Prof. Chen Yiyu, President of NSFC, accepted the 2009 WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal at the Buckingham Palace in London, UK, on Feb. 18, 2010. Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip awarded the certificate and gold medal to Prof. Chen, and WWF International President Ms. Yolanda Kakabadse attended the ceremony.
Prof. Chen has been dedicated to research and application in sustainable water resource and watershed management and made outstanding achievements. His endeavor in environmental conservation has been recognized by both domestic and overseas scientific communities as well as international organizations such as WWF.
Mr. James Leape, WWF International Director-General said, It is our great pleasure to award this medal to Prof. Chen, which fully recognizes his long-term commitment to environmental conservation and recent contributions to research and practical work in the areas of integrated watershed management and ecosystem management .
In his responsive presentation during the awarding ceremony, Prof. Chen said, This is not only an honor to myself but also a recognition of all those who have dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and natural resources in China. As a scientist, I always consider it my lofty responsibility to conserve wildlife and nature. 40 years have passed and I will continue to devote myself to this great endeavor for the rest of my life.
WWF is a world-renowned independent non-governmental organization dedicated to environment conservation. The WWF Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal is the most prestigious WWF award, which is only granted once a year to a most versed person in the world who has made highly meritorious contributions to the conservation of wildlife and natural resources. Prof. Chen is the second Chinese scientist who has been bestowed this honor.
