Ecotourism DCF Anshu Pragyan Das Wins NatWest Earth Hero 2020 Award

Ecotourism DCF Anshu Pragyan Das Wins NatWest Earth Hero 2020 Award

The Ecotour Project of the Government of Odisha has received praise from all quarters since its inception in 2016. The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Ecotourism and Divisional Forest Officer, Mahanadi division, Anshu Pragyan Das has been conferred with the NatWest Earth Heroes Award 2020 for developing the area with the help of local communities. 

Das has won the award in the ‘Green Warrior’ category for her contribution towards conservation work at the Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Angul district. The jury of the 10th NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards recommended the name of Das for her outstanding work in the protection of the tiger habitat, harnessing the support of communities through ecotourism and in the revival of the endangered gharial in the Mahanadi riverine habitat at Satkosia.

The presentation ceremony for the award will take place on October 8 in New Delhi. The eight award winners of 2020, including Das, will be felicitated in the presence of Assistant Secretary-General of United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, NITI Aayog Member Ramesh Chand and British economist and Climate Change authority Nicholas Stern among others.

The winners were decided by an eminent jury composed of experts from the field of wildlife conservation, biodiversity management, science, government, media and the Royal Bank of Scotland, after receiving nominations from across the country. 

In a letter to Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, Director of NatWest Group, India, N Sunil Kumar stated, “I am sure Ms Anshu P Das’ work and recognition will be an inspiration for others in the State of Odisha to work for the protection and sustainable management of Odisha’s rich biodiversity.”

The letter has been shared by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) of Odisha Sandeep Tripathi through a tweet.

Ms Anshu Pragyan Das DFO Ecotourism Odisha gets the prestigious #RBS (Natwest) Award (Green Warrior- category) for her 5 years conservation work as DFO Mahanadi at Satkosia Tiger Reserve. She is credited for developing Satkosia #Ecosite with local community.
congratulations.. pic.twitter.com/WUflRh7j4p

— Sandeep Tripathi, IFS (@sandeepifs) October 2, 2020

The award categories include:

– ‘Earth Hero’ Award (Felicitation) – Individual
– ‘Earth Guardian’ Award (INR 2,00,000) – Institution
– ‘Save The Species’ Award (INR 2,00,000 each) – 2 Individuals – one each from Government and Non-Government organizations
– ‘Inspire’ Award – (INR 2,00,000) Individual or institution
– ‘Green Warrior’ Award – (INR 2,00,000 each) 2 individuals – one each from Government and Non-Government organizations.

The NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards strive to recognize and honour individuals and institutions who work exceptionally hard to protect and conserve these wildlife and wild habitats in India.