UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. is honoring two 16-year-old Girl
Scouts for their work aimed at saving orangutans from extinction.

Madison Vorva, of Plymouth, Michigan, and Rhiannon Tomtishen, of
nearby Ann Arbor, on Thursday received the first ever International
Forest Heroes Award for North America.

The Union of Concerned Scientists nominated the girls for
bringing international attention to the threat posed to orangutans
in Indonesia and Malaysia as tropical forests, their natural
habitat, are deforested to plant huge palm oil plantations.

The girls learned of the connection while working on a scout
project five years ago.

Palm oil is used in thousands of products, including Girl Scout
cookies. The girls encourage using sustainable substitutes, such as
canola oil.