The Asia Foundation Awards Fellowships to Southeast Asian Environment Leaders

Published 06-25-07

Submitted by Asia Foundation, The

San Francisco "“ June 25, 2007 "“ With increasing attention on critical global environmental concerns, improved coordination and dialogue between key stakeholders and decision makers will be essential in international efforts to safeguard natural resources. The Asia Foundation, the premier non-profit organization devoted to Asia's development since 1954, has awarded two fellowships and a travel grant to three Southeast Asian environmental professionals to attend the Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program (ELP), a three-week summer certificate course in Sustainable Environmental Management conducted by the Center for Sustainable Resource Development of the University of California, Berkeley. The Beahrs’ ELP course brings together environmental leaders from around the world to study under UC Berkeley faculty and specialists and share best practices among peers.

"Asia's environmental leaders will play a critical role in promoting sound global environmental management in the coming decades. We're very pleased to be able provide three of Southeast Asia's emerging leaders with the opportunity to experience a world-class, multidisciplinary educational program in sustainable environmental management," said Chris Plante, The Asia Foundation’s Director of Environment Programs.

Recognizing the complex economic, social, and political challenges facing environmental professionals, the Foundation has identified scholars from the neighboring countries of the Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam to participate in the Beahrs ELP. Each Fellow has demonstrated commitment to his or her field and will bring a unique perspective to the natural resource and environmental management discourse.

Ms. Latsamay Sylavong is the Program Manager for The World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Laos. In her role, Ms. Sylavong manages IUCN’s projects for collaborative forest management, biodiversity, and natural resource policy. As Laos addresses emerging environmental threats to its natural resources, she underscores the need for sustainably-managed socio-economic development and transnational conservation. She recently spearheaded an initiative that led to a memorandum of understanding between Laos and Vietnam in the management of protected areas between the countries.

Dr. Sansanee Keeratiwiriyaporn is the Secretary General of the Association for the Development of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) in Thailand, a non-profit organization working to increase public awareness and cross-sector education of energy conservation. Citing a lack of public understanding about energy efficiency, Dr. Sansanee champions civic participation in renewable energy practices as a counter to climate change. Dr. Sansanee has conducted exhaustive research studies within Thailand and has published these findings in numerous volumes distributed throughout Thailand.

Mr. Ta Dinh Thi is the Personal Assistant to the Senior Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in Vietnam. He is also currently a Ph.D. candidate studying environmental economics and political economy at Hanoi National Economics University. As Vietnam experiences rapid economic growth, Mr. Thi cites the increased stress on the ecosystem as a key issue facing his country. In his role at the Ministry, Mr. Thi conducts policy research on sustainable development at the national level, helps to plan for the execution of adopted policies or laws, and collects feedback on implementation and results from local executive offices.

Since 2001, the ELP has graduated 190 environmental leaders from sixty-two countries. For more information about the Beahrs’ ELP course, see beahrselp.berkeley.edu. The course began on Sunday, June 24.

About The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance, law, and civil society; women's empowerment; economic reform and development; and international relations. Drawing on 50 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With a network of 17 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2006, the Foundation provided more than $53 million in program support and distributed 920,000 books and educational materials valued at $30 million throughout Asia.

For more information, please visit www.asiafoundation.org.

Asia Foundation, The

About The Asia Foundation

Drawing on more than 50 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2008, the Foundation provided more than $87 million in program support and distributed over one million books and educational materials valued at $41 million throughout Asia. For more information, visit www.asiafoundation.org.

The Asia Foundation Awards Fellowships to Southeast Asian Environment Leaders

The Asia Foundation Awards Fellowships to Southeast Asian Environment Leaders

Asia Foundation, The

Asia Foundation, The

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