Filipino conservationist Indira Lacerna-Widmann receives the prestigious Whitley Award from Princess Anne, The Princess Royal of the UK, at the Royal Geographical Society in London
London, 19 May 2017 – The Philippine Embassy in London reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Filipino conservationist Indira Lacerna-Widmann won the prestigious Whitley Award at a ceremony held in the Royal Geographical Society in London last 18 May 2017.
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal of the United Kingdom, presented the award to Mrs Lacerna-Widmann in recognition of her work in protecting the critically endangered Philippine cockatoo (Katala in Filipino) in Palawan, Philippines.
Mrs Lacerna-Widmann was lauded for her ‘Jail birds’ project. The Katala Foundation, which she co-founded, has partnered with local prisoners in Iwahig Prison in Palawan to safeguard Philippine cockatoos. They have also developed and implemented strategies that enable children and city-dwellers to learn new skills in protecting Philippine cockatoos since 1998.
L-R: Consul Rommel Romato, Consul General Senen Mangalile, Indira Lacerna-Widmann, Jane Cameron (Notting Hill Preparatory School), and Peter Widmann
The Filipino conservation leader is one of six individuals to have been awarded a share of the prize money worth £210,000 (₱13.5 million) She received the international nature conservation prize with £35,000 (₱2.2 million) in project funding donated by Notting Hill Preparatory School.
Other winners of the 2017 Whitley Awards include conservation heroes from Bolivia India, South Africa, Turkey and Venezuela.
Philippine Ambassador to the UK Antonio Lagdameo, who was represented at the event by Consul General Senen Mangalile and Consul Rommel Romato, congratulated Mrs Lacerna-Widmann on her achievement.
The Whitley Awards have been presented annually since 1994. Considered as the ‘Green Oscars’, it is organized and sponsored by the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN). This UK-based organization champions outstanding grassroots leaders in nature conservation across the developing world. In addition to the financial benefit of winning the awards, winners also receive professional communications training to help them communicate effectively with the public and effect positive change in their respective communities. END