US International Conservation Gala to award Mutharika
The International Congressional Conservation Gala (ICCF) is set to award Malawi President Peter Mutharika and his Gabonese counterpart, Ali Bongo Ondimba for their commitments on conservation and development in Africa.
According to a statement from the organizers of the event, International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF), Mutharika will be honoured for working tirelessly towards trans-border solutions on conservation in Southern Africa.
“Malawi is a signatory to the 2014 Arusha Declaration on Regional Conservation and under the leadership of President Mutharika, Malawi has declared total war on combating wildlife and environmental Crime,” reads the statement in part.
“Therefore, please join ICCF and these two respected leaders for a Congressional Dinner focusing on issues of conservation and development in Africa,” said ICCF.
Partial support to GEF beneficiary country participants is being provided through the UNEP implemented, GEF financed project ‘Engaging policy makers and the judiciary to address poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Africa.’
According to the statement, President Ondimba will be awarded for pioneering the idea of integrating economic success with sustainable natural resource management.
Under two landmark programs, Gabon Vert and Gabon Bleu the Gabonese government look to protect forests and oceans, respectively.
The first edition of 2015 U.S. Congressional International Conservation Gala was held on March 19, 2015 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C in which Prince Charles of Wales was also honored for Extraordinary Leadership in International Conservation.
The second edition will be held at The Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.
**Reporting by Justice Mponda, Presidential Press Office.
