Zayed honoured for work to protect the environment

The late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has been posthumously awarded a new international environmental award, along with six other leading environmentalists.

The Champions of the Earth award, established in 2004, is presented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to outstanding environmental achievers and leaders.

The award, honouring the environmental achievements of Shaikh Zayed, will be presented to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday.

"In this inaugural year of the award, UNEP is honoured to recognise the achievements of seven individuals who have, to a large extent, set the environmental agenda and laid the foundations for the many areas of progress we are able to see and celebrate today," said UNEP's executive director, Klaus Toepfer.

Shaikh Zayed has received the award for the West Asia region for his lifetime's work to protect his country's environment, and his "widely acclaimed" contributions to agriculture, afforestation and species protection.

The selection of Shaikh Zayed was decided before he passed away and comes ahead of the UN's International Year of Deserts and Desertification in 2006.

One of Shaikh Zayed's most enduring achievements was the greening of the region's deserts.

Under Shaikh Zayed's leadership, 100 million trees were planted, hunting was outlawed more than a quarter of a century ago, and a sanctuary was established on the island of Sir Bani Yas to safeguard such endangered species as the Arabian oryx and the sand gazelle.

No monetary reward is attached to the prize, which is meant to publicise and encourage the worldwide replication of the achievements of the Champions of the Earth.

Each personality will receive a trophy specially designed by the Kenyan sculptor Kioko and made of recycled metal.

The trophy represents the fundamental elements for life on earth sun, air, land and water.

Other winners of the award