1. RBS ‘Earth Hero’ Award (Felicitation): This award recognizes extraordinary achievements of an individual who has worked a life time in conservation of wildlife, natural resource management, and environment and has influenced policy. The award was conferred upon Dr Erach Bharucha for his efforts in a lifetime of passionate engagement in nature and environment conservation with outstanding achievements. Dr Erach Bharucha, is a surgeon by profession and has been active in wildlife and nature conservation for fifty years. He has been engaged in implementing a variety of environmental education programmes for schools and colleges and for the public at large.
2. RBS ‘Earth Guardian’ Award: This award recognizes an institution (NGO/Corporate/Government) that has made exceptional contributions in the field of conservation of wildlife, human life and property in wild habitats, natural resource management, environment, wildlife research and awareness building.This award was presented to Kenneth Anderson Nature Society (KANS), an organization based in Hosur, Tamil Nadu created with a mission of achieving wildlife sanctuary status for the Melagari Forest Region. Their efforts contributed significantly to the decisions undertaken by the government of Tamil Nadu in the creation of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, thereby facilitating protected legal status to the biodiversity rich Eastern Ghats on Tamil Nadu side. KANS through a committed team of volunteers has accomplished several exemplary conservation objectives in the rich biodiversity region of Melagiris, and demonstrated a rare and delicate balance between passion for conservation and concern for all stakeholders, human and others.
3. RBS ‘Save The Species’ Award: This award recognizes an individual or institution who has been involved, directly or indirectly, in protecting any endangered species and has also contributed to education, awareness programs, capacity building and resolving man-animal conflict. The award was presented to two nominees – Pangti Village Council for their efforts in the protection of the Amur Falcon in Nagaland
and Dr Goutam Narayan for his role in The Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP). The Pangti Village Council has been involved in planning, implementation and the monitoring process to conserve the Amur Falcons as the major roosting site for the Amur Falcons falls under their jurisdiction. Dr. Goutam Narayan has played a pivotal role in The Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) which is a broad-based research and conservation programme for this highly threatened species and its equally endangered habitats in Assam. The lifelong dedication and the focused efforts of Dr. Goutam Narayan and his team have saved this rarest and smallest suid from extinction.
4. RBS ‘Inspire’ Award – Individual or Institutional: This award recognizes an individual (journalist/filmmaker/artist) who has inspired action on conservation of wildlife, natural resource management and environmental protection through his/her creative expression.The awardwas presented to Mr. Dhritiman Mukherjee, a self taught photographer who has been capturing some of the most extraordinary aspects of nature and wildlife and inspiring many along the way. Mr Dhritiman was among the few who started documenting lesser-known, rare and endangered species from the difficult and less explored terrain of India. He spends 280 days in year in the field. He is also one of the founders of “Saevus”, one of the leading nature and wildlife magazines in India.
RBS ‘Green Warrior’ Award – 2 individuals:This award recognizes two individuals who have done commendable work in conservation of wildlife, natural resource management, environment protection, human lives and property. The two winners identified were, Mr Sujoy Banerjee, an officer of the Indian Forest Service of 1997 and an accomplished wildlife conservationist; and Mr. P. S Somashekhar (IFS), member of the Indian Forest Service who has been serving for 29 years in different departments in different capacities. Mr Sujoy Banerjee, during his time as Deputy Conservator of Forests in the National Chambal Wildlife Division in Uttar Pradesh, has worked hard to preserve the wildlife and resource abundant National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to a number of critically endangered and threatened species. His ongoing initiatives include designing a simple and accurate tree height measuring instrument “Sujoy’s Altimeter” which is under commercial production, and a new method of mitigating human elephant conflict called the “Chilly Cracker Technique”, which is currently under field trial
Mr. P. S Somashekhar in his present capacity as, Additional Principal Chief Conservator Forests (Forest Protection), Rajasthan he has been associated with protection, conservation of forests and wildlife of Rajasthan.His involvement in village relocation programme has been immense and he was responsible for giving pace to the programme in Sariska Tiger Reserve. He worked hard to get declaration of Buffer Zones of tiger reserves, facilitated the creation of tiger conservation foundations, and contributed to efforts in providing alternative livelihoods for relocated communities.
A special mention during the ‘Earth Heroes Awards’ was addressed to the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, that was established on 14th August 1958 and is situated in the state of West Bengal. It is the only specialized Zoo in the country and is internationally recognized for its conservation breeding programmes of Red Panda, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf and other highly endangered animal species of Himalaya. The Park is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquarium.
