Albert Koechlin Foundation awards environment prize to BirdLife Luzern and Pro Rigi
Lucerne/Gersau - The associations BirdLife Luzern and Pro Rigi have been named as the winners of this year’s Albert Koechlin Foundation Environment Award. A ceremonial award evening will take place on June 16. The award, which comes with prize money of 40,000 Swiss francs, serves to recognize commitment to nature conservation.
The BirdLife Luzern association and the Pro Rigi association based in Gersau in the canton of Schwyz have been named as the winners of the Environment Award 2023 from the Lucerne-based Albert Koechlin Foundation (AKS). According to a press release, the winners will each receive 40,000 Swiss francs in prize money at the awards ceremony on June 16.
For the 18th time, the judging panel for the Environment Award has recognized “the commitment to our natural environment and raising public awareness through a wide range of educational offerings for the protection of nature”.
The Pro Rigi association attained recognition for its commitment to developing the Rigi area in a way that is in harmony with nature. The association runs excursions that seek to showcase the natural beauty of the Rigi mountain world. Pro Rigi wardens oversee and maintain the flora conservation area. Visitors and residents are able to familiarize themselves with the diverse flora of the region on walks through flower-lined paths.
In total, 20 local nature and bird protection associations are unified under the umbrella of BirdLife Luzern, which also boasts more than 3,000 members. They are committed to protecting nature and the landscape in addition to promoting biodiversity throughout the canton of Lucerne. To this end, training and further training schemes focused on nature and natural history, as well as youth work, are organized. In so doing, the aim is to raise awareness among the participants and inspire an interest in nature conservation at community level.
The foundation now run by the heirs of the entrepreneur Rudolf Albert Koechlin supports people experiencing difficult life situations as well as families and the education sector. In addition, foundation funds are put towards safeguarding the animal and plant world, among other aspects.
