Sonali Ghosh, the Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, has become the first Indian to receive an international award for innovation in national parks and protected area sustainability. The award was presented by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) during a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi in October 2025. This accolade highlights her groundbreaking efforts in conservation, which are deeply rooted in community engagement and the fusion of traditional knowledge with modern scientific practices.
About the Kenton R. Miller Award
The Kenton R. Miller Award was established in 2006 by the IUCN-WCPA and is awarded every two years to individuals or teams who bring fresh ideas to the governance, management, finance, policy, or capacity building of protected areas. Recipients are expected to show significant impact and gain recognition from their peers, all while not having received any prior international awards. The award aims to tackle pressing issues such as poaching, climate change, invasive species, and financial challenges faced by protected areas.
Role of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)
The World Commission on Protected Areas is one of six commissions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Founded in 1948, the IUCN is a global network dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable resource use. The WCPA focuses on the governance and management of protected areas around the world, providing support to national parks, reserves, and marine protected areas through policy guidance, planning, and capacity-building initiatives.
Sonali Ghosh, the Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, has become the first Indian to receive an international award for innovation in national parks and protected area sustainability. The award was presented by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) during a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi in October 2025. This accolade highlights her groundbreaking efforts in conservation, which are deeply rooted in community engagement and the fusion of traditional knowledge with modern scientific practices.
About the Kenton R. Miller Award
The Kenton R. Miller Award was established in 2006 by the IUCN-WCPA and is awarded every two years to individuals or teams who bring fresh ideas to the governance, management, finance, policy, or capacity building of protected areas. Recipients are expected to show significant impact and gain recognition from their peers, all while not having received any prior international awards. The award aims to tackle pressing issues such as poaching, climate change, invasive species, and financial challenges faced by protected areas.
Role of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)
The World Commission on Protected Areas is one of six commissions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Founded in 1948, the IUCN is a global network dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable resource use. The WCPA focuses on the governance and management of protected areas around the world, providing support to national parks, reserves, and marine protected areas through policy guidance, planning, and capacity-building initiatives.
