Alfred is NZ’s first Prince of Wales award winner
ALFRED DUVAL’S KEEN SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY in New Zealand has impressed the future King of England.
His enthusiasm has seen him presented with the inaugural Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry.
Presented at the New Zealand Institute of Forestry’s annual awards ceremony, the new prize rewards and encourages a young New Zealand forestry professional working in the vital area of sustainable forest management. Similar initiatives have been established in Australia and Canada.
Championed by the Prince of Wales, the award marks a new dawn for the forestry industry, in New Zealand and around the globe.
“This prestigious trophy puts a stake in the ground, and indicates to the next generation of leaders in our industry, the significance of sustainable environmental practices”, says NZIF President James Treadwell.
Selected personally by Prince Charles from a high calibre shortlist of candidates, James says Alfred was the clear winner, adding: “He demonstrated an outstanding aptitude for sustainable forestry management practice on the ground.
“He’s an emerging leader with the skills and commitment to inspire others in the industry to follow suit.”
Receiving the wooden trophy, which is made from Oak sourced from the Prince’s Highgrove House estate, Alfred says: “It’s beyond an honour to receive something like this and to be the first one.
“My interest in sustainable forestry was why I wanted to take it up as a career.”
Alfred only graduated from the University of Canterbury School of Forestry last year and is now employed in the Port Blakely forest management office in Tauranga.
He joins a select, but growing group of young leaders with a common passion for sustainable forestry, from throughout the Commonwealth.
In a video message played to the NZIF His Royal Highness said: “I have high hopes that these young men and women will be a catalyst for change, improving communication and collaboration between national forestry institutes, and ultimately helping to equip the forestry profession to deal wisely with the challenges we face now and in the future”.
NZL