30 August 2002: Equator Prize 2002 Ceremony, Johannesburg, South Africa

On the evening of August 30, the Equator Prize 2002 was presented at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Johannesburg by the Equator Initiative partners with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). Over 400 people attended this event including delegates from the World Summit, NGO, CBO and private sector representatives Seven communities were awarded the first Equator Prize. Selected from 27 finalists out of over 420 nominations from 77 countries, the winners represent outstanding examples of community-led partnerships best able to tackle the planet's most pressing development challenges, including poverty and biodiversity loss (for further information, please click here).

In an unexpected announcement, Steve McCormick, President of The Nature Conservancy, said that his organization will contribute $30,000 to each of the remaining 20 finalists. "These groups have dedicated themselves to improving their communities through the sustainable use of biological resources," said Mr. McCormick. "We want to recognize their innovations, and give them additional needed resources". UN Secretary-General Kofi Anna said, "The passion, dedication and courage with which these communities have adopted the cause of local sustainable development are a source of inspiration to the entire global community." The Equator Prize 2002 went to the following outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty and conserve biodiversity: · Associação Vida Verde da Amazônia (AVIVE) of Brazil · Fiji Locally-Managed Marine Area Network of Fiji · Toledo Institute for Development and Environment of Belize · Uma Bawang Resident's Association of Malaysia · Il Ngwesi Group Ranch of Kenya · Suledo Forest Community of Tanzania · Iniciativa Talamanca of Costa Rica won a prize for being an outstanding community initiative associated with a World Heritage Site.

For full coverage of the Equator Initiative at the World Summit on Sustainable Development please click here.