Dr. Ariel Lugo, co-Principal Investigator of the Luquillo (LUQ) Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program in Puerto Rico, traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, April 10, 2013 at the invitation of the United Nations to receive a Hero of the Forests Award. Lugo was among the winners selected by an international jury of renowned practitioners and senior United Nations experts from nearly 600 entries from 68 countries. In addition to the Forests Heroes awardees, winners of the International Forest Short Film Festival and the International Forest Photograph competition also received awards.
You can watch a recording of the United Nations “Forests for People” Awards Ceremony (you can scroll ahead to time stamp 1hr15m for Lugo’s award) or read about the award at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2013/envdev1346.doc.htm.