Panafrican News Agency

Angolan ecologist, Adjany Costa, wins Young Earth Champions for Africa Award

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (PANA) - Angolan ethno-ecologist specialist in wildlife, Adjany Costa, has been named winner of the Young Earth Champions for Africa Award for her contribution to the protection of water resources and biodiversity in her country, an official statement transmitted Tuesday to PANA.

The 29-year-old Costa environmentalist conducted her protection work in the Luchaze community in the mountainous region of Angola, threatened by unsustainable livelihood practices caused by three decades of civil war.

She is one of seven other laureates from Latin America, North America, Asia, West Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific who will receive their awards on September 26 in New York, on the sidelines of the Climate Summit.

Laureates' actions will be the subject of a social media and other channels communication campaign. They will also receive start-up funding and mentoring.

Established since 2017, this award, supported by Covestro, a polymer manufacturing company, is awarded annually by UN-Environment to environmentalists between the ages of 18 and 30 for outstanding ideas for environmental protection. 

More than a thousand candidates entered their projects and a global jury selected the seven winners from the 35 regional finalists.

-0- PANA BAL/BEH/KND/VAO 17Sept2019