One School, One Tree, One Gift to Nature

Meet the new biodiversity ambassador: Edward Norton

On 8 July, 2010 the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named two-time Academy Award-nominated actor Edward Norton as a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity.

In his new role, Mr. Norton intends to help young people understand and become more involved in environmental issues. “(People) don't necessarily link themselves as directly to a crisis like biodiversity loss, as much as they will to say a refugee crisis. But I think catastrophic events, such as what is happening in the Gulf with the oil spill, do highlight for people that there is an enormous ramification for human well-being to a loss of biodiversity like a fishery,” he said. “Environmental conservation, climate change, biodiversity are very much the issues that will define (this) generation.”

When he's not acting in major Hollywood films, Mr. Norton dedicates much of his time and energy to focus attention on and gather support for conservation, community development and other important causes. For example, he's a board member of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, where he promotes biodiversity conservation and sustainable community development in the Maasai lands of East Africa. He even ran the New York marathon to raise over one million dollars for the cause. He's also won several international awards for his commitment to conservation.

Recently, Mr. Norton launched a nifty social networking platform that's all about volunteering, raising money for charity, and having lots of fun in the process. It's called Crowdrise. Just think of all the possibilities for linking your Green Wave activities with Crowdrise!

Watch Edward Norton's first message as the U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity.