Conservation Champion

Jacqueline Evans, lead manager for Marae Moana–the Cook Islands Marine Protected Area–has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Award for 2019. Along with six other amazing recipients, Jacqui is being honored for her leadership in a five-year grassroots campaign to protect the stunning marine biodiversity of her island home.

Because of her tireless and persistent organizing, in July 2017, the Cook Islands enacted new legislation to legally establish Marae Moana, and to sustainably manage and conserve all 763,000 square miles of the country’s ocean territory.

As Marae Moana is a member site of Big Ocean we are pleased that her efforts are also raising awareness of best-practice marine management at-scale.

Click here to read the full story and learn more about the Goldman Prize.