Thailand's Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti received the J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership 2009 for his conservation leadership in the fight against international organized wildlife crimes and illegal trade in Southeast Asia and for spearheading the development of the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN). He was accorded the award at the 1st Asia Ministerial Conference (AMC) on Tiger Conservation in Hua Hin, 27 Jan2010. Minister Suwit has continued to strongly support the network's mission since its launch in 2005.

Minister Suwit said he was surprised and attributed the honor to the efforts of ministry officials and NGOs working with him to implement conservation projects. He vowed to spend the US$200,000 award money on conversation projects.

"National and international enforcement are vital parts of our strategy to end the illegal wildlife trade", Minister Suwit pointed out to emphasize the urgent need of a significant improvement of cooperation, law enforcement and conservation of endangered wildlife in Asia. Minister Suwit has taken a leading role in the conservation efforts of the ASEAN-WEN, its Support Program and its partners to fight illegal wildlife trade in the ASEAN region.

The J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership is one of the world’s most prestigious awards devoted to conservation.  Established in 1974 as The Getty Prize by the late J. Paul Getty, the award was later renamed the J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership.  The award is intended to encourage conservation innovation and heighten public awareness of the need for conservation. Nominees for the Getty Award are submitted to WWF by conservation organizations around the world and the winner is chosen by an independent jury of individuals from a wide and distinguished array of expertise. Minister Suwit Khunkitti is the second Thai national to receive this award.

Read more on the WWF website.