While global attention often focuses on environmental crises, some of the most significant conservation breakthroughs are unfolding in rivers, forests and wetlands, driven by scientists working alongside local communities.
Those are the kind of achievements celebrated at the 2026 Whitley Awards, where seven grassroots conservation leaders from across the Global South were recognised for protecting endangered species and fragile ecosystems through science-backed, community-led initiatives.
Presented by HRH The Princess Royal at the Royal Geographical Society in London, the annual awards—widely known as the “Green Oscars”—honour conservationists whose work is delivering measurable environmental impact while strengthening the communities that depend on these landscapes.
This year’s winners are tackling a diverse range of challenges, from protecting the endangered Indian Skimmer and Himalayan salamander in India to restoring Indonesia’s Leuser Ecosystem, promoting human-lion coexistence in Zimbabwe, conserving amphibians in Cameroon, safeguarding the Galápagos Petrel in Ecuador and protecting Critically Endangered guitarfish along Ghana’s coastline.
Each Whitley Award recipient receives £50,000 in project funding, while the Whitley Gold Award provides £120,000 to help an outstanding past winner scale up their long-term conservation work.
Meet the 2026 Whitley Award winners
Farwiza Farhan (Indonesia) | Whitley Gold Award
Indonesia’s Farwiza Farhan received the 2026 Whitley Gold Award for her leadership in protecting Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem through environmental organisation HAkA. A Whitley Award winner in 2016, Farhan has spent the past decade helping communities defend one of the world’s most important tropical forests from deforestation.
Following devastating floods and landslides in Aceh in late 2025, her team is strengthening climate resilience by combining forest monitoring, community empowerment and policy advocacy to protect critical water catchments.
Parveen Shaikh (India)
Among this year’s recipients is Parveen Shaikh of the Bombay Natural History Society, recognised for expanding her community-led “Guardians of the Skimmer” initiative. The programme has helped double the local Indian Skimmer population along the Chambal River since 2017 through community nest guardians and scientific monitoring.
With Whitley funding, the project will now expand to Prayagraj, where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers meet, tackling threats from pollution, river traffic and human disturbance.
Dr. Barkha Subba (India)
Also representing India is Dr. Barkha Subba, who is leading the country’s first grassroots movement to protect the rare Himalayan salamander and its shrinking wetland habitat in the Darjeeling Himalaya. Working with the Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection, her project combines habitat restoration, scientific monitoring and community stewardship to conserve one of South Asia’s most threatened amphibians.
Dr. Moreangels Mbizah (Zimbabwe)
In Zimbabwe, Dr. Moreangels Mbizah is advancing human-lion coexistence across the lower Zambezi Valley. Through scientific research and community-led wildlife management, her work aims to protect both lion populations and local livelihoods.
Dr. Issah Seidu (Ghana)
Dr. Issah Seidu is working with fishing communities along Ghana’s western coastline to protect Critically Endangered guitarfish while advancing plans for the country’s first Locally Managed Marine Area.
Dr. Marina Kameni (Cameroon)
In Cameroon’s biodiversity-rich Mount Manengouba, Dr. Marina Kameni is restoring threatened amphibian populations while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
Dr. Paola Sangolquí (Ecuador)
In Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands, Dr. Paola Sangolquí is protecting the Critically Endangered Galápagos Petrel by working with farmers to conserve nesting habitats beyond protected areas.
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