Costa Rican biologist Esteban Brenes, Director of Science and Conservation of the Costa Rica Wildlife Foundation and coordinator of the project Nai Conservation for the protection of tapirs was awarded the “UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme Young Scientist Award” (MAB Young Scientists Award).

This award provides young researches funding to support their research on ecosystems, natural resources and biodiversity. “Through the MAB Young Scientists Awards, MAB is investing in a new generation of scientists worldwide because we think well-trained and committed young people are key to addressing ecological and sustainability issues”, explains the UNESCO website.

The selection was announced during the MAB Council’s annual meeting in Palembang, Indonesia; in total they named seven laureates of the 2018 MAB Young Scientists Awards; Brenes, received the recognition for his work “Understanding population ecology and potential habitat of the endangered Baird’s Tapir in Savegre and La Amistad MAB Biosphere Reserve in Costa Rica”; the other six recipients are from Korea (2), Egypt, Ghana, Russia and Vietnam. (Biosphere reserves are sites destined to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity and human activity through the sustainable use of natural resources. One of their objective is to give rise to innovative sustainable development practices).

Brenes, 31 years-old, has been doing conducting investigations on the important role of Tapirs in the environment, as species of large trees relay on big fruit-eating animals such as the tapir to disperse their seeds; tapirs are an endangered species, this situation affects the regeneration of the tropical forests and therefore the forest’s ability to store carbon contributing then to climate change.