Panama Non-Profit Awarded Environmental Torch

ANCON, Panama’s National Association for the Conservation of Nature, will receive the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s 2010 Environmental Torch award on Monday.

IUCN, the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network, selected ANCON for its contribution to improving environmental governance in Central America including: establishing laws against environmental crimes, setting legal precedents for diffuse and collective interests, as well as its work in creating Coiba National Park in 1991, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

“This is important recognition helps us increase our prestige in the region, which should allow us to gain more support from national and international organizations in continuing our mission of safeguarding biodiversity and the welfare of many people in Panama, and why not, in the world, ” ANCON Director Alida Spadafora said, according to Panama America.

In addition to the recognition, ANCON will receive a statue and $5,000.