Recognizing individuals whose vision, work and action in public life, education, and the arts have made significant contributions to environmental and cultural understanding and human welfare internationally -- and whose achievements have improved the quality of life on Earth and offer genuine promise for the future

The Walter Cronkite Stewardship Award is sponsored by the World Foundation for Environment and Development (WFED), an independent non-governmental and not-for-profit organization based in Washington DC. Since its founding in 1992, WFED has worked with national parks, conservation areas and communities around the world to resolve environmental conflicts and promote biodiversity conservation and environmental understanding in ways that can improve human welfare internationally. In recent years, the special linkages between environmental conservation and cultural understanding have become clearer, contributing to a richer appreciation of both the natural and cultural diversity upon which the quality of life on Earth depends.

WFED is committed to inspiring renewed public appreciation for the value of protecting environmental and cultural resources worldwide. Because new problems as well as opportunities require innovative thinking, WFED has placed special emphasis on creative public education and outreach activities. In appreciation of his contributions to WFED and its work -- and in honor of his life-long commitment to improving public understanding of the many complex challenges that face the world community -- WFED is proud to sponsor The Walter Cronkite Stewardship Award.

In Mr. Cronkite's autobiography (A Reporter's Life), he writes:

"One of the accomplishments of which I am proudest during my almost twenty years as managing editor and anchor of the 'CBS Evening News' was a series that we ran occasionally over several years called 'Can the World Be Saved?' We conceived it shortly after reading Rachel Carson's seminal book, Silent Spring. While she dealt mostly with the murderous effects of the then popular insecticide DDT, it awakened us to all the forms of pollution threatening our atmosphere and our very lives."

While with WFED at Yellowstone during the filming of YELLOWSTONE Revealed in the late 1990s, Mr. Cronkite explained that the increasingly critical importance of environmental issues to the many challenges facing the world in the 21st century was something that he came to gradually understand by witnessing the unfolding of events from his unique post at CBS. And this growing understanding -- or "awareness" as Mr. Cronkite puts it -- manifested itself in his personal commitment to improving others' understanding of the need to do a better job of protecting and managing the planet's resources for the benefit of all life on Earth. "It is a shame that we are not curious enough about the world around us to finance such research except when the results have a military application," Mr. Cronkite adds. "Our willingness to be ignorant seems to know no bounds."

Leadership requires curiosity and understanding. Just as Silent Spring awakened one generation to the increasing centrality of environmental issues to human health and well-being, increasingly complex new environmental challenges now facing the world community -- ranging from overexploitation of resources to the loss of traditional cultures to weapons of mass destruction -- require an urgent new awakening.

Mr. Cronkite has recognized some of WFED's own special leadership initiatives in this way:

"I am delighted to be associated with WFED and look forward to participating in its important conservation work in the future. WFED is recognized as the creative force behind the development and expansion of new ways of thinking about biodiversity conservation strategies, especially in national parks and other conservation areas. The innovative bioprospecting benefit-sharing agreements that WFED is pioneering offer real promise at a time when so much of the natural world is under siege.

"There remains much to be done, however, and I hope that you will join Betsy and me in supporting WFED and its important work. There simply is no substitute for your active engagement and meaningful support."

Against this background, WFED's Walter Cronkite Stewardship Award celebrates Mr. Cronkite's vision, work and action in public life, education, and the arts by recognizing others who have made significant contributions to improving environmental and cultural understanding and human welfare internationally - and whose achievements have improved the quality of life on Earth and offer genuine promise for the future.