Jens Wunderlich got medal “Defender of Nature” of Government of Uzbekistan

Jens Wunderlich, Head of the Department Protected Areas & Biosphere in Succow Foundation, was awarded with the medal “Defender of Nature” (Tabiat himoyachisi) of the Government of Uzbekistan for his outstanding contribution to nature conservation in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

The award ceremony took place during the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES COP20) in Samarkand. 

In his eulogy, Jusipbek Kazbekov, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, highlighted the key contributions of Jens Wunderlich for nature conservation in the region within 15 years of project work of the Succow Foundation.

Particular emphasis was placed on the successful nomination of the Cold Winter Deserts of Turan as a transnational World Heritage Site (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) within the CADI project, the support of the designation of Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, and the support of young conservationists from Uzbekistan within Fellowship Programmes of the Succow Foundation.

In his acceptance speech, Jens Wunderlich emphasized that these successes were only possible thanks to the outstanding work of the Succow Foundation team and the long-standing, trusting cooperation with committed young conservationists and scientists in Uzbekistan.

Among other receivers of the medal during CITES COP20 was IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar.

We also congratulate Jens with his 15 years of work in the Succow Foundation. 

Photo: NatComEcology Uzbekistan

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