Bonn, 23 August 2012 - Pablo Canevari was a Scientific Programme Officer in UNEP/CMS between 1996 and 1999 and director of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, a scientist, a colleague, and a dear friend.

Every two years, the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences presents a US$2,000 award to a nominee or organization from Latin America that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to shorebird conservation — just as Pablo Canevari did before he died suddenly in March 2000. The award recognizes and supports exemplary work in the field of shorebird conservation.

The winner of its 2012 Pablo Canevari Award is Dr. Victor Pulido Capurro, of Peru The award acknowledges Dr. Pulido's career as one of the pioneers in promoting shorebird conservation in the Americas. His wealth of research projects on ecology, species distribution, conservation, and threatened and endangered species gave rise to his many publications. These works have been an important source of information for the management of shorebirds along the coast of Peru and for positioning shorebirds as a prominent subject in the region.

Dr. Pulido was instrumental in the formation and linking of international networks as well as the recognition of WHSRN sites in Peru in the 1990s.

In 1999, Dr. Pulido received the Ramsar Award for his work on the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl. Another highlight of his career has been in human resources training for conservation of species and ecosystems at the Graduate School of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University (Peru).

For the last ten years he has been working on the ecology and distribution of coastal desert birds; on bird conservation in agro-ecosystems; and on avian risk management at 11 airports in Peru.

Currently Dr. Pulido is Peru’s Scientific Councillor to CMS and the National Coordinator for the Neo-tropical Waterbird Census, facilitated by Wetlands International.

Congratulations Victor!