MEXICO CITY --
As part of the global celebration of World
Environment Day, Planeta.com announced that Mexican journalist
and photographer Fernando Garcia Aguinaco had won the third
annual Colibri
Ecotourism Award.
Each year on June 5, the United Nations celebrates World Environment
Day as a way to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment
and enhance political attention and action. Planeta is proud
to participate in this international event via our Colibri
Award.
Spanish for 'Hummingbird', the "Colibri" recognizes outstanding
individual achievement at the vanguard of environmental travel
in Mexico. Recipients are chosen by Planeta.com President Ron
Mader in consultation with leading members of the Mexico
Ecotourism Network, including Antonio Suárez, Marlene
Ehrenberg, Verena Gerber and Jorge Chavez de la Peña.
In addition to the beautifully designed Colibri Award, this
year's winner Fernando Garcia Aguinaco receives a US$1,000 cash
prize underwritten by Canyon
Travel, a prominent Copper Canyon ecotourism operator and
Planeta supporter.
Announcing the award, Planeta's Ron Mader noted: "Fernando
Garcia's savvy of the Web and its application has elevated the
level of dialogue and awareness of critical issues in the development
of Mexican ecotourism."
WINNER
A contributor to the Michelin Travel guidebook, editorial coordinator
of the Volando website, and writer for numerous magazines, Garcia
has participated in various Planeta forums and conferences since
1996. In 2002 he assumed new responsibilities as guest moderator
for Mexico Ecotourism Network forums, the most popular country-specific
discussions hosted by Planeta.
A major challenge in online dialogue is the role of Moderator
-- revising messages and sending polite requests to participants
to heed and follow forum guidelines. "Fernando Garcia elicits
the best comments from Mexico forum participants -- a talent
beneficial to us all," said Canyon Travel President Emilio Kifuri.
"Mexican journalists are essential to raising both traveler
and trade awareness of Mexico's high world ranking in biodiversity
and its ecotourism potential."
"Facilitating the discussion about responsible
tourism in Mexico has surpassed my expectations," Garcia replied.
"Every day I see how participation in an online community can
enlighten the members regardless of where they live or work.
Red
Mexicana has improved communication among stakeholders and
it has been satisfying to encourage a bilingual dialogue."
Nowadays Fernando is a Certified Iyengar Yoga
Teacher and teaches yoga
in Mexico City.
Flickr
Una Vuelta
Para India
Mexico
Yoga Blog
ABOUT THE COLIBRI AWARD
First presented in 2001, the Colibri
Ecotourism Award is presented to a leading authority and
catalyst at the vanguard of ecotourism.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
The United Nations celebrates World
Environment Day each year on June 5 as a way to stimulate
worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political
action.
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