Binigyang pagkilala ng international community ang Masungi Georeserve sa Rizal, dahil sa “outstanding and innovative” na paraan nito ng pangangasiwa sa pangangalaga rito, sa biodiversity conference ng United Nations sa Egypt.

Ipinagkaloob ang Pathfinder Awards sa Masungi Georeserve bilang “global model for conservation innovation and excellence” ng United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), at WildArk.

Idinaos ang awarding ceremony sa plenary session ng 14th Conference of Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity sa Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, nitong Nobyembre 17.

“This singular honor from the UN and IUCN will boost the spirit of our team on the ground, and those in government, private sector and civil society who tirelessly toil for the environment and even risk their lives protecting it, and inspire others to follow in their footsteps and join our movement,” ayon kay Ann Adeline Dumaliang, trustee at project manager ng Masungi Georeserve.

Aniya, apat lang sa 200 nominado sa buong mundo ang binigyang-pagkilala sa Pathfinder Award matapos itong isailalim sa masusing selection process ng international expert jury.

“We are the only entry from Asia to win and this marks a big win for conservation and environmental efforts in the Philippines,” paliwanag pa nito

-Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz