Thai Hornbill Researcher wins Chevron Conservation Award

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*http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=113981*

*Hornbill champion gets world awards

*

A Mahidol University avian researcher who has dedicated her life to

re-feathering the nests of Thailand's endangered exotic hornbills has netted

two world awards on natural preservation for her dedication to the cause of

hornbill preservation in the south of Thailand.

 

Professor Pilai Poonswad, a lecturer at Mahidol's Faculty of Science, has

received two international awards, the Chevron Conservation Award for 2006

and the Rolex Award for Enterprise.

 

Dedicating herself to hornbill preservation in Thailand for over three

decades, Dr Pilai is the first Thai to receive the Chevron distinction, as

the 52nd bearer of the title in as many years.

 

She also received a 4.3 million baht cash award and a special collection

Rolex watch.

 

For the past 28 years, Ms Pilai, hailed as " The Mother of the Hornbill " , has

worked to protect and revive hornbill nesting areas in Thailand's remote

jungle forests.

 

She encouraged hunters in the Budo National Park in Narathiwat to stop

hunting the endangered hornbill and become hornbill conservationists

instead. She also supports many " Hornbill Loving Camps " dedicated to

preserving the species.

 

Thirty-one types of hornbills are found in Asia, with 13 types in Thailand.

 

Two or three types found in Thailand are endangered species, she said. The

hornbill plays an important role in dispersing seeds of wild plants and

helping maintain the ecological system in Asia's tropical forests.

 

The main threats to the hornbill, bringing possible extinction, are hunters

and deforestation.

 

Ms Pilai established a hornbill foundation to support researches on

hornbills for conservation. The research helped reverse the decline of

hornbills and promote eco-tourism.

 

The Chevron Conservation Awards Programme recognises outstanding

contributions by individuals and organisations to the conservation of

natural resources around the world.

 

Conservationists protecting oceans, rivers and waterlands, a former

president of the Wildlife Habitat Council, an ornithologist protecting the

Asian hornbill, and a non-profit organisation helping to improve the

environment for disadvantaged communities in South Africa, were all honoured

at the 52nd Chevron Conservation Awards.

 

Founded by the late American outdoors writer and conservationist Ed Zern in

1954 to recognise outstanding contributions to the conservation of natural

resources, the international programme has honoured more than 1,000

volunteers, conservation professionals and non profit organisations around

the world.

 

Chevron Conservation Awards honorees each receive a $15,000 contribution

towards their respective conservation efforts.

 

The annual awards, which are open to nominations from anyone in the world,

are judged by an independent panel of conservationists. (TNA)