The E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation has named Dr. Alessandro
Catenazzi as its new Half-Earth Chair. Catenazzi is a
Swiss-Peruvian herpetologist with a strong interest in conservation
biology. Much of his work is based in the Andes-Amazon of Peru,
focusing on the existence of the Chytrid fungus in amphibians. He
is an Associate Professor at Florida International University in
Miami.
Catenazzi follows the inaugural Half-Earth Chair Piotr
Naskrecki. The Foundation is thankful for Naskrecki’s ongoing
leadership, which has seen him mentor seven young Mozambiquan
scientists in Gorongosa National Park. Together, they discovered
100 new species to science, identified 25 endemic to Gorongosa, and
collected data for 750 species on the IUCN Red List. These Scholars
have gone on to pursue and complete advanced research degrees in
wildlife conservation and have become regional leaders in
protecting Mozambique’s unique flora and fauna. Naskrecki will
continue to work as associate director of the E.O. Wilson
Biodiversity Laboratory at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique
and as Half-Earth Chairs, has a permanent role on the Half-Earth
Council.
Program Director of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
Brooks Bonner remarked, “I hope the next Half-Earth Chair will
build on the incredible foundation established by the inaugural
Chair, Dr. Piotr Naskrecki. Piotr’s efforts in Gorongosa National
Park championed local insights and provided trainings so that the
next generation of biodiversity scientists will have the knowledge
and technical skills to pave a new path in preserving Mozambique’s
incredible biodiversity.”
Half-Earth Chairs are selected for their research leadership and
ability to act as role models and mentors for the next generation
of biodiversity scientists. Half-Earth Scholars are mentored by
Half-Earth Chairs to advance their learning and research and
empower local stewardship of biodiversity. Half-Earth Chairs are
eligible for $30,000 of funding per year for up to 4 years in
support of their research or program activities.
The Half-Earth Chairs & Scholars program is supported by ADM
(NYSE: ADM), a global leader in human and animal nutrition. Through
ADM Cares, the company's corporate social investment program, ADM
directs funding to initiatives and organizations driving meaningful
social, economic, and environmental progress.
“We at ADM are absolutely thrilled to work with the E.O. Wilson
Biodiversity Foundation to support the Half-Earth Chairs &
Scholars program, and to help provide a pathway for the next
generation of biodiversity scientists to thrive through hands-on
research experiences and technical skill development,” said
Jennifer Ballinger, director, ADM Cares. “Strategic partnerships
such as this are key to delivering on ADM’s purpose of unlocking
the power of nature to enrich the quality of life, and by
championing the Half-Earth Chairs & Scholars program, we can
help drive future biodiversity stewardship.”
Catenazzi was selected by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity
Foundation’s Half-Earth Chairs & Scholars Advisory Board. They
include Krithi Karanth, CEO and chief conservation scientist at the
Centre for Wildlife Studies; Tom Lalampaa, CEO of the Northern
Rangelands Trust; Lesley de Souza, lead conservation scientist at
the Field Museum; Brooks Bonner, program director at the E.O.
Wilson Biodiversity Foundation; along with Dr. Paula Ehrlich,
president and CEO of the Foundation; and Dr. Walter Jetz,
scientific chair of the Foundation.
Additionally, the Foundation has named Jetz as the first Jack
and Laura Dangermond Scientific Chair of the E.O. Wilson
Biodiversity Foundation, a title that honors the Dangermond
family’s continued support of the Foundation and its programs.
The announcement was made on March 16 during a gathering of
environmental advocates and philanthropists at the Dangermond
Preserve in California. Jack and Laura Dangermond hosted the event
to raise awareness of and support for the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity
Foundation and the Half-Earth Project.
Longtime advocates for protecting the environment and natural
habitats for plant and animal life, Jack and Laura Dangermond have
been the lead supporters of the Half-Earth Project which aims to
conserve half the Earth’s land and sea areas to reverse the
extinction crisis and safeguard the bulk of biodiversity for future
generations. Their company Esri, a global market leader in
geographic information system software, location intelligence, and
mapping, is a key partner of the Half-Earth Project Map which
utilizes geospatial species distribution data and analytics to
identify which locations on Earth have the best opportunity to
conserve the most species.
“We have paid tribute to Jack and Laura Dangermond by naming the
role Walter Jetz currently holds in our organization for them,”
said Ehrlich. “Our leadership team created this title to honor the
extraordinary way Jack and Laura Dangermond have supported our
organization and its aspirations.”
Jetz brings an outstanding record of active scholarly engagement
to the role, according to Jack Dangermond. “We are delighted to
support Dr. Jetz’s work through the naming of this Chair,”
Dangermond said.
“I am thrilled about this new naming of my role,” added Jetz,
who also serves as a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology
and environment at the Yale School of the Environment. “Through
their tremendous leadership around technology, Jack and Laura
Dangermond have, for decades, been supporting a more effective
decision-making process for conservation. And through their
exemplary philanthropic engagement, they are securing land and
seascapes vital for biodiversity and people for future generations.
I am honored by their recognition.”
About the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity
FoundationThe E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation's
mission is to reimagine the way we care for our planet. The
Foundation’s major initiative, the Half-Earth Project, is working
to inspire informed collective action to save the
biosphere. Visit www.eowilsonfoundation.org
to learn more.
About ADMADM unlocks the power of nature to
enrich the quality of life. We’re a premier global human and animal
nutrition company, delivering solutions today with an eye to the
future. We’re blazing new trails in health and well-being as our
scientists develop groundbreaking products to support healthier
living. We’re a cutting-edge innovator leading the way to a new
future of plant-based consumer and industrial solutions to replace
petroleum-based products. We’re an unmatched agricultural supply
chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting
local needs with global capabilities. And we’re a leader in
sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help
decarbonize our industry and safeguard our planet. From the seed of
the idea to the outcome of the solution, we give customers an edge
in solving the nutritional and sustainability challenges of today
and tomorrow. Learn more at www.adm.com.
Media Contacts:
E.O. Wilson Biodiversity FoundationNiquole
EstersVice President of Strategic
Engagementnesters@eowilsonfoundation.org(510) 631-7571
ADMJackie AndersonDirector, External
Communicationsmedia@adm.com(312) 634-8484
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36d41849-0b15-4bca-a95a-473a14994013
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8aa3c1d-1c6d-41c3-8a21-7b9534b70997