Earth Day was special in more ways than one this year. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve received a visit from none other than a Champion of the Earth, Dr Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher of Ethiopia.

Dr Tewolde is one of seven ‘green’ leaders celebrated as the 2006 Champions of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Singapore. A well-known champion against the patenting of life forms and a tireless proponent for community rights in Africa, Dr Tewolde has made major contributions at various biodiversity-related fora, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Hence, it was indeed an honour for Sungei Buloh to receive such a distinguished guest.

On 23 April 2006, I met Dr Tewolde at the Shangri-la Hotel lobby, and accompanied him in a special white limousine bearing the number plate ‘EARTH 12’ to Sungei Buloh.

Dr Tewolde was on his first visit to Singapore, and wanted to visit a nature reserve before he left for home. Krish and I showed Dr Tewolde around the Mangrove Boardwalk, the Main Bridge and the Main Hide. He was particularly captivated by a Little Heron, which darted about catching fish after fish in the shallows near the Mangrove Boardwalk. It was the smallest heron he had ever seen, Dr Tewolde said. He also saw the crocodile partially submerged in the river as we crossed the bridge.

All too soon, the limousine was back to pick up Dr Tewolde, who had a flight to catch that evening. Dr Tewolde graciously agreed to a photograph for our keepsake.

References: www.unep.org www.rightlivelihood.org