Italy has recognised conservation and development expert Giorgio Colombo for his work in Tanzania. Mr Colombo received the Order of the Star of Italy from Italy's Ambassador to Tanzania, Giuseppe Sean Coppola, on behalf of President Sergio Mattarella. The award was presented in Arusha during the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly. Mr Colombo has been working in Tanzania since 1998.
Mr Colombo's work focuses on conservation, tourism, and charity in Tanzania. The award acknowledges his efforts in these areas. Ambassador Coppola highlighted Mr Colombo's contributions, noting that this year's Ordine della Stella d'Italia goes to him in recognition of his work. Mr Colombo has worked with Istituto Oikos, an Italian environmental organisation that started operating in Tanzania in 1996.
Istituto Oikos has implemented various programmes in Tanzania, focusing on biodiversity conservation, water and sanitation, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and community development. The organisation's initiatives have mainly been in northern Tanzania. One of its recent projects is the RESTORE project in Longido District, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The project supports rangeland restoration, renewable energy, climate adaptation, and water services.
Istituto Oikos has also implemented water projects in Manyara through the KISIMA initiative. The initiative supports infrastructure and community-based water supply organisations in Kiteto and Simanjiro. Additionally, the organisation has worked on biodiversity and natural-resource management in the Manyara-Tarangire and Natron-Nguruman ecosystems. Its work extends to Pemba, where it has been working on forest conservation, climate resilience, water and sanitation, waste management, and livelihoods since 2023.
The Order of the Star of Italy was established in 1947 and is an honour recognising contributions to Italy's international relations and cooperation. This award marks nearly three decades of Mr Colombo's work in Tanzania. Former IPU president Pier Ferdinando Casini noted that the recognition followed an assessment of Oikos East Africa's work in Tanzania.
Mr Colombo's award is a testament to his dedication to conservation and community development in Tanzania. His work with Istituto Oikos has had a significant impact on the country's environmental and social landscape. The recognition by Italy highlights the importance of international cooperation and contributions to sustainable development.
The award ceremony took place during a dinner in Arusha, attended by various stakeholders. The event acknowledged Mr Colombo's tireless efforts in promoting conservation, tourism, and charity in Tanzania. The recognition by Italy will likely inspire further collaboration and cooperation between Italy and Tanzania in the areas of conservation and sustainable development.
Key points
- Giorgio Colombo received the Order of the Star of Italy for his contributions to conservation and community development in Tanzania.
- Istituto Oikos has implemented various programmes in Tanzania, focusing on biodiversity conservation, water and sanitation, and sustainable livelihoods.
- The Order of the Star of Italy recognises contributions to Italy's international relations and cooperation.
