By Lt Col BM Thapa (Retd)
Dehradun, 19 Oct: Dr Sonali Ghosh, the Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, has become the first Indian to receive an international award for innovation in national parks and protected area sustainability. She received the Kenton R Miller Award, constituted by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), along with Ecuador’s Roque Simón Sevilla Larrea at a function in Abu Dhabi on 10 October.
The Kaziranga National Park Field Director becomes the first Indian to win the IUCN Kenton Miller Award. The award, presented by the IUCN World Commission, honours individuals who have made innovative contributions to the long-term sustainability of national parks. India’s conservation efforts received global recognition as Dr Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, became the first Indian to win the prestigious WCPA-Kenton Miller Award for innovation in National Parks and Protected Area Sustainability.
Dr Sonali Ghosh’s recognition highlights India’s growing leadership in biodiversity conservation, particularly the sustainable management of Assam’s protected ecosystems. The award, presented by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), honours individuals who have made innovative contributions to the long-term sustainability of national parks and protected areas worldwide. It is named after Dr Kenton R Miller, a pioneer in conservation and former Director General of IUCN.
Dr Ghosh’s recognition highlights India’s growing leadership in biodiversity conservation, particularly the sustainable management of Assam’s protected ecosystems such as Kaziranga, Manas, and Orang National Parks. Her work focuses on strengthening park management, engaging local communities in conservation efforts, and promoting eco-friendly tourism models that ensure both environmental protection and sustainable livelihood generation.
Dr Sonali Ghosh is an Uttarakhandi and live in Indira Nagar Colony, Dehradun. Her father was a Sapper officer of the Bengal Engineers. Her mother, Seema Ghosh, is also a Doonite. Her husband is Chandra Bhushan, an IAS officer with the Central Government. Dr Sonali has always been an achiever. During her convocation at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, she bagged almost all the major prizes. She has not only made Uttarakhand proud but also the nation.
