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Zambian wins 'Nobel green prize' | Zambian wins 'Nobel green prize' |
(2 days later) | |
A Zambian man has won a prestigious Goldman Prize for helping to curb widespread elephant poaching by setting up economic projects for villagers. | A Zambian man has won a prestigious Goldman Prize for helping to curb widespread elephant poaching by setting up economic projects for villagers. |
Hammerskjoeld Simwinga wins $125,000 for the award, sometimes called the Nobel prize for the environment. | Hammerskjoeld Simwinga wins $125,000 for the award, sometimes called the Nobel prize for the environment. |
He helped set up bee-keeping and fish-farming projects for people in the North Luangwa valley, where elephant numbers had shown a dramatic fall. | He helped set up bee-keeping and fish-farming projects for people in the North Luangwa valley, where elephant numbers had shown a dramatic fall. |
He persuades local people they can earn money by keeping elephants alive. | He persuades local people they can earn money by keeping elephants alive. |
The elephants help attract tourists, and their money, to the region. | The elephants help attract tourists, and their money, to the region. |
"People are now seeing the benefit of protecting their natural resources," Mr Simwinga said. | "People are now seeing the benefit of protecting their natural resources," Mr Simwinga said. |
"Not only do they see the beauty of a live animal, but the live animals are now putting money in their pockets." | "Not only do they see the beauty of a live animal, but the live animals are now putting money in their pockets." |
Threat | Threat |
Over 70% of loans are made to women and Mr Simwinga says they are the backbone of the programme. | Over 70% of loans are made to women and Mr Simwinga says they are the backbone of the programme. |
Human and elephants have long had a troubled relationshipEnlarge Image | |
"We deliberately pushed our resources to the womenfolk in the community because we knew that working with the women was the strongest part of persuasion," he told Reuters news agency. | "We deliberately pushed our resources to the womenfolk in the community because we knew that working with the women was the strongest part of persuasion," he told Reuters news agency. |
Local communities were given a grinding mill to earn money but this was withdrawn if elephants were poached in the area. | Local communities were given a grinding mill to earn money but this was withdrawn if elephants were poached in the area. |
The programme also provides 35,000 people with services such as healthcare and education. | The programme also provides 35,000 people with services such as healthcare and education. |
He inherited the North Luangwa Wildlife Conservation and Community Development Programme (NLWCCDP), when its US founders Delia and Mark Owens were forced to leave in 1996. | He inherited the North Luangwa Wildlife Conservation and Community Development Programme (NLWCCDP), when its US founders Delia and Mark Owens were forced to leave in 1996. |
Despite fears it would collapse, Mr Simwinga, known as "Hammer" and named after UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold who died in a 1961 air crash in Zambia, instead managed to expand the project. | Despite fears it would collapse, Mr Simwinga, known as "Hammer" and named after UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold who died in a 1961 air crash in Zambia, instead managed to expand the project. |
"If I had left as well then the work we had worked for so many years to build would have just collapsed," he said. | "If I had left as well then the work we had worked for so many years to build would have just collapsed," he said. |
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