Three young nature conservationists beat 470 other contestants and win international prestigious prize

Monday, 22 March 2021

Out of four hundred seventy-one candidates from all over the world three inspiring young leaders in nature conservation were selected to be this year’s winners of the Future For Nature Award. On Friday, May 21st 2021, Karolina Araya Sandoval (Chile), Mohsen Rezaie-Atagholipour (Iran) and Monica Torres (Guatemala) will receive this prestigious nature conservation prize and 50,000 euros each during the Virtual Future For Nature Award Event. In the past this internationally renowned prize was presented by icons such as Sir David Attenborough and Dame Jane Goodall.

Talented Nature Conservationists From Chile, Iran and Guatemala

The Chilean Karolina Araya Sandoval (34 years old) is taking great effort to protect the smallest bird in Chile, the Chilean woodstar hummingbird. She discovered new breeding grounds and with her foundation Picaflor de Arica Karolina raises awareness among local people, creates alliances with communities and protects the last key habitats of this tiny hummingbird.

The Iranian Mohsen Rezaie-Atagholipour (35 years old) works hard to protect marine species in a country within a challenging political landscape and an ongoing economic depression. His tireless efforts have resulted in the first ever shark and ray conservation programme in Iran. Mohsen is committed to reduce ray and shark bycatch by providing fisheries with practical solutions.

The Guatemalan Monica Torres (32 years old) rediscovered the presumed extinct Campbell’s alligator lizard in Guatemala and has dedicated her career to protecting this species and its habitat. She encourages local farmers to reforest, works together with communities to restore habitats and has reintroduced almost 300 Campbell’s alligator lizards into the wild.

Inspiring Virtual Award Event

The Future For Nature Awards will be presented on the 21st of May 2021 for the fourteenth consecutive year. Like last year, it will be a Virtual Event allowing us to inspire and connect people from all over the globe.

International Celebrities Support the Work of Future For Nature

The internationally recognised nature conservation prize was presented in the past by Sir David Attenborough, Dame Jane Goodall, Dr. Frans de Waal and Doutzen Kroes. During the tenth edition, His Royal Highness King Willem-Alexander was the Guest of Honour. At the 2021 Future For Nature Awards the prize will be presented by world renowned nature photographer Frans Lanting.

The event will be organized in the interactive broadcasting program Hopin, and livestreamed on the Future For Nature Facebook page and YouTube channel, so save the date!