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My name is Fernanda Samuel, I'm Angolan and I'm 28 years old. I am involved in Petroleum Research and Production Engineering, but since the end of my degree I have worked in environmental protection. I am a co-founder of AmbiReciclo, a startup promoting the green economy to fight poverty through Recycling. I am also the founder of the Otchiva Project, a project for the protection and restoration of mangroves in Angola that aims to promote the sustainable use of mangroves as well as the well-being of all living beings that depend on them.
Fernanda Samuel - Angolan, Africa
2020 Winner | Conservationist | Angolan
I grew up along the coast of Angola, amidst the mangroves and feel deeply connected to the beautiful biodiversity this ecosystem had to offer - from migratory birds to fish, crustaceans and molluscs. But since my childhood, many developments started to appear in these sensitive ecological areas resulting in a sharp decline in species along with the invaluable ecosystem services mangroves offer, leading to an increase in floods. For the last few years I have been leading public awareness campaigns about the importance of mangroves, along with cleaning and reforestation activities with the help of thousands of volunteers. My project, OTCHIVA (wetland) has sensitized the locals our massive cleaning and restoration campaign, spanning many months has resulted in the steady increase in the flamingos and crabs population, and has restored the communities' subsistence fishing life. The visceral impact of my work has influenced local government to join the project. My work was publicly praised by the Vice President of the Republic of Angola during his speech for the National Independence of Angola in November 2019. In January 2020, I was called to be received in an audience by the same Vice President who personally praised my activity, and sought to learn more about my restoration and protection of the mangroves. My dream is to see the mangroves in Angola definitively protected, to reinstate the resilience of our coastline, as well as the well-being of all species that depend on mangroves, including ourselves.
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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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