Results of the ICIMOD Photo Contest on 'Mountain Biodiversity'

01 Jun 2010

The winning entries of the ICIMOD Photo Contest on ‘Mountain Biodiversity’ were unveiled by Dr Andreas Schild, ICIMOD Director General, at a celebratory function to mark the International Day for Biodiversity held at ICIMOD on May 24. The contest was organised to mark the United Nations International Year of Biological Diversity 2010, as well as to raise awareness about the role of mountain biodiversity in sustaining life in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region and beyond.

Among the 783 entries received in five categories, the entry "Cherub of mountain forest" by Sonam Tashi Lama was judged best overall entry.

The best entries in the thematic categories were:

• ‘Farming in Manang’ by Sunil Sharma, taken in Manang, Nepal (Mountain Agrobiodiversity);

• ‘Her own technology’ by Md. Mahbubur Rahman, taken in Bandarban, Bangladesh (Traditional/ Indigenous knowledge Associated with Mountain Biodiversity);

• ‘Harvest time in the Grandfather Mountains’ by Andrew Scanlon, taken in Koh-e Baba Mountains, Afghanistan (Livelihoods and Ecosystem Services Associated with Mountain Biodiversity);

• ‘Bio prospectors’ by Kyaw Kyaw Winn, taken in Mon State, Myanmar (Threats to Mountain Biodiversity); and

• ‘A tribal 'mro' woman preparing rice’ by Jashim Salam taken in the Banderban Hill Tracts’ Bangladesh (Women and Mountain Biodiversity).

A panel of two judges comprising Mr. Alex Treadway and Mr. Jagdish Tiwari selected the winning entries. Alex is a British photographer who has photographed extensively in the Hindu-Kush Himalaya region. His photographs have been published in magazines such as the National Geographic Adventure and Geo Special. Jagdish is a well known Nepali photographer, specialising in mountain landscapes. His photographs have been sold as postcards, posters, and calendars and he has published a book ‘Passing by Nepal’ in collaboration with Soren Lauridsen, a Danish photographer.

The winning entries can be viewed HERE .

The judges’ profiles can be read HERE .

The entries of the contestants can be viewed online HERE .

We congratulate the winners and all those who participated in the photo contest to showcase the mountain biodiversity of the region to the world-at-large.

Thank you!

ICIMOD Photo Contest Team