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As part of the global celebration of World Environment Day,
Planeta.com presents the seventh annual Colibri Ecotourism Award to
Francisco Verástegui, who created Mexico's first map of notable and historic
trees.
First presented in 2001, the Colibri Ecotourism Award is presented to a
leading authority and catalyst at the vanguard of ecotourism in Mexico.
The winner of the award is selected by Planeta.com founder Ron Mader
following consultation with members of the Mexico Ecotourism Network.
The United Nations celebrates World Environment Day each year on June 5 as a
means to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance
political action.
ABOUT THE COLIBRI AWARD
Francisco Verástegui receives the Colibri ("Hummingbird") Award for his work
in protecting the historic and notable trees of Oaxaca City and raising
awareness of the urban environment.
Announcing this year's winner, Planeta.com founder Ron Mader said,
"Ecotourism depends on the leadership of individuals exemplified by
Francisco Verástegui who are resourceful and who create new linkages
connecting tourism and environmental conservation."
Colibri means "Hummingbird" in Spanish and in 2007 the Colibri Award
celebrates its seventh anniversary, making this one of the longest-running
ecotourism awards. The winner of the annual award receives a trophy, diploma
and a $1,000 cash award from Emilio Kifuri, president of Canyon Travel.
"Mexico is one of the world's mega diverse countries with one of the most
successful tourism industries," said Emilio Kifuri. "If ecotourism is to
overtake the senseless destruction of the world's natural areas, it has to
develop at a faster pace. We feel fortunate to be in a position to
demonstrate to the tourism industry that ecotourism can be more profitable
than mainstream tourism."
The Colibri Ecotourism Award's co-sponsor, Destination Ventures, is
contributing another $1,000 directly to Planeta.com for development of
spin-off media, including an English-language version of the map and DVD.
The company specializes in travel industry education and currently works for
the Mexico Tourism Board and United Nations Foundation in promoting
sustainable travel to UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Previous winners include Steve Bridger , Jennifer Morfín, Hector
Ceballos-Lascurain , Jorge Chàvez de la Peña, Fernando Garcia Aguinaco,
Marlene Ehrenberg, Juan Carlos Ibarra and Antonio Suarez.
2007 WINNER
Francisco Verástegui is an artist born in Mexico City's Condesa neighborhood
who has lived in Oaxaca for the past twenty years.
His work is featured at prominent galleries, including Arte Cocodrilo and
Arte de Oaxaca.
Verástegui's passion for Oaxaca's urban parks and gardens has never been
stronger and in the spring of 2007 he collaborated with colleagues in
producing the map Árboles Históricos y Notables. The first printing has a
run of 7,000 copies, courtesy of La Curtiduria and Carteles de Sur, and is
available in Oaxaca City at Amate Books, Macedonio Alcalá #307.
The map has attracted the attention of the local TV 9 which is preparing a
video documentary about the trees.
FUTURE WORK
In the planning stage is a portfolio of engravings of the historic trees
created by Oaxaca's most famous artists to be published by Fernando
Sandoval, one of Mexico's most prestigous printers. This will be sold to
raise funds to pay for scientific studies, signage plaques and fences to
protect the trees. The publication is sponsored by La Curtiduria and the
Alfredo Harp Helú Foundation.
Planeta.com is preparing a DVD documenting trees in Oaxaca and is
researching how to locate the trees using Google Earth. Planeta.com is also
updating our online guides to forestry issues and documenting reforestation
efforts in Mexico.
www.planeta.com
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