India’s conservation efforts received international recognition on Friday as Dr. Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, became the first Indian to receive the prestigious WCPA-Kenton Miller Award for innovation in national parks and protected area sustainability. The award was presented at the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi.
The WCPA-Kenton Miller Award, named after Dr. Kenton R. Miller, a pioneer in conservation and former Director General of IUCN, honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the long-term sustainability of national parks and protected areas worldwide. Dr. Ghosh’s recognition highlights India’s growing leadership in biodiversity conservation, particularly in the sustainable management of Assam’s protected ecosystems, including Kaziranga, Manas, and Orang National Parks.
Her work emphasizes strengthening park management, engaging local communities in conservation, and promoting eco-friendly tourism models that support both environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods. The award also shines a global spotlight on India’s extensive network of protected areas and its innovative conservation strategies led by field officials and scientists.
Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, as well as External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, attended the IUCN Congress and reaffirmed India’s commitment to working with global partners for a sustainable and green future. “Enjoyed a constructive discussion with Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director-General, IUCN, and other Ministers on the way forward for our shared mission of conservation and sustainability,” the minister said in a post on X.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), founded in 1948 and headquartered in Switzerland, is the world’s largest environmental network, bringing together governments, NGOs, and experts from over 160 countries. The organization holds the World Conservation Congress every four years to set global priorities for nature and biodiversity protection. In 2023, the Kenton Miller Award was presented to Maria del Carmen Garcia Rivas of Mexico for her pioneering work in advancing marine protected areas through community-led governance and scientific monitoring.
