Pilai Poonswad - 2006 Laureates

By spreading the seeds of more than 60 species of fruit-bearing trees, the great hornbill (Buceros bocornis) plays a vital role in the regeneration of the vanishing rainforest of southern Thailand. Known as "he Great Mother of Hornbills", Pilai Poonswad leads conservation, education and research activities to ensure these colourful birds survive in Thailand's rainforests. Working in a region plagued by political unrest, Pilai Poonswad (left) has successfully involved villagers, poachers and the army in hornbill conservation. Pilai Poonswad’s project helps build a healthy tropical forest by planting seedlings of the trees that support hornbills, and by halting illegal logging and unmanaged deforestation. Renowned biologist Pilai Poonswad has been working in Thailand to protect the hornbill in the forests where it nests. Together with her team, Pilai Poonswad has carried out groundbreaking research on the hornbill, a bird whose wingspan can reach 1.9 metres. A male rhinoceros hornbill brings food to the female imprisoned in a tree cavity throughout the nesting season. Hornbill’s breeding biology involves lifelong relationships. Working in a region plagued by political unrest, Pilai Poonswad (left) has successfully involved villagers, poachers and the army in hornbill conservation. Tapoh, Thailand, 2006 Children dressed as hornbills perform a play about conservation. Educational activities are central to Poonswad’s project and lay the groundwork for bird and forest conservation by future generations.
By spreading the seeds of more than 60 species of fruit-bearing trees, the great hornbill (Buceros bocornis) plays a vital role in the regeneration of the vanishing rainforest of southern Thailand.

©Atsuo Tsuji, Courtesy Pilai Poonswad

Budo Mountain, Thailand, 1991
By spreading the seeds of more than 60 species of fruit-bearing trees, the great hornbill (Buceros bocornis) plays a vital role in the regeneration of the vanishing rainforest of southern Thailand.

Known as "he Great Mother of Hornbills", Pilai Poonswad leads conservation, education and research activities to ensure these colourful birds survive in Thailand's rainforests.

©Rolex Awards/Tomas Bertelsen

Budo-Sungai Padi National Park, Thailand, 2006
Known as "the Great Mother of Hornbills" Pilai Poonswad leads conservation, education and research activities to ensure these colourful birds survive in Thailand's rainforests.

Working in a region plagued by political unrest, Pilai Poonswad (left) has successfully involved villagers, poachers and the army in hornbill conservation.

©Rolex Awards/Tomas Bertelsen

Tapoh, Thailand, 2006
Working in a region plagued by political unrest, Pilai Poonswad (left) has successfully involved villagers, poachers and the army in hornbill conservation.

Pilai Poonswad’s project helps build a healthy tropical forest by planting seedlings of the trees that support hornbills, and by halting illegal logging and unmanaged deforestation.

©Rolex Awards/Tomas Bertelsen

Budo-Sungai Padi, Thailand, 2006
Pilai Poonswad’s project helps build a healthy tropical forest by planting seedlings of the trees that support hornbills, and by halting illegal logging and unmanaged deforestation.

Renowned biologist Pilai Poonswad has been working in Thailand to protect the hornbill in the forests where it nests.

©Rolex Awards/Tomas Bertelsen

Budo-Sungai Padi, Thailand, 2006
Renowned biologist Pilai Poonswad has been working in Thailand to protect the hornbill in the forests where it nests.

Together with her team, Pilai Poonswad has carried out groundbreaking research on the hornbill, a bird whose wingspan can reach 1.9 metres.

©Rolex Awards/Tomas Bertelsen

Budo-Sungai, Thailand, 2006
Together with her team, Pilai Poonswad has carried out groundbreaking research on the hornbill, a bird whose wingspan can reach 1.9 metres.

A male rhinoceros hornbill brings food to the female imprisoned in a tree cavity throughout the nesting season. Hornbill’s breeding biology involves lifelong relationships.

©Rolex Awards/Tomas Bertelsen

Budo-Sungai Padi, Thailand, 2006
A male rhinoceros hornbill brings food to the female imprisoned in a tree cavity throughout the nesting season. Hornbill’s breeding biology involves lifelong relationships.

Working in a region plagued by political unrest, Pilai Poonswad (left) has successfully involved villagers, poachers and the army in hornbill conservation. Tapoh, Thailand, 2006

©Rolex Awards/Tomas Bertelsen

Tapoh, Thailand, 2006
Working in a region plagued by political unrest, Pilai Poonswad (left) has successfully involved villagers, poachers and the army in hornbill conservation. Tapoh, Thailand, 2006

Children dressed as hornbills perform a play about conservation. Educational activities are central to Poonswad’s project and lay the groundwork for bird and forest conservation by future generations.

©Rolex Awards/Tomas Bertelsen

Talota, Thailand, 2006
Children dressed as hornbills perform a play about conservation. Educational activities are central to Poonswad’s project and lay the groundwork for bird and forest conservation by future generations.