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Seacology named Prince’s Prize for Innovative Philanthropy Laureate

January 26, 2015

From left: Dr. Paul Cox, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Duane Silverstein

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRINCE OF MONACO HONORS CALIFORNIA-BASED CONSERVATION GROUP SEACOLOGY

Nonprofit is 2015 Prince’s Prize for Innovative Philanthropy Laureate

MONACO—Jan. 26, 2015—During a ceremony in Monaco today, Prince Albert II named Berkeley, California-based nonprofit organization, Seacology, as a laureate for the 2015 Prince’s Prize for Innovative Philanthropy.

The Prince’s Prize, now in its second year, is a coordinated effort by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Tocqueville Foundation to recognize charitable organizations that utilize creative approaches to addressing social and environmental challenges.

“Receiving the Prince’s recognition is a great honor for Seacology—a small not-for-profit that works with island villages to swap schools, clinics, and water supplies in exchange for rainforest and marine reserves,” said Seacology founder and ethnobotanist Dr. Paul Alan Cox, who is now chairman of the organization’s board of directors. “On behalf of indigenous conservationists throughout the world, we are thrilled to accept this laureate.”

“We all have a duty to ensure the world’s ecosystems are protected, and Seacology’s commitment to achieving this is highly commendable. Their innovative approach to conservation challenges conventional ways of thinking about development and leads the way in promoting new kinds of philanthropic activities,” said HSH Prince Albert II.

Since 1991, Seacology has pursued environmental-protection measures that address both the needs of island ecosystems and the indigenous communities that depend on them. Seacology’s projects, which have been launched on more than 150 islands around the world, provide needed infrastructure, training, and other investments to small island communities in exchange for their participation in protecting sensitive ecosystems. By fostering these win-win tradeoffs, Seacology’s work includes local stakeholders in the effort to conserve some of the world’s rarest species, threatened by unsustainable fishing, logging, and other exploitation.

“The fact that Prince Albert II recognized our grassroots efforts is extremely gratifying, particularly since the prince has a stellar reputation as a marine conservationist and philanthropist,” said Seacology’s Executive Director Duane Silverstein.

 

Download a PDF version of the press release here.