ENVIRONMENT
British conservationist in Thailand receives OBE
The Nation 2011-06-13
Belinda Stewart-Cox, who has spent the last 25 years working for wildlife conservation in Thailand, has received the prestigious OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
A leading figure in local efforts to protect the forests of western Thailand, Stewart-Cox has over the years helped stop environmental damage from a hydro-electric dam and logging concessions.
She also co-wrote the successful |nomination for World Heritage status and co-founded two organisations that focus on conservation in different ways.
The most recent, the Elephant Conservation Network (ECN), was established in 2000 with her colleague Jittin Ritthirat to help protect wild elephants and their ecosystem by turning human-elephant conflict into human-elephant coexistence.
Their work is steadily changing the attitudes of formerly hostile farmers, enabling villagers to develop alternative livelihoods, and strengthening protection of elephants and their habitat. Several projects initiated by ECN, including a corridor proposal, are now part of the Thai government's agenda.
On receiving her OBE, Stewart-Cox said: "I'm thrilled that all those years of effort have been recognised in this way, but I'm also aware that I could not have achieved anything worthwhile without the kind and committed help of the many good people I have been, and still am, privileged to work with in Thailand."
British Ambassador to Thailand, Asif Ahmad said: "I am delighted that Belinda has received this honour. It is recognition of her tireless commitment to safeguarding Thailand's most important resource - its natural environment".
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