Eco Warrior Awards 2026 Honour Indian Forest Officers and Conservation Champions

Award Ceremony

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav stated on Tuesday evening that safeguarding forests, wildlife, and natural heritage is a national commitment rather than merely a government duty. Speaking at the fourth edition of the Eco Warrior Awards in New Delhi, the Minister noted that India's forests function as essential ecological infrastructure that moderates climate, regulates water, and supports local livelihoods.

Award Categories and Winners

The event recognized exceptional contributions across eight distinct categories, with two winners chosen in each individual category after evaluating over eighty nominations from across the country. Brij Kishore Singh, a retired Karnataka-cadre Indian Forest Service officer, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of service, including his efforts against sandalwood smuggler Veerappan. Other individual winners included Dr. Prakash Chand Gogineni and Manish Singh for Protected Area Management, Selvi S. Senbagapriya and Dr. Sanjeev Sharma for Wildlife Protection, and Dharm Singh Meena along with Suman Shivashankar Sivachar W.M. for Environment Conservation.

Conclave Discussions

Organized by Indian Masterminds in association with the Indian Forest Service Association, the accompanying conclave featured panel discussions on artificial intelligence for conservation, corporate partnerships in forest management, and sustainable development. The event also showcased a wildlife photography exhibition featuring work by civil servants and the release of the official IFSA souvenir.

Context

The Eco Warrior Awards highlight the dedication of frontline forestry personnel who manage complex ecological landscapes under challenging conditions like climate change and habitat loss. Events of this scale bring together policymakers, scientists, and field officers to share practical strategies for balancing economic development with environmental preservation.