Following a rigorous evaluation of all the nominations submitted from throughout the hemisphere, the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2012 Pablo Canevari Award is Dr. Victor Pulido Capurro, of Peru.

The award acknowledges Dr. Pulido’s career as one of the pioneers in promoting shorebird conservation in the Americas. His wealth of research projects on ecology, species distribution, conservation, and threatened and endangered species gave rise to his many publications. These works have been an important source of information for the management of shorebirds along the coast of Peru and for positioning shorebirds as a prominent subject in the region. Dr. Pulido was instrumental in the formation and linking of international networks as well as the recognition of WHSRN sites in Peru in the 1990s. He was the founder and editor of the biannual newsletter El Volante Migratorio (The Migratory Flier) between 1983 and 1993, which reported activities and projects about shorebirds and other migratory birds in the Americas.

In 1999, Dr. Pulido received the Ramsar Award for his work towards the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl. Another highlight of his career has been in human resources training for conservation of species and ecosystems at the Graduate School of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University (Peru). In the last ten years he has been working on the ecology and distribution of coastal desert birds; on bird conservation in agroecosystems; and on avian risk management at 11 airports in Peru. Currently Dr. Pulido is Peru’s Scientific Director to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the National Coordinator for the Neotropical Waterbird Census, facilitated by Wetlands International.

Pablo Canevari was the first Director of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) Executive Office, a program of Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences. Pablo was a great scientist, a skilled illustrator, an excellent colleague, and a dear friend. He is particularly remembered for his dedication, extraordinary enthusiasm, and personal and professional commitment to shorebird conservation in the Americas. After Pablo’s sudden passing away in 2000, the Manomet Center created an award in his honor that recognizes and supports the work of Latin American individuals, institutions, and/or companies that exemplify his commitment to shorebird conservation. Winners of the biennial award receive a commemorative plaque and US $2,000.

The Manomet Center thanks Dr. Betty Millan Salazar, Director of the Museum of Natural History (San Marcos National University, Peru) for leading the effort to nominate Dr. Pulido for this prestigious award. On behalf of the Center and especially its WHSRN Executive Office, ¡aplausos a Dr. Pulido!

To learn more about Pablo Canevari, the award, and previous winners, please visit the Pablo Canevari Award webpage.

For more information, contact Charles Duncan (cduncan@manomet.org), Executive Director, WHSRN Executive Office, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, or Diego Luna Quevedo (diego.luna@manomet.org), Southern Cone Program Coordinator, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.