Future for Nature Award for former VHL student

Maggie Muurmans, a former student of Wildlife Management, received this year's prestigious Future for Nature Award, handed out to her by Sir David Attenborough. The award was granted to her because of her efforts on the protection of the green sea turtle on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

"The sea turtle is a good lead for protection of the entire area," Maggie said on a TV news show. She works for the Aceh Turtle Conservation, that not only aims to protect nature, but also tries to help local people by restraining poverty and making sure children can go to school.

"Amongst nature protectionists, Sir David Attenborough is a phenomenon," she said in the Pauw and Witteman TV show. She thought it was a great honour to receive the award from his hands.

Maggie has some ideas about how to spend the prizemoney: "We'd like to further promote ecotourism in the area, as well as buy some kajaks, make the accomodations for the staff more comfortable and to do some things for the local community."

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