CIFOR extends its congratulations to Dr. MarthinBilla MM, District Head of Malinau District, on beingone of only five recipients of Indonesia’s prestigiousKehati awards. The awards, established in 2000by the Kehati Biodiversity Foundation, span fivecategories recognizing individuals, governmentofficials, researchers, companies and journalists, fortheir work in protecting Indonesia’s biodiversity andnatural resources. The award recognizes Dr. Billa’s roleas a government official who has actively promotedbiodiversity conservation by declaring Malinau asa “Conservation District”. The declaration meansthe district will be committed to implementingsustainable forest management and sustainabledevelopment principles. Dr. Billa is a strong supporterof CIFOR’s activities in the Malinau Research Forest.