IUCN Kenton Miller Award 2025

Source: HT

Context: Dr. Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, became the first Indian to win the IUCN WCPA Kenton Miller Award 2025, announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.

About IUCN Kenton Miller Award 2025:

• What it is? A prestigious international award that honours individuals demonstrating innovation and excellence in the sustainability of protected areas management.

• A prestigious international award that honours individuals demonstrating innovation and excellence in the sustainability of protected areas management.

• Named after: Kenton R. Miller, pioneer conservationist and former IUCN Director-General.

• Provided by: IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

• Launched in: 1999, to celebrate creativity and leadership in park governance.

• Promote Innovation: Encourage novel approaches in planning, monitoring, capacity-building, and financing of protected areas. Recognize Impact: Highlight individuals whose work has demonstrably improved the sustainability of natural and cultural heritage sites.

• Promote Innovation: Encourage novel approaches in planning, monitoring, capacity-building, and financing of protected areas.

• Recognize Impact: Highlight individuals whose work has demonstrably improved the sustainability of natural and cultural heritage sites.

• Eligibility Criteria:

• Open to protected-area managers, researchers, and educators across all forms of governance (governmental, community, indigenous, private). Preference given to candidates without prior international awards. Includes a USD 5,000 grant, global citation, and funded attendance at the IUCN World Congress.

• Open to protected-area managers, researchers, and educators across all forms of governance (governmental, community, indigenous, private).

• Preference given to candidates without prior international awards.

• Includes a USD 5,000 grant, global citation, and funded attendance at the IUCN World Congress.

• 2025 Winner: Sonali Ghosh (India) — Field Director, Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, Assam.

• Awarded for: Integrating local communities into park stewardship. Developing eco-friendly tourism models ensuring livelihood security and wildlife protection. Strengthening anti-poaching operations and habitat connectivity across Kaziranga–Orang–Manas landscape. Promoting gender inclusion in field conservation teams.

• Integrating local communities into park stewardship.

• Developing eco-friendly tourism models ensuring livelihood security and wildlife protection.

• Strengthening anti-poaching operations and habitat connectivity across Kaziranga–Orang–Manas landscape.

• Promoting gender inclusion in field conservation teams.

• Her work positions India as a global leader in biodiversity governance and grassroots ecological innovation.