Prestigious Future For Nature (FFN) Award Scooped by Richtersveld Botanist

Pieter van Wyk, the Botanist at |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, has been announced as one of three worldwide winners of the prestigious Future For Nature (FFN) Award and will soon be accepting his prize in the Netherlands.

Inspired by the Future For Nature Award winners, Wageningen University ecologists Ignas Heitkönig and Rascha Nuijten founded the Future For Nature Academy (FFN Academy) in 2016. Currently, the FFN Academy is coordinated by Marit Hertlein.

The FFN Academy spreads the inspiration and dedication of FFN Award winners and other conservation heroes to a growing network of students and young graduates across the Netherlands to fuel this young generation’s passion for nature conservation. They do so by organising varying activities such as guest lectures, excursions and symposia. They create a platform for people to meet, discuss and make plans together for a better future for nature.

Van Wyk won because of his outstanding efforts in the protection of his species.

South African National Parks, and specifically the Arid Region, is extremely proud of van Wyk for scooping the prestigious award and cannot wait to see what changes he will implement upon his return to further his very commendable work of protecting the precious species of the Richtersveld.