As part of the global celebration of World Environment Day (June 5), Planeta.com is to present the eighth annual Colibri Ecotourism Award to Gerhard Buttner, who has trained guides and artisans in the Yucatan and Oaxaca.
“I can think of no better candidate this year and it is hard to know where to begin in touting his professional work in Mexico and the assistance he has given Planeta.com,” said Planeta.com founder Ron Mader. “The list of achievements of this year’s winner is great. His work is beyond exemplary and validates what the Colibri Award represents,” said award sponsor Emilio Kifuri of Canyon Travel.
Colibri means ‘Hummingbird’ in Spanish and in 2008 the Colibri Award celebrates its eighth anniversary, making this one of the longest running ecotourism awards. The winner of the annual award receives a trophy, diploma and a $1,000 cash award from Emilio Kifuri, president of Canyon Travel.
“Mexico is one of the world’s mega diverse countries with one of the most successful tourism industries,” said Emilio Kifuri. “If ecotourism is to overtake the senseless destruction of the world’s natural areas, it has to develop at a faster pace. We feel fortunate to be in a position to demonstrate that ecotourism can be more profitable than mainstream tourism.”
The Colibri Ecotourism Award’s co-sponsor, Destination Ventures, contributes directly to Planeta.com to develop supporting projects documenting the winner’s work. The company specializes in travel industry education and
currently works for the Mexico Tourism Board and United Nations Foundation in promoting sustainable travel to UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Previous winners include Steve Bridger, Jennifer MorfÃn, Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, Jorge Chà vez de la Peña, Fernando Garcia Aguinaco, Marlene Ehrenberg, Juan Carlos Ibarra and Antonio Suárez and Francisco Verastegui.
The winner of the award is selected by Planeta.com founder Ron Mader following consultation with previous award winners and colleagues.
