Pioneers in ecological conservation honoured

Prakriti Srivastava is no stranger to poaching of sandalwood from the forests near Kerala. The IFS officer's raids sometimes in the middle of the night helped save sandalwood trees in the Munnar reserve forest area.
The officer belonging to the Kerala cadre, who helped in converting the Shola grassland forests in Munnar, as a "Reserved Forest", also has worked to counter the rapid deforestation and encroachments taking place in Mathikettan in Idukki district of Kerala and played an active role in the protection of Olive Ridely Turtle nesting sites through people's participation in the Kozhikode forest division.
As part of the guideline making process of the declaration of Ecologically Sensitive Zones around National Parks and Sanctuaries, she has been successful in relocation of two hamlets of around 150 families in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. She has also represented India on the international level.

Recognising such pioneers in the field of conservation, the fifth edition of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) Earth Heroes awards for environment and wildlife conservation 2015 was conferred here late last night to seven such individuals serving earth.
"The work showcased by the nominees this year reflects the dedication of various factions of our society who help in making a positive change to the environment. We genuinely hope to serve as a source of inspiration for the youth of India, by encouraging exemplary work done by the Earth Heroes," Pankaj Phatarphod, Country Head of Services, RBS India and Chairperson, RBS Foundation India said.

The Award recognises achievements of an individual who has worked a life time in conservation of wildlife, natural resource management, and environment and has influenced policy.

H S Panwar was conferred with the award for his efforts in environment conservation.
Panwar, a civil servant who helped in establishing the Wildlife Institute of India was named the head of Project Tiger. His efforts have helped increase the headcount of Tigers from 1900 to 3000.
"Project Tiger has a background in 1969. There was a general assembly of IUCN now it is called World Conservation Union. In that conference there was a lot of furrow that tigers are going down and something must be done and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi went to Stockholm on world environment conference and she had assured that India will do something about the tigers. So, it was then the project tiger came into action," Panwar said.