Sonali Ghosh: International Recognition for Conservation Efforts

Sonali Ghosh, the Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, has made history by becoming the first Indian to receive the prestigious Kenton R. Miller Award. This honor, bestowed by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), recognizes innovation in the sustainability of national parks and protected areas.

The Kenton R. Miller Award

• Established in 2006 by the IUCN-WCPA.
• Presented biennially to individuals or teams with impactful innovations in: 
  • Planning and management
  • Finance and governance
  • Monitoring and capacity building
  • Communication
• Aims to address challenges such as: 
  • Poaching
  • Climate change
  • Invasive species
  • Limited finances
• Named after a former Director General of the IUCN.

World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)

• A technical commission under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), established in 1948.
• Focuses on: 
  • Protected area governance and management
  • Policy support for effective management

Achievements and Impact of Sonali Ghosh

• Recognized for a conservation model centered on: 
  • Community engagement
  • Awareness building
  • Integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific expertise
• Impactful in the biodiverse landscapes of Manas and Kaziranga in Assam.

Co-Awardee: Roque Simón Sevilla Larrea

• An economist, businessman, environmentalist, and politician from Ecuador.
• Recognized for promoting sustainability through various sectors including: 
  • Tourism
  • Insurance
  • Environment
• Founder and president of Grupo Futuro, a company with interests in: 
  • Insurance and medical services
  • Tourism and agriculture
  • Clean energy

Past Recipients

• Burung Indonesia for community-based bird conservation.
• Nizar Youssef Hani for ecosystem restoration in Lebanon.
• Maria Del Carmen Garcia Rivas for marine protected area governance in Mexico.