UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) is currently inviting applications for 2012 Land for Life Award with the aim of rewarding and recognizing the leadership for sustainable land management. This award is an initiative to honour sustainable land management efforts that foster gender equality, cultural diversity and social inclusion. The winners of the award get support from UNCCD to expand their work towards sustainable land management in any region of the world. The efforts which help in reducing land degradation through sustainable land management, or are outstanding examples of political leadership, policy, business, advocacy campaigns or scientific research become the proud winner of the award.
Award Objective
- Recognize excellence and innovation in sustainable land management
- Provide winners with visibility and support to expand their work
- Inspire leadership for the restoration of soils’ natural health and the transformation of degraded land
- Encourage international cooperation in support of sustainable land management, particularly in the drylands
- Encourage political measures that foster sustainable land management and enhance soils
- Raise awareness of the global benefits of soil generation and preservation
- Promote understanding that the drylands are part of the solution to today’s most pressing problems
The Prize
The award will be given to up to three outstanding applicants based on the selection criteria. The winners will receive:
- A healthy soils medal
- Three awards will be granted from a total prize fund of up to USD 100,000.
- Free travel and accommodation to attend the award ceremony.
- In the case that the award is granted to an underage person, free travel and accommodation to attend the award ceremony for one accompanying family member.
- A “Healthy Soils Gold Medal” label to use on related products and communications.
- A video will be made of the winning projects and published on the UNCCD website.
The jury reserves the right to award the prize without providing a monetary reward. This would occur if the honor is bestowed to a business or other organization that is not in need of financial resources to scale-up their initiatives. In this case, the prize would include a medal and the honor and publicity that accompany winning the Land for Life award. It would also include, where appropriate, flights and accommodation to the award ceremony and the creation of a video about the project.
Selection Criteria
Selection criteria includes:
- Innovation: fresh thinking and practical solutions to the problems of land degradation
- Inspiration: shows leadership and inspires others to change behavior
- Impact: measurable improvements to the land, soils and livelihoods
- Replicability: lessons learned for sustainable land management can be reproduced by others
Demonstration of results is required in any of the following areas:
- Technical implementation
- Policy Measures and Leadership
- Business Practices
- Advocacy, Education and Empowerment
- Scientific Finding and Knowledge Sharing
Last date for submitting the applications is February 29, 2012.
For more information, visit this link.
