroes - people from Brazil to Pakistan, Laos to the Democratic Republic of Congo - all with unique stories to tell. We'll be showcasing more throughout the month of April so check in regularly!
Trapped in the Amazon!
Renata Leite Pitman - Brazil
“Ten years ago, moved by curiosity, I planned a three-month expedition to the south east of Peru to learn more about an elusive species, and maybe trap and radio collar it. Ten years later, I feel it was the animal that trapped me!,” says Renata Leite Pitman. …
04 Apr 2011 | News story
A blessing in disguise
Tahir Qureshi – Pakistan
“In 1984, when I was a Divisional Forest Officer, I was kidnapped in the thick forest of Dadu, in southern Pakistan. The armed gang kept me in captivity for two nights but it seemed like a thousand years. My confidence was shattered and my career took a turn for what I thought at the time was the worst. After this, I decided to work on coastal conservation. This change, which involved restoring mangroves, was actually a blessing in disguise. It gave me a platform to chart completely unexplored territory in Pakistan.” …
04 Apr 2011 | News story
Conservation for peace
Prudence Mazambi and Pascal Murhula Balezi, the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite the area’s instability and prevalent violence, two young conservationists fight to protect the environment through comics, theatre performances, radio programmes and reforestation initiatives. …
04 Apr 2011 | News story
The man who saves turtles
Dr Nicolas Pilcher - Malaysia
Nick saves sea turtles. In a nutshell that’s what he does. But he has to look far beyond their nesting grounds to make it work. …
04 Apr 2011 | News story
Rumbles in the jungle
Naresh Subedi, Nepal
Office? The jungle. Colleagues? Elephants, rhinos and tigers. Naresh Subedi has many stories to tell. Stories that are not only fascinating and impressive but that can also make your hair stand on end. …
04 Apr 2011 | News story
The communicator
Dr Phaivanh Phiapalath - the Lao Peoples' Democratic Republic
In a country like Laos, where rapid socio-economic development is driven by the exploitation of natural resources, and the human and financial resources to protect the environment are extremely scarce, nature conservation is not the highest priority. Phaivanh Phiapalath, IUCN's Senior Programme Officer specialized in protected areas management and wildlife in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, has found a way to put nature on top of many people’s agendas. His secret is 'friendly communication'. …
04 Apr 2011 | News story
