Equator Prize 2008 Selection Criteria

Criteria for selection of Equator Prize recipients:

Impact: Initiatives that have reduced poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and/or through the equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.

Partnerships: Initiatives that have adopted a partnership approach by linking activities with non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, the private sector, governments, research and/or academic institutions, and public or private foundations.

Sustainability: Initiatives that can demonstrate at least three years of successful and lasting changes in local socio-economic conditions and have positive impacts on biodiversity.

Innovation and Transferability: Initiatives demonstrating new and adaptable approaches that overcome prevailing constraints and offer knowledge, experience and lessons of relevance to other communities.

Leadership and Community Empowerment: Initiatives demonstrating leadership that has inspired action and change consistent with the vision of the Equator Initiative, including policy and/or institutional change and the empowerment of local people, especially that of marginalized groups.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion: Initiatives that incorporate social and cultural diversity and promote gender equality.

Special Recognition Categories:

Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity: Initiatives that have contributed to the conservation of culturally important crop varieties or livestock breeds; the conservation of species that support agriculture (such as pollinators); and/or the conservation of wild plant or animal species and their habitats in agricultural landscapes.

Adaptation to Climate Change: Initiatives whose conservation efforts are resulting in increased adaptive capacity of the community to cope with climate change risks that impact communities’ livelihood strategies.