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OTTAWA, August 19, 2011  —  The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Academy of Environmental Law has received the twelfth annual American Bar Association (ABA) Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy. The international award was presented on August 7, 2011, at the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario.

The award, established to honour institutions and individuals responsible for major contributions in the field of environmental law and policy, recognizes outstanding efforts that significantly improve the substance, understanding or process of environmental laws and policies. “It’s hard to imagine a more encouraging endorsement of the early accomplishments of the IUCN Academy, “ says Jamie Benidickson, a professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law and the Director of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law. “The ABA award will energize collaborative efforts on the part of environmental law faculty in the developed and developing worlds to move the IUCN Academy’s research, teaching and policy initiatives to the next level.”

Members of the IUCN Academy represent 149 law faculties and research centres that teach and study in environmental law in all regions of the world. The organization, whose secretariat is housed at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, has held environmental law conferences in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Australia focusing on a range of topics, notably climate change, biofuels, water and policy development for protected areas.

The IUCN Academy was nominated because of its outstanding initiative and accomplishments in fostering collaboration, research and learning in environmental law on the international stage. It was nominated by Alexandra Dunn, assistant dean, Environmental Law Program, and adjunct professor, Pace University.

“This award by the ABA is a deeply appreciated recognition for the efforts of the many people who have shared the vision of an international network to advance teaching and research in environmental law, including the members of the founding board, which was led by Professor Nick Robinson from 2003-2008, “ says Rob Fowler, chair of the IUCN Academy. “To those who now serve on our governing board and on various sub-committees voluntarily, to those at our host institution, the University of Ottawa, who have provided exceptional support to the Academy, and finally to our many enthusiastic members around the globe, this award serves as an inspiration to keep pursuing this shared vision. We have much that we still hope to achieve, but we are deeply grateful for this recognition by the ABA of our efforts to this stage.”

For more information on the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law, please visit its website at www.iucnael.org.