Veteran Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil has been selected as one of the six recipients of the
prestigious 2024 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ‘Champions of the Earth’
award.
Madhav Gadgil, alongside Brazilian Sonia Guajajara, Lu Qi from China, Amy Bowers Cordalis
from the USA, Gabriel Paun from Romania, and the Egyptian environmental organization
Sekem, will be honored in various categories for their exceptional contributions to environmental
preservation.
The ‘Champions of the Earth’ award is recognized as the United Nations’ highest environmental
distinction.
About Madhav Gadgil and His Work
Madhav Gadgil has been recognized with the Lifetime Achievement award under the UNEP’s
‘Champion of the Earth’ category. His work has significantly advanced the protection of
marginalized communities, promoted community-driven conservation efforts across diverse
ecosystems, from forests to wetlands, and influenced high-level policymaking.
Notably, Gadgil served as the Chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, which was
formed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2010. In its 2011 report, the panel
recommended that 75% of the 129,037 sq km area of the Western Ghats be designated as
environmentally sensitive due to its rich biodiversity, dense evergreen forests, and numerous
endemic species.
