Cape Town - The 11th annual Eco-Logic Awards, hosted by the Enviropaedia at the Two Oceans Aquarium on Thursday night, saw an inspiring line-up of eco-logically beneficial products, services, individuals and organisations recognised for protecting and preserving the planet and environment.
Members of the environmental and sustainability sectors were dressed according to the theme of “Glamorously Green” to celebrate 38 finalists from an array of backgrounds vying for the Climate Change Award, Nature Conservation Award, Eco-Innovation Award, Waste Innovation Award, Water Conservation Award and numerous others.
The overall event was dedicated to the late Desmond Tutu, an Eco-Ubuntu Champion and an active supporter of the Eco-Logic Awards by encouraging all to be part of the solution to environmental challenges.
Eco-Logic Awards founder and publisher of Enviropaedia, David Parry-Davies, said: “These Eco-Champions give us reason for hope and optimism as they inspire us and demonstrate that through Eco-Logical Intelligence, we can all make a significant positive impact, and collectively we can heal this planet, and in the process, heal ourselves.”
Among the winners was the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Programme which was awarded the Nature Conservation Award.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation annually rehabilitates sea turtles that have stranded, have ingested plastic, are injured or have become entangled in ghost fishing gear then release every turtle back into the ocean once they have been given a clean bill of health.
Two Oceans Aquarium conservation manager Talitha Noble said, “We are extremely grateful for this award! It is a great motivator for us to continue the important conservation work that we do and really increases awareness for turtles around South Africa – the threats they face, the rehabilitation work being done and the ways public can get involved – especially in turtle rescue.
Eco-Logic Awards founder and publisher of Enviropaedia, David Parry-Davies, said: “These Eco-Champions give us reason for hope and optimism as they inspire us and demonstrate that through Eco-Logical Intelligence, we can all make a significant positive impact, and collectively we can heal this planet, and in the process, heal ourselves.”
The winner of the Eco-Warrior award was Neville Van Rooy from the Green Connection, a Khoisan leader and grassroots environmental and social activist determined to raise awareness about environmental injustices in previously-disadvantaged communities and empower community members to take action towards protecting the environment and their livelihoods.
“The highlight for me of the was to see the various organisation doing remarkable work to defend the planet,” van Rooy said.
Another winner was Stellenbosch University climate change and biodiversity professor Guy Midgley, an experienced pioneer in South Africa of researching and communicating the risks to ecosystems and society from climate change with a 3 decade-long career in the industry.
Midgley has used the tools of experimental and theoretical ecology to build an understanding of these risks, helping to highlight novel findings relevant specifically to African ecosystems and their unique biodiversity.
kristin.engel@inl.co.za