Sir David Attenborough to receive lifetime award

Sir David Attenborough began his career at the BBC in 1952 working on natural history programming

Sir David Attenborough is to receive a special award from the International Broadcasting Convention, a global tradeshow for media professionals.

The 85-year-old is being awarded the International Honour for Excellence in recognition of his 60-year career in television and natural history.

It is presented to those who have "taken the best technology available and driven technology forward".

Sir David said he was "greatly honoured" to be given the award.

"When I started this was 16mm film, which gave us lightweight cameras to take into the wild," the veteran broadcaster said.

"Since then my journey has taken me from black and white to colour and from film to digital high definition, and today I am excited to be involved in 3D production."

Peter Owen, chairman of the IBC Council, said of the film-maker: "Throughout his career he has seized upon the latest developments in technology to illuminate natural history.

"Working with the BBC Natural History Unit he pioneered time-lapse sequences in The Private Life of Plants and low-light and infrared cameras to capture the behaviour of nocturnal mammals."

Sir David will be presented with his prize ahead of the IBC awards ceremony on 11 September, where footage of his acceptance will be screened.

The 2011 International Broadcasting Convention will be held in Amsterdam from 8 to 13 September.