Introducing this year’s top applicants
Our annual Whitley Awards provide project funding, training, and profile for up to six exceptional conservationists leading local solutions to the global biodiversity and climate crises.
This year’s global search attracted a record 270 applications – up 127% from 2025. Spanning Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the applications represent a range of community-focussed projects benefiting both wildlife and people.
Through comprehensive assessment, the top candidates shortlisted for the 2026 Whitley Awards who would like to be named at this stage are:
1. Dr. Supraja Dharini of TREE Foundation in India
Surveying Olive Ridley congregations to create Seasonal Turtle Protected Areas in Andhra Pradesh
2. Camila Domit of Associação MarBrasil in Brazil
From dolphins to people: weaving a One Blue Health future
3. Yudi Irawan of Yayasan Konservasi Alam dan Pelestarian Spesies Terancam Punah (KARST) in Indonesia
Developing solutions for sustainable coexistence with Javan warty pigs
4. Akovognon Jérôme of ACT FOR SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS (Act4SA) in Benin
Involving community to conserve the red-bellied monkey in Hlanzoun swamp forest
5. Robi Kasianus of Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program in Indonesia
Protecting orangutans and forests through community-based conservation in West Kalimantan
6. Marina Kameni of Herp-Cameroon in Cameroon
Frogs and farmers: amphibian conservation and sustainable livelihoods in Mount Manengouba
7. Moreangels Mbizah of Wildlife Conservation Action in Zimbabwe
Protecting lions and improving livelihoods through human-wildlife coexistence
8. Julio Sánchez of Blue World Foundation (BWF) in Guatemala
Strengthening shark and ray conservation through community monitoring and environmental education
9. Paola Sangolquí of Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco in Ecuador
Rescuing the Galápagos petrel from the brink of extinction
10. Issah Seidu of AquaLife Conservancy in Ghana
Fishers and guitarfish: grassroots conservation actions to mitigate extinction
11. Parveen Shaikh of Bombay Natural History Society in India
Guardians of the skimmer: conserving riverine birds through community participation
12. Barkha Subba of Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection (FOSEP) in India
Survivor of a lost world: saving the Himalayan salamander and its wetlands
Congratulations again to all the shortlisted candidates for making it to this stage!
The next steps in our process include taking up references, carrying out financial screening, and conducting rigorous due diligence, prior to our Judging Panel determining this year’s winners. Thank you to our Scoring Stage Assessors and Judging Panel members, including Whitley Award alumni, for their guidance.
We look forward to announcing the winners of this year’s Whitley Awards live in London on Wednesday 29th April. Sign up for updates here.
The need to support grassroots conservation has never been greater. At a critical time for nature, every donation, no matter the size, backs impactful efforts to safeguard our planet.
Whether through online donations or joining WFN as a Major Donor, together, we can continue backing the people and solutions our planet needs most.
Banner image credit: Jim Muchmore
