Award winner secures a future for our parks

Fighting for a sustainable future is The University of Queensland’s Dr Marc Hockings, who has been awarded the Kenton Miller Award for his research into nature conservation in national parks and reserves.

The Kenton Miller Award recognises individuals who have produced innovative research into the sustainability of protected areas that has impacted at a local, national or global level.

The World Bank, WWF and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage Centre and other major bodies have taken up his methods.

Dr Hockings said he felt privileged to receive an award that has generated such positive outcomes for ensuring the future of protected areas.

“To receive the Kenton Miller award for sustainability is a great honour and I would like to express my gratitude to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Commission on Protected Areas for the recognition of the work I have been doing with many colleagues on the issue of management effectiveness,” he said.

“Kenton Miller has been a mentor and an inspiration to me for the continuing work that he performs for protected areas.

“This award and the collaboration that occurs between individuals and institutions represents a promise for a future that means that humans, plants and animals can all enjoy the benefits of the environment.”

The research conducted by Dr Hockings and his colleagues informed the Framework for Evaluating Management Effectiveness of Protected Areas.

This framework is now being used by the Convention on Biodiversity, the global instrument used to protect nature and is influencing assessments in more than 7000 protected areas in more than 100 countries.

Dr Hockings was presented with the award at the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

The ceremony that was attended by 8000 global delegates including 50 Australian representatives.

Media: Erin Pearl at Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (07 5460 1229).