Dr. Paul Salaman is recognized for his dedicated conservation work by Rainforest Trust supporters.

Rainforest Trust CEO Dr. Paul Salaman was recently presented with a “Hero Award” by George Jett and Dr. Gwen Brewer, passionate supporters of Rainforest Trust’s conservation work.

“Paul, Gwen and I have always shared a passion for nature, and especially the birds,” said George, who recently retired from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“I have been very impressed with the job Paul has done since taking over Rainforest Trust. The numbers of acres protected and the dedicated team he has assembled is impressive, and we wanted to make some public statement of appreciation.”

The monetary donation given by George and Gwen in Paul’s honor will help support two urgent Rainforest Trust projects that will secure a missing link in the Amazon and protect the last great forests of northern Borneo.

In Peru, Rainforest Trust and local partner Center for the Development of an Indigenous Amazon (CEDIA) are working to protect the missing link that will create a combined 7.8 million-acre tri-national corridor to safeguard a massive swath of critical Amazon rainforest habitat across Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. This critical missing link will be secured by working to expand the current Airo Pai Community Reserve along with other regional efforts, protecting more than 1.3 million acres of the mega-diverse forests of northwestern Peru from threats such as illegal logging and oil exploitation.

Through a collaboration with local partner South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP), Rainforest Trust is supporting the Carnegie Airborne Observatory to generate high-resolution maps that integrate land use in Borneo with biodiversity information. The resulting data will identify the most critical and strategic areas to protect 920,000 acres for species such as Bornean Orangutans, Sunda Pangolins, Helmeted Hornbills, Borneo Pygmy Elephants and Clouded Leopards.

“It was a total surprise – I was shocked, but most honored to receive this award in front of the Rainforest Trust Board, staff and other supporters,” said Paul. “I’m delighted that this great honor comes with a major gift from our wonderful friends, George and Gwen, that will be dedicated to safeguarding some of the world’s most threatened rainforests and biodiversity on the planet. Thank you.”

The award was given during a dinner hosted by Rainforest Trust centering around a keynote talk titled, “The Lost Forest of Madagascar: Lemurs, Outlaws and Protecting Paradise.” James Lewis, Rainforest Trust’s Director of Conservation Programs, shared photos from a recent expedition into this secluded forest and discussed conservation efforts to protect this incredible site that is home to a plethora of threatened and newly discovered species.

Header photo: Dr. Paul Salaman receives Hero Award from George Jett and Dr. Gwen Brewer. Photo by Austin Harter.