Aaranyak announces Grassroots Conservation Awards 2025

Guwahati, August 30: Premier research-driven and people-oriented biodiversity conservation organization of the region Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) has announced Grassroots Conservation Awards 2025 as part of the organisation's year-long celebration of its 35th Anniversary. A five-member Jury comprising eminent personalities from diverse professional fields, has brainstormed to select awardees in two categories - Individual and Group, according to the Convenor of Grassroots Awards Sub-committee, Dr Dipankar Lahkar, Senior Conservation Biologist and an Assistant Director in Aaranyak. The award consists of cash prize and a citation for each of the awardees while individuals marked by the Jury for Special Mention will be felicitated on the day of presentation of the awards in a function to be held on September 9, 2025 Individual Category Awards 1. Grassroots Conservation Award in memory of Late Meherun Nessa has been conferred on Lakhan Teron from Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam. Dhrabajyoti Kalita, from Nalbari District of Assam has been selected for felicitation as Jury's Special Mention under this award. 2. Grassroots Conservation Award in memory of Late Ananta Borah has been conferred on Arup Shandilya from Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam. Mridupaban Phukan from Tinsukia district and Pramod Kalita, Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam have been selected for felicitation as Jury's Special Mention under this award 3. Grassroots Conservation Award in memory of Late Salina Sultana has been conferred jointly to Pranjal Talukdar from Baksa District and Tunu Basumatary from Kokrajhar District of Assam. Rajesh Dutta Baruah from Nalbari district and Parineeta Singh from Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam have been selected for felicitation as Jury's Special Mention under this award, Group Category Awards Grassroots Conservation Award in memory of Late Bipul Das has been conferred on Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS), Nagaland. Dhansiri Shikaridanga JFMC from Udalguri district and Kumbhi Kagaz from Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam have been selected for felicitation as Jury's Special Mention under this award. The Jury members included Dr Jaideep Baruah, Director of Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC); Narayan Mahanta, Conservator (Retired) of Forest, Government of Assam; eminent media professional Pranay Bordoloi; acclaimed conservation scientist and Executive Director of Aaranyak Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar and another reputed conservation scientist and a Director in Aaranyak Dr M Firoz Ahmed. The Convenor of the Award Sub-Committee of Aaranyak, Dr Dipankar Lahkar and member Pranab Goswami, Senior Public Relations Officer, have coordinated the process of the selection of awardees along with rest of the members of the sub- committee under the guidance of the observer from 35th Anniversary Celebration Core Committee Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar.