20/08/2012 - The “BIE-Cosmos Prize, EXPO 2012 Yeosu for The Living Ocean and Coast” has been awarded to the project “Coastal community program focusing on flagship species conservation and eco-tourism, Aceh, Indonesia” submitted by the non-governmental organisation Yayasan Pulau Banyak.

Yayasan Pulau Banyak is an organisation that aims to combine conservation efforts for marine turtles with sustainable ecotourism and socio-economic activities in Pulau Banyak, in Aceh, Indonesia. This provides an alternative for local communities for their current unsustainable use of natural resources.

The winning project “Coastal community program focusing on flagship species conservation and eco-tourism, Aceh, Indonesia” aims to study, conserve and increase awareness of various aspects of the island’s anthropological and biological diversity. The conservation efforts focus on the sea turtle conservation programme, where the local community assists in protecting the endangered sea turtles and coastal environment.

The project is carried out in Pulau Banyak, a remote group of 40 to 50 islands, located in a region in need of sustainable development based around the conservation of its wildlife and natural habitats. Better use of these natural resources is a key factor in efforts to reduce poverty in the region.

The BIE-Cosmos Prize is a monetary award of 20,000 euros given to a selected not-for-profit project related to the theme of the Expo at which it is awarded.

Posters of all ten nominated projects for the Yeosu edition of the Prize have been displayed at EXPO 2012 during the three months of the Expo. The nominated projects were selected out of 28 projects from 19 countries and evaluated by an international jury.

The award ceremony took place on the BIE Day at the Expo on August 11^th, the day before the closing of the Expo.