Introducing this year's top 15 applicants
Every year we recognise up to six grassroots conservationists with Whitley Awards, our flagship prize which provides winners with funding, training and increased profile.
Following a global search, we received 100 applications from exceptional conservationists across the Global South. The applicant pool represented a range of projects benefitting wildlife, landscapes and people, with inspiring individuals who combine the latest science with tenacious leadership and a collaborative approach.
We are delighted to announce that after a comprehensive assessment, the top 15 candidates have been identified. They are:
1. Fernanda Abra of IPÊ – Institute for Ecological Research in Brazil
Building canopy bridges to allow safe road crossings for threatened primates in the Amazon
2. Abdulai Dauda of the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone
Improving the status of Timneh parrots in the Yawri Bay Marine Protected Area
3. Kuenzang Dorji of Royal Society for Protection of Nature in Bhutan
Empowering communities to conserve endangered langurs
4. Muhammad Hanif of the Indonesian Rhino Initiative in Sumatra
Locally-led reforestation to help Critically Endangered wildlife in the Way Kambas National Park
5. Leroy Ignacio of South Rupununi Conservation Society in Guyana
Strengthening community-based conservation of the Endangered Red Siskin
6. Naomi Longa of Sea Women of Melanesia Inc. in Papua New Guinea
Developing marine protected areas for the Kimbe coral reef
7. Flavia Miranda of Instituto de Pesquisa e Conservação de Tamanduás do Brasil (Institute for research and conservation of Brazilians anteaters) in Brazil
Safeguarding the elusive silky anteater and its mangrove habitat in northeastern Brazil
8. Madhushri Mudke of ATREE, Bengaluru in India
Conserving the lesser-known dancing frog through research, habitat protection and public participation
9. Veronicah Ngumbau of Nature Kenya
Scaling up locally-led conservation to safeguard threatened plants in Kilifi, Kenya
10. Alice Reisfield of SAVE Brasil – Society for the Conservation of Birds in Brazil
Rewilding the Atlantic Forest to save the Black-fronted Piping-guan
11. Raju Sharma of Friends of Nature in Nepal
Implementing an owl conservation action plan in Central Nepal
12. Daniek Sulistyo of the Centre for Orangutan Protection in Indonesia
Protecting the Bornean orangutan and its forest home through community engagement
13. Aristide Takoukam Kamla of the African Marine Mammal Conservation Organisation in Cameroon
Restoring freshwater habitat for African manatees while improving livelihoods in Lake Ossa
14. Nur Febriani Wardi of Alam Sehat Lestari Foundation in Borneo
Monitoring and evaluating wildlife habitat in decades-old reforested areas
15. Gideon Zege of Bees for Development Ghana
Transforming honey hunters into sustainable beekeepers in Ghana
We are currently conducting rigorous due diligence on the shortlisted candidates, following which our expert Judging Panel will select finalists to be invited for face-to-face interviews. Those successful will go on to become the 2024 Whitley Award winners.
The winners of this year’s Whitley Awards will be announced live in London on Wednesday 1 May. Stay tuned for a link to the livestream!
Congratulations to all the shortlisted candidates for making it to this stage.
