Six grassroots conservationists from around the globe were recognized and celebrated by the 2024 Whitley Awards for their locally-led solutions to the global biodiversity and climate crises. The awards were presented by the charity’s patron, HRH The Princess Royal, in front of nearly 400 guests at a ceremony in London, England, on May 1st.

The charity’s flagship prizes – often referred to by others as ‘Green Oscars’ – are won competitively each year. Following a worldwide search, applications are assessed by an expert judging panel. In addition to £40,000 in project funding over one year, the awards provide profile and training. Winners also join the community of over 200 Whitley Award alumni working across 80 countries– a network of peers across the Global South with whom they can share expertise, resources and support.

WFN’s top prize is awarded annually to a Whitley Award alumnus who has also received Continuation Funding. This laddered support allows successful conservation solutions to be scaled up. This year, wildlife biologist Purnima Devi Barman, from Assam, India, was honoured with that £100,000 Whitley Gold Award for her work to protect the Greater Adjutant Stork and its wetland habitat with her team at Aaranyak. She won a Whitley Award in 2017.

Before her intervention, the storks – known as ‘hargila’ in the local language – were thought of as smelly, dirty and unwanted vermin, and their numbers had dwindled to an estimated 450 birds in the state. Their numbers have now grown to more than 1,800 thanks to how attitudes have changed and local people, primarily women, have been galvanized to safeguard nests.