WWF Tanzania Country Office

Plot 350, Regent Estate Mikocheni

P.O. Box 63117
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel. +255 22 2775346/2772455/2700077
Fax: +255 22 2775535
Mail: info@wwftz.org
Web: http://www.panda.org

Media Release

2015-05-27

Donald Kaberuka of African Development Bank feted with

the WWF Leaders for a Living Planet award
Recognition given for Donald Kaberukas individual contribution to
sustainable ecological development in Africa
Abidjan, Wednesday 27 May 2015 WWF awarded its prestigious Leaders for a
Living Planet award to Donald Kaberuka, outgoing African Development Bank (AfDB)
President, in recognition of his bold steps to mainstream sustainability concerns and
champion the fight against illicit wildlife trade during his tenure at the African
Development Bank. At a colorful luncheon on the sidelines of the AfDBs Annual
Meetings, Marco Lambertini, WWF Director General gave tribute to Mr Kaberukas
effort to stem the increasing large-scale illegal trade on the continent.
Donald Kaberuka is widely recognized for his call for urgent action to tackle the severe
crimes of poaching and the illegal pillaging of the natural resources of the African
continent. At the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in February 2014, Mr
Kaberuka said: Our people, our natural resources and our very economic
development are in danger. The illegal trade in wildlife is undermining the foundations
of our development, its natural resources.
At the Marrakesh AfDB Annual Meetings in 2013, AfDB called on governments,
businesses and civil society to urgently mobilize in this fight to protect the biodiversity
of Africa. I call on all leaders in Africa and elsewhere to invest in the future of our
region, by all possible means, to strengthen law enforcement and criminal justice for
these crimes, Kaberuka urged in Marrakesh. The AfDB President has repeatedly
stressed how much this fight, going beyond governments, institutions and
associations, concerns all Africans.
WWFs Leaders for a Living Planet award aims to recognize the individuals who make a
significant personal contribution to the conservation of the natural world and
sustainable development. WWF publicly celebrates these individuals and their
achievements to profile their environmental leadership and the inspiring example they
show to others.
The award is symbolic. It enables WWF to congratulate individuals and their
achievements, together with the government, company, community or organization
they represent, and to encourage further action. Over 100 such awards have been
made since 2000, recognizing a wide variety of initiatives. These range from local
actions to protect wildlife to the leadership of government ministers to achieve specific
conservation goals such as sustainable fisheries and new protected areas. Recent
high-level recipients include Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General, as well as

the Minister of Fisheries of Norway, the Vice-Premier of China, and the Ministers of
Water Affairs of France, Togo and Benin.
The actions of individuals recognized as WWF Leaders for a Living Planet demonstrate
visionary environmental leadership and personal responsibility to protect the planet,
for a future where people and nature thrive. Donald Kaberuka is an extremely inspiring
example as a leader who is working to create a better world for current and future
generations, leading the African Development Bank toward green growth and
sustainable development, said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF
International.
-Ends-

For more info please contact: lgeorge@wwftz.org;