Wednesday, November 23, 2011

IFEES Finalist Conservation Solution

Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Science (IFEES) Selected as Finalist in Rare and National Geographic's Solution Search for Community-Based Marine Conservation Project. Public invited to chose top trhee and help decide the $20.000 winner.

Birmingham , November 22nd 2011 – IFEES has been, was selected as one of the 10 finalists of Solution Search. Solution Search is an innovative online platform launched in partnership by Rare and National Geographic to find proven community-based solutions for global environmental issues. The first contest, “Turning the Tide for Coastal Fisheries,” sought applications from organizations worldwide that demonstrate proven innovations which benefit coastal communities and marine ecosystems.

The general public can vote online for the IFEES solution entitled, “ Islamic Marine Conservation at www.solutionsearch.org to be the grand prize winner. Voting closes December 24, 2011.

“For too long the conservation community has focused on problems,” says Brett Jenks, president and CEO of Rare. “But there are a lot of working solutions in remote parts of the planet. Local communities are the R&D labs of conservation. We have to find what’s working and make it available where it’s needed. We are excited to invite the public to be engaged in this process”

Over 100 entries were submitted from 48 countries around the world. A panel of seven esteemed judges selected the 10 finalists. The entry that receives the most votes will be declared the grand prize winner and be awarded a US $20,000 project grant and a video on National Geographic’s The Ocean website. Two runners-up will each receive a US $5,000 project grant.

All of the top 10 finalists will be eligible to become a model for replication through Rare’s global Pride campaigns (Rare’s signature program that engages communities to build pride around unique natural assents through social marketing). Public voting will close December 24, 2011 and the winners will be announced on January 6, 2012.

The Misali Island Islamic Environmental Ethics Project is a collaborative venture in which the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) figured as the senior consultants. Our Contribution effectively stopped the fishermen dynamiting the coral reefs as a result of which a valuable natural resource was protected, livelihoods were insured and fish supplies were secured.

Its objectives were to –

(a) To bring into the open Islamic environmental stewardship principles

(b) To sensitize marine resource users to the Islamic conservation ethic and

(c) To implement these teachings within the parameters of an integrated conservation and development project bearing in mind sustainability issues

The public is encouraged to check www.solutionsearch.org from Nov. 16, 2011, to Dec. 24, 2011, to vote for the solution they think is most likely to turn the tide on coastal fisheries.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Dawud Wyn Price
Project Manager/Administration (IFEES)
Field Operations Office
Princess Street Training, Education & Enterprise Centre
25-28 Princess Street, Burton upon Trent,
Staffordshire DE14 2NW

+44 (0)7791602107
Dawud.price@ifees.org

www.ifees.org.uk

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