August 28, 2011
One of IFP's first Fellows from Brazil, Francisco Kennedy Souza was recently awarded a Kleinhans Fellowship from the Rainforest Alliance, and has been named a “Steward of the Forest” by the international environmental organization.
He is the first Brazilian to ever win this award. Recognized on a monthly basis, the designation is part of a yearlong-campaign led by
Rainforest Alliance to celebrate the International Year of Forests and recognize key players working toward forest conservation.
A native of Acre in the northern region of Brazil, Kennedy, as he is called, has spent nearly 20 years studying and working with local and international NGOs. He received an IFP fellowship in 2002 to pursue a master's degree at the University of Florida. He returned to Brazil in 2005 after concluding his graduate program, and in 2007 was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a PhD in Environmental and Policy Studies at Indiana University.
Kennedy’s recognition by the Rainforest Alliance is compelling evidence that IFP’s philosophy of reaching out to leaders dedicated to serving their home communities has enormous potential impact. Says the Rainforest Alliance:
“As part of his fellowship, Souza hopes to enhance the managerial skills of community members, through workshops on
sustainable management and the marketing of forest resources.
His research and fieldwork are expected to contribute directly to the well-being of approximately 9,000 families in Acre and the conservation of 2.96 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of forests in Western Amazonia.”
CLICK HERE to read more about Kennedy, Steward of the Western Amazonia, on the Rainforest Alliance website.