Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award
Jairo Mora Sandoval was a young conservationist highly committed to the protection of sea turtles in Costa Rica. In 2013, at the age of 26, he was brutally murdered by local poachers. In early 2015, the news of the trial for Jairo's murder made international news, as the perpetrators were absolved due to irregularities during the trial. In 2016, the Marine Program of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB Marine) announced the "Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award," which includes a $1,000 financial component.
The Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award honors Jairo’s commitment to marine conservation. The Award is given for bravery associated with an outstanding contribution to the field of marine conservation, with particular emphasis on responsible and educated scientific endeavor, public engagement and conservation activism. It may be given for a single conservation action or for an entire body of work (i.e., a series of linked contributions).
The call for nomination opens 9 months before the International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC) organised by SCB Marine, which is held in biennially, in even years. The recipient is decided upon by majority vote of the Jairo Award Committee. Nominations are judged on the basis of a proposal using a form provided. The recepient of the award is announced at IMCC.
Criteria for nominations
Criteria
- The conservation work must take place in areas where conservationists face a real threat to their lives due to their work (e.g., protecting marine wildlife from poachers).
- The nominee has made an outstanding contribution to the field of marine conservation through responsible and educated scientific endeavor, public engagement, and conservation activism.
- The nominee’s conservation work must be conducted within the law. Nominees engaged in illegal activities (e.g., entering private property without permit) will not be not be considered.
Eligibility
- Individuals dedicated to marine conservation, from any country.
- The award may be given for a single conservation action or for an entire body of work (i.e., a series of linked contributions).
- Individuals may be nominated posthumously.
- Self-nominations will not be considered.