Dominican Patricia Lamelas, a longtime environmental champion of the province of Samana, was the recipient of the 2018 Seacology Prize during the awards ceremony held at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, California on 4 October 2018.
The Seacology Prize is underwritten by Seacology’s president Ken Murdock, in honor of his mother, Lalovi Fish Murdock. Each year, the Seacology Prize to an islander for exceptional achievement in preserving the environment and culture of his or her home country. Winners receive US$10,000 and are brought to the United States for the ceremony.
Lamelas has worked with the nonprofit CEBSE, the Center for the Conservation and Eco-Development of Samaná Bay and Surroundings, for more than 25 years. She is recognized as her voice has been influential in the movement to conserve the rapidly changing region. She has advocated for protection of the bay, which is home to countless bird species and an important breeding and birthing ground for humpback whales.
Seacology acknowledges that awareness of the importance of mangrove forests is now growing worldwide, but Lamelas was ahead of the curve, having worked for the preservation of these vital ecosystems for more than two decades. At CEBSE, she has worked with local communities, where many people relied on cutting mangroves for charcoal, to find sustainable livelihoods. She has helped to secure legal protections for mangroves, established the first mangrove nursery in the province, and led programs to educate many Dominican youth about their local environment and climate change. CEBSE is a valuable partner in one of Seacology’s first projects in the Dominican Republic, working to promote ecotourism and protect mangroves in the community of Las Garitas.
Read more:
Seacology
Listin Diario
29 October 2018
