“Madhav Gadgil Honored with UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award 2024”
December 19, Nairobi (Kenya) – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has bestowed its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on renowned Indian environmentalist Madhav Gadgil. This marks a significant honor, as it is the highest environmental accolade granted by the United Nations. Gadgil now joins the ranks of other distinguished environmental advocates such as David Attenborough and Joan Carling.
The Champions of the Earth 2024 Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to environmental preservation, named six individuals as laureates this year. Alongside Gadgil, the awardees include Amy Bowers Cordalis and Gabriel Paun for Inspiration and Action; Lu Qi for Science and Innovation; Sekem for Entrepreneurial Vision; and Sonia Guajajara for Policy Leadership.
The announcement was made via a post on the United Nations’ Mission in India’s social media platform X, highlighting Gadgil’s crucial role in environmental restoration efforts. The UNEP also shared a message inviting people to join the collective action for environmental protection, emphasizing the importance of the #GenerationRestoration movement.
Madhav Gadgil, known for his vast contributions to ecological conservation, has authored seven books and over 200 scientific papers. His groundbreaking work, the “Gadgil Report,” advocated for the protection of India’s ecologically sensitive Western Ghats mountain range, a region crucial to the country’s biodiversity.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, praised Gadgil for his long-standing commitment to environmental conservation. “Science can help us find solutions to the devastating loss of nature our world is experiencing. Madhav Gadgil has demonstrated this for decades,” said Andersen. He further highlighted that Gadgil’s work combines scientific rigor with deep respect for local communities and their traditional knowledge, providing lasting solutions to some of India’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Throughout his illustrious career, Gadgil has made significant strides in both research and policy. As the founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, one of his most notable achievements was establishing India’s first biosphere reserve, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, in 1986. His efforts in conservation have been instrumental in the development of various government policies, including India’s Biological Diversity Act and the Forest Rights Act, where he played a key role in helping forest communities create biodiversity monitoring systems for local ecosystems.
Gadgil’s profound impact on environmental science and policy has earned him several prestigious honors, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, and the Volvo Environment Prize.
This lifetime achievement award further cements Madhav Gadgil’s legacy as one of the leading voices in global environmental conservation and a champion for sustainable solutions.
