Innovation Prize Finalists

ProEco Azuero - Representative: Sandra Vásquez de Zambrano

Pro Eco Azuero is a “living laboratory” located on Panama’s Azuero Peninsula focused on reforestation, habitat restoration, sustainable land use and environmental education. We combine community outreach with science and fieldwork to create models that are scalable and replicable worldwide. The Azuero Spider Monkey is our guiding symbol because it is one of the rarest subspecies of primates in Central and South America, yet vital to our ecosystems. The few that remain on the planet live only on the Azuero.

Pro Eco Azuero was founded by a group of scientists and local landowners interested in sharing the joy of conserving local wildlife through restoring the dry forest they depend upon with the larger community. Since 2010, we have been dedicated to reforestation, habitat restoration, sustainable land management, and environmental education with the mission to “Preserve the earth’s ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and promote healthy communities by helping people to make informed decisions, take sustainable actions, and share knowledge.”

Rainforest Biodiversity of Phalee - Representative: Rinchui Raman

Rainforest Biodiversity of Phalee is a group or a Microsite within India Biodiversity Portal. It was started as a citizen science project in Phalee village.  Their goal was to document flora and fauna and to create awareness and infuse scientific information for all species in the region. It aimed to improve the agrosystem and environment conservation system by accumulating or recording all the Traditional Knowledge and scientific information. Their main objectives are preservation, conservation, and education of Biodiversity and People’s Culture. They also work on village Heritage, Environment, as well as Education and Ecotourism.