Justaquiu Fabiano Lasi

Justaquiu Fabiano Lasi - Timorese, Asia and the Pacific

2019 Winner | Geologist | Timorese

Ecotourism as a way of preserving marine biodiversity and promoting sustainable, socially responsible businesses in my hometown in Timor-Leste. Fast growing coastal communities work as both farmers and fisherman. Men fish from canoes, while women and children collect crabs, mollusks and sea urchins by the seashore. Everyone helps with the cultivation of corn and vegetables in small plots of family owned land, and the harvest cycle is important to our traditional religion. But at sea it is harder for fisherman to fill their nets due to destruction of coral reefs where fish breed and unrestricted spear-guns hunting. Though technically protected under Timor-Leste law, the beautiful sea turtle is also sometimes hunted, and their eggs dug up. Our Ecotourism project will preserve marine biodiversity and promote sustainable, socially responsible business models, providing local communities with training and capacity building.

I am a Diver and work part time in a dive resort in Timor- Leste. I am a Youth Ambassador for the Ocean and Climate Change and took part in a Peace Boat voyage, also representing Timor-Leste at the ‘Sustainable Development Summit’ in New York. I am in my final year of studying Geology at National University of Timor-Leste and co-founded Youth for National Development.

Disclaimer: NOTE: This content was shared online for the 2019 cycle of the Young Champions of the Earth programme and has not been updated. This listing does not constitute any endorsement by nor status with the UN Environment Programme.

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