In memory of Wangary Maathai, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) has set up the CPF Wangari Maathai Award in order to recognise efforts done by individuals who helped in improving and sustaining forests just like what Wangari Maathai has accomplished while she was alive. Each recipient is awarded USD 20,000.
This award started in 2012 and has since awarded two recipients:
1.Narayan Kaji Shrestha (2012)
Dr Shresta has spent 3 decades promoting the works of the community forestry movement in Nepal while restoring forest resources. One of his early attempts was to engage women and other villagers in coming up with the first user-managed community forest group.
The Federation of Community Forestry Users in Nepal was lead by Dr Shresta and now, continues to show the pathway for others involved in participatory resource management.
Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ is vice chairman of UCPN Maoist
(Paudel, 2013)
2. Martha Isabel Pati Ruiz Corzo (2014)
A Mexican environmental campaigner that has contributed to preserving forests and reducing rural poverty in Mexico. She made conservation profitable for the people through the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, which she had successfully persuaded the government to build.
(2014). Retrieved from http://www.worldlandtrust.org/sites/files/martha_ruiz_corzo_scr.jpg
2 Honorary Mentions prize:
1. Kurshida Begum (2012)
For forming a community patrol group that works with the guards to keep away illegal logging and poaching in the Tenkaf Wildlife Sanctuary. Additionally, the women learned how to speak up, dissipating the importance of both forest and natural resources to visitors and is given a source of income.
2. Chut Wutty (2014)
Late Cambodian environmental activist that ended illegal deforestation in Cambodia and protecting the rights of the people living there. As the founder of the Natural Resource Protection Group, he fights against destroying natural resources in Cambodia and motivated the villagers to help by patrolling. In 2012, Chut Wutty was killed while bringing journalists to an area of suspected illegal activity.
(Cpfweb.org, 2014)