September 12, 2013: Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge attended the Tusk Trust Awards in London.
From the Tusk Conservation website:
From the Tusk Conservation website:
On 12th September, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the inaugural Tusk Conservation Awards at The Royal Society in London. As Royal Patron of Tusk, the Duke presented the awards including the first Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa – a lifetime achievement award given to Clive Stockil from Zimbabwe. The awards, established in partnership with Investec Asset Management, recognise and highlight the work of dedicated conservationists across Africa.
In his keynote speech, the Duke highlighted: "There is so much good work going on which we can celebrate and get behind. I think sometimes, sat here, we can feel a little powerless to make a difference for species that we desperately care about. The focus that these Tusk Awards bring on a diverse group of brilliant conservationists provides a means of channelling our longing to help." (Read the Duke of Cambridge's full speech here).
The gala evening, The Duke and Duchess’s first joint engagement in London following the birth of Prince George in July, was also attended by the President and First Lady of Gabon, Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon.Owen Paterson MP. Other key guests included Rolling Stone guitarist, Ronnie Wood, and TV adventurer Ben Fogle, Dire Straits guitarist, John Illsley, and naturalist and filmmaker, Simon King. The ceremony was hosted by Tusk patron, the broadcaster, Kate Silverton.
The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa:
The Prince William Award, sponsored by Investec Asset Management, was presented to Clive Stockil for his groundbreaking work as one of Africa’s great conservation pioneers – a man who recognised four decades ago the critical need to engage local communities in conservation and deliver tangible benefits to ordinary people living alongside wildlife. In 1992, Stockil was also the driving force behind the creation of Africa’s then largest private conservancy in the Savé Valley, Zimbabwe, which is now home to one of the country’s largest rhino populations.
