聯合國環境署23日宣布，2011年「笹川環境獎」由兩個來自拉丁美洲與亞洲的非營利組織獲得，可均分20萬美元的獎金，兩個團體均在偏遠鄉村地區推動森林保育與永續發展。
兩個組織分別為瓜地馬拉的聖•安德列斯森林協會(The Asociación Forestal Integral San Andrés, Petén， 簡稱AFISAP)，以及尼泊爾的馬納哈里發展中心(Manahari Development Institute，簡稱MDI-Nepal)。
今年笹川獎彰顯2011年國際森林年的主題「森林保衛人民，森林促進綠色成長」。此主題強調，在全球綠色經濟體系中森林具有核心地位，是重要的經濟資源，但其真實價值時常在國家損益計算中遭到忽略。
本屆兩位獲獎者乃經由兩階段評選，分別是一個專家小組，與一個評審團，後者包括了肯亞籍諾貝爾和平獎得主馬薩伊(Wangari Maathai)、諾貝爾化學獎得主暨笹川獎1999年得主馬林納(Mario Molina)、前日本環境大臣廣中和歌子，與聯合國環境規劃署執行長史坦納(Achim Steiner)。
史坦納表示：「兩個獲獎組織所力行的是基本的概念，亦即森林永續管理是確保重要生態服務之鑰，舉凡水源與土壤的保護，到必需營養素的循環利用以供農業之用。」
世界銀行曾估計，有6千萬原住民族直接依賴森林而生存。森林維持著發展中世界近半數人口之生計，提供木材做為燃料，同時貢獻出非木材類的林產品，如堅果、橡膠與醫藥。
環境規劃署的經濟專家評估，砍伐森林加上森林退化，每年耗費全球經濟2兆5千億到4兆5千億美元之間，超過最近發生中的金融危機。
AFISAP成立於1999年，為公認的瓜地馬拉最成功的社區團體之一。其致力於保護一塊5萬2千公頃的森林，這片獲得特許經營的森林位於聖•安德列斯區域，馬雅生物保育區(Maya Biosphere Reserve)內，在區域保育工作上舉足輕重。
AFISAP曾利用遠端攝影技術進行一項研究，顯示馬雅保育區擁有世界上曾紀錄過密度最高的美洲豹，每100平方公里11隻美洲豹。
AFISAP也推行計畫，採集利潤豐厚的袖珍椰子屬棕櫚葉片(xate，讀音為sha-tay)，這是一種受歡迎的觀賞樹葉，全球花藝佈置都會使用。棕櫚葉片外銷已經為此區域的鄉村帶來豐厚收益。
尼泊爾馬納哈里發展中心成立於2001年，引進混農林業(agroforestry)，協助改善玉米產量與水源灌溉系統，同時減少林地丘陵與山地區域的土壤侵蝕情況。
坡地是組成尼泊爾國土的最主要地形，全國2400萬人口中，有1800萬以坡地為家。
在原住民社區的參與下，馬納哈里發展中心推廣邊際土地種植各種水果農作，改善其生產力，因而將經濟與社會利益分享給2千戶以上的家庭。
Two nonprofit organizations that conserve forests and promote sustainable development in remote rural communities of Latin America and Asia will share equally the US$200,000 2011 UNEP Sasakawa Prize, the UN Environment Programme announced today.
The Asociacion Forestal Integral San Andres, Peten, or AFISAP, in Guatemala will share the prize with the Manahari Development Institute in Nepal, or MDI-Nepal.
This year's award honors the theme Forests for People, Forests for Green Growth in keeping with the 2011 International Year of the Forests. The theme highlights the central role of forests in a global Green Economy as key economic resources whose real value is often ignored in national accounts of profit and loss.
The co-winners were chosen through a two-tier selection process by an expert panel and a jury that includes Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UN Messenger of Peace Dr. Wangari Maathai of Kenya, Nobel chemistry Laureate and 1999 Sasakawa Winner Professor Mario Molina, former Environment Minister of Japan Wakako Hironaka and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.
Steiner said, "The two winners are acting on the fundamental fact that the sustainable management of forests is key to securing crucial services, from water and soil stabilization to the recycling of nutrients essential for agriculture."
The World Bank has estimated that 60 million indigenous people depend directly on forests for their survival. Forests sustain nearly half of the population in the developing world, providing wood for fuel as well as non-timber products such as nuts, rubber and medicines.
UNEP's economic experts estimate that deforestation and forest degradation cost the global economy between US$2.5 and US$4.5 trillion a year - more than the losses of the recent and ongoing financial crisis.
Founded in 1999, AFISAP is considered to be one of the most successful community groups in Guatemala. It works to preserve the forests on a 52,000-hectare concession within the Mayan Biosphere Reserve in the San Andres area, which plays a critical role in regional conservation.
An AFISAP study that used remote cameras showed that the Mayan Reserve has the highest density of jaguars ever reported in the world - 11 jaguars per 100 square kilometers.
AFISAP also has introduced projects to extract the lucrative xate, a popular foliage used for floral arrangements worldwide. Xate exports have brought greater prosperity to rural communities in the area.
The Manahari Development Institute of Nepal, founded in 2001, has introduced agroforestry to help improve crop productivity and water irrigation systems as well as reduce soil erosion on the forested hills and mountainous areas.
Apart from making up most of the country's land mass, the slopes are home to 18 million of the 24 million people who live in Nepal.
With the involvement of the indigenous community, MDI-Nepal has delivered economic and social benefits to more than 2,000 households by improving the productivity of marginal lands with the planting of various fruit crops.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
