TANZANIAN ENVIRONMENTALIST WINS BUFFET AWARD
(Posted 11th June 2014)
Information was received yesterday evening that Prof. Dr. Benezeth Mutayoba, from Tanzania’s Sokoine University of Agriculture and vice chairman of the Tanzania Elephant Protection Society, who regularly highlights the plight of African elephants and the bush-meat crisis in Africa, is this year’s recipient of the National Geographic Society/Buffett Award for Leadership in African Conservation.
Prof. Dr. Mutayoba will receive a $25,000 award at the National Geographic Society in Washington DC tomorrow, Thursday, June 12th, during National Geographic’s annual Explorers Symposium. Established through a gift from The Howard G. Buffett Foundation in 2002 to celebrate and recognize unsung conservation heroes working in the field, the awards are given each year to two outstanding conservationists, one in Latin America and one in Africa. They acknowledge the winners’ remarkable work and lifetime contributions that further the understanding and practice of conservation in their countries.
‘It is an honor to participate with National Geographic in recognizing the achievements of these two remarkable visionaries who are making such a positive difference to conservation in their countries. These conservation leaders are inspirational mentors and role models to their communities’ said Howard G. Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of The Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
For more than a decade and a half did Prof. Dr. Mutayoba engage in challenging conservation research, especially on elephants and the bush-meat trade, and has mentored students to take action to protect their unique natural heritage. Among his many conservation accomplishments was to develop, with colleagues, mitochondrial DNA testing methods to identify bush-meat sold illegally as domestic beef and pork to hotels in Tanzania and other East African countries. His technique is now used by scientists in other parts of Africa. He also served as a member of the Bush-meat Crisis Task Force aimed at identifying and supporting solutions that effectively respond to the bushmeat crisis around the world.
In addition has Prof. Dr. Mutayoba collaborated on research examining the long-term impacts of poaching of female elephants in Mikumi National Park in southern Tanzania. The research found that survivors who had lost kin displayed altered behavior, heightened stress levels and lower fertility. These long-term impacts also prevail in elephants that survived past heavy poaching in Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania. Mutayoba presented these finding at various venues to communicate that poaching has long-lasting effects on elephant populations.
He also has been instrumental in several genetic studies to develop DNA tools for determining the origin of seized ivory, and, as vice chairman of the Tanzania Elephant Protection Society, he has challenged the Tanzanian government’s denial of the elephant poaching crisis and has raised awareness of its scope and impact. As a result, at the end of 2013, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete launched “Operation Tokomeza” to end elephant poaching in Tanzania and ordered aerial counts of all the major elephant populations in southern Tanzanian reserves and national parks.
National Geographic Society/Buffett Award recipients are chosen from nominations submitted to the National Geographic Society’s Committee for Research and Exploration, which screens the nominations through a peer-review process.
‘This year’s awardees are recognized for their outstanding leadership and the vital role they play in managing and protecting the natural resources in their regions. They are exemplary conservation advocates who often battle difficult odds with courage and commitment’ said Peter Raven, chairman of the Committee for Research and Exploration.
Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Mutayoba who in his individual capacity appears to have excelled where the Tanzanian government establishment has singularly failed.
One Response
Hi Prof mutayoba
Hongera sana