The zoning plan, the community agreements, and the proposed management plan were all a part of the documentation submitted to the Council of Ministers, who, after a mere three months of analysis and deliberation, declared the Quirimbas National Park on June 6, 2002, WWF said.
Safira and Omar "are now keeping promises made during the park creation process," said the WWF statement. "Omar is setting up a pilot Elephant/Human Conflict Mitigation program, and Safira concentrates on the organization of marine sanctuaries in key habitats in the Park."
The Buffett Award was established through a gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. It is presented annually by National Geographic in recognition of outstanding work and lifetime contributions that further the understanding and practice of conservation in southern and East Africa.
Nominations are considered by National Geographic's Conservation Trust, a grant-making body established to support innovative conservation projects around the world. From finalists selected by the Conservation Trust, Howard G. Buffet and Trust members choose the award recipients.
"Southern and East Africa is a region that I care deeply about," Buffett said. "Through this award and by working with National Geographic, we are able to honor those that may not have otherwise received recognition for their outstanding work in African conservation."
Buffett, son of multimillionaire Warren Buffett, is an Illinois agri-businessman and widely published agricultural and wildlife photographer who has traveled extensively throughout the developing world. His photographs have appeared in National Geographic magazine. He also is the author of On the Edge: Balancing Life's Resources, a book on the world's population and what it means for food consumption.
