Jorge Varela was awarded the Goldman Prize in 1999 for his marine conservation work in Honduras, particularly his efforts to protect the ecological diversity of the Gulf of Fonseca from the unsustainable practices of industrial shrimp farming. Located on the Pacific coast, the Gulf of Fonseca is shared by Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.In 1988, Varela founded the Committee for the Defense and Development of Flora and Fauna of the Gulf of Fonseca (CODDEFFAGOLF), as part of an emerging grassroots movement challenging the appropriation of natural resources in Central America. CODDEFFAGOLF has grown to become one of the most effective and well-respected NGOs in all of Central America.Now, after nearly 25 years of service, Varela is retiring from CODDEFFAGOLF, though he will continue to be a powerful and inspirational advocate both in Honduras and internationally for the protection of wetlands and marine ecosystems.In a message to friends and partners, Varela reflected on his ret