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eco-watch

JOSE ANDRES FOOD SUSTAINABILITYThe Spanish-American chef founded World Central Kitchen to empower residents of developing countries and tackle hunger issues. In Haiti, they set up a bakery and restaurant employing locals while purchasing ingredients from local businesses. In a Haitian school, they built a sustainable farm that feeds 200 children. Andres also promotes the use of solar-powered stoves and in America, supplies his restaurants with produce from small local farms. He says, “Food when prepared the right way can help improve the environment.” worldcentralkitchen.org

AMBER GILLETT KOALA CONSERVATIONWildlife vet Dr Amber Gillett works tirelessly to save Australia’s native koala population, treating those affected by habitat encroachment – victims of dog attacks and car accidents – and infected with chlamydia, a potentially lethal disease that plagues the species. Working at Australia Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital in Queensland, she gathers information vital for the advancement of a chlamydia vaccine currently being developed. “Without treatment these koalas will die. We get them back out there and they’re able to breed and contribute to the population,” she says. wildlifewarriors.org.au/wildlife_hospital

UPCYCLING DESIGNOne man’s junk is the Campana brothers’ treasure. The Brazilian designers transform discarded materials – like stuffed toys and plastic tubing – found on their country’s crowded streets into statement furniture pieces. They’ve also removed by hand, vine that suffocates the forest’s trees and turned it into wicker chairs. Taking upcycling to new levels, the Campana brothers have won awards for their functional yet artistic objects. The socially responsible duo has also collaborated with underprivileged women working for a non-profit organisation in Brazil, in crafting their pieces. campanas.com.br

MATTHIAS HAMMER ENVIRONMENTAL CRUSADERGerman biologist Dr Matthias Hammer has come a long way from the woods where his father instilled in him a love of nature. His award-winning, not-for-profit Biosphere Expeditions has contributed to establishing Namibia's largest leopard research project, halting a dam construction project in Peru’s Amazon and creating protected areas in Australia, Oman and southern Africa. Hammer transforms holidaymakers into “citizen scientists”, putting them to work on select research programmes – like studying coral reefs in Malaysia and snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan. biosphere-expeditions.org

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The world needs more heroes like these who fight for causes from species conservation to environmental sustainability. BY CATHERINE MARSHALL AND CARA YAPECO

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