Kaziranga Director Sonali Ghosh First Indian to Win IUCN Innovation Award

Sonali Ghosh, Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, became the first Indian to receive the prestigious Kenton R. Miller Award. The award honours innovation in national parks and protected area sustainability. Presented by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it was given at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi in October 2025. This recognition marks her pioneering work in conservation rooted in community engagement and blending traditional knowledge with modern science.

About the Kenton R. Miller Award

The Kenton R. Miller Award was established in 2006 by the IUCN-WCPA. It is presented every two years to individuals or teams who innovate in protected area governance, management, finance, policy, or capacity building. Awardees must demonstrate impact and peer recognition without prior international awards. The award addresses challenges like poaching, climate change, invasive species, and financial constraints in protected areas.

Role of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)

The WCPA is one of six technical commissions of the IUCN. Founded in 1948, the IUCN is a global network dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable resource use. The WCPA specialises in the governance and management of protected areas worldwide. It supports national parks, reserves, and marine protected areas through policy advice, planning, and capacity building.

Sonali Ghosh’s Conservation Model

Dr Ghosh’s approach combines community involvement with awareness programmes. She integrates traditional ecological knowledge with scientific methods. This model has been effective in Assam’s Kaziranga and Manas landscapes, both rich in biodiversity. It supports the protection of endangered species like the one-horned rhino and preserves the region’s diverse insect and spider populations.

Significance of Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its population of one-horned rhinoceros. It also hosts tigers, elephants, and many rare species. The park faces threats from poaching and habitat loss. Under Dr Ghosh’s leadership, community-based conservation and sustainable practices have strengthened protection efforts.

International Context and Past Awardees

The award has recognised diverse conservation leaders globally. Past recipients include Burung Indonesia for bird conservation, Nizar Youssef Hani for ecosystem restoration in Lebanon, and Maria Del Carmen Garcia Rivas for marine protected area governance in Mexico. The 2025 co-recipient from Ecuador, Roque Simón Sevilla Larrea, was honoured for promoting sustainability through business and environmental initiatives.