Champions of the coasts: MFF grantees unite voices for coastal conservation

People and individuals are at the heart of any successful environment conservation activity, and MFF emphasizes on this fact in the way it works. Recently, in Pakistan, a MFF Small Grant Facility project grantee was recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for his dedicated excellence in local environment work. The award was a result of his organization's work in raising public awareness on coastal conservation through photography.

In Sri Lanka, we take a look at the Maduganga Development Foundation (MDF), and it's founder Gunadasa de Silva whose pioneering  outreach work has helped inform and educate people  and schoolchildren about the environmental values of the Maduganga estuary, a Ramsar site. MDF published Madupuwath, a monthly environmental magazine in Sinhala lanaguage devoted to the Maduganga wetland.

Collective efforts of individuals and communities can bring about significant progress in rehabilitation of coastal resources as exemplified by Thong Toam Yai, a small coastal fishing village in Thailand which received the first prize in the UNDP GEF led search for the best community project to adapt to climate change. The award recognized the community's innovative "eco-friendly tourism" practices. Led by coordinator Watcharin Sawangkan, the project  supported by MFF succeeded in  mobilizing the community members in adopting ecotourism and home-stay ventures and demarcating fish refuges.

During the Annual Environment Awards ceremony organized by UNEP, The Minister for Environment of Pakistan Mr. Khalid Umar awarded Mr. Jamshyd Masud for is meaningful contributions in environmental conservation work. under the MFF SGF project "A visual documentation of MFF Projects in Pakistan".

Government dignitaries, the private sector and civil society were all present to congratulate Mr. Jamshyd Masud. Upon receiving the award Masud  thanked MFF for the facilitation of the SGF project.