Two Indian women conservationists — Parveen Shaikh and Dr. Barkha Subba — have been honoured with the prestigious Whitley Award 2026, globally known as the “Green Oscar” for grassroots wildlife conservation.
🐦 Parveen Shaikh & the Indian Skimmer
Parveen Shaikh of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) was recognised for her efforts to protect the endangered Indian Skimmer — a unique riverine bird known for its striking black-and-white body and elongated lower beak used to skim water surfaces while feeding.
Key Highlights:
▪️ Works on conserving nesting habitats along the Ganga river system
▪️ Protects vulnerable sandbar nesting sites from human disturbance and predators
▪️ Promotes community-led conservation through “Skimmer Guardians”
▪️ Focus on river ecology and sustainable coexistence with local communities
About the Indian Skimmer:
▪️ Scientific name: Rynchops albicollis
▪️ IUCN Status: Endangered
▪️ Found in India’s major river systems like the Ganga, Chambal and Mahanadi
▪️ Indicator species for healthy river ecosystems
🦎 Dr. Barkha Subba & the Himalayan Salamander
Darjeeling-based conservationist Dr. Barkha Subba received the award for protecting the rare Himalayan Salamander, an ecologically sensitive amphibian found in Eastern Himalayan wetlands.
Key Highlights:
▪️ Leading grassroots conservation in the Darjeeling Himalayan region
▪️ Protecting critical wetland breeding habitats
▪️ Working with local communities to preserve fragile mountain ecosystems
▪️ Addressing threats from wetland degradation, tourism pressure and land-use changes
About the Himalayan Salamander:
▪️ One of India’s few salamander species
▪️ Highly sensitive to climate and habitat changes
▪️ Acts as an indicator of wetland and ecosystem health
▪️ Found mainly in the Eastern Himalayas
🌍 About the Whitley Awards
▪️ Instituted by the Whitley Fund for Nature (UK)
▪️ Often called the “Green Oscars”
▪️ Honours grassroots conservation leaders across the world
▪️ Focuses on community-driven and science-based conservation efforts
✨ Why this recognition mattersThese awards highlight that conservation is not merely about saving species — it is about protecting:
▪️ Rivers and wetlands
▪️ Fragile ecosystems
▪️ Community livelihoods
▪️ Ecological balance for future generations
India’s biodiversity conservation story is increasingly being led by committed grassroots conservationists working beyond protected forests — in rivers, wetlands, mountains and community landscapes.