Dr. Marcelo Carvalho de Andrade, a leader in sustainable community development, has dedicated his career to conserving biodiversity and improving the quality of life of local communities throughout the world. As founder and Chairman of Pro-Natura International (PNI), he created the first international, nongovernmental organization based in the Southern Hemisphere to specialize in sustainable development over 20 years ago. Active in 36 countries across all continents, PNI is instrumental in developing innovative solutions to local economic problems while preserving the environment. A testament to his dedication and vision, Dr. de Andrade was the 1997 recipient of the George and Cynthia Mitchell International Prize for Sustainable Development, often referred to as the Nobel Prize for sustainable development.