The awards are a joint initiative of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, the Snow Leopard Foundation, and provincial wildlife departments, supported by the British government’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.
The winners include Sarmad Shafa, Faizan Dukhi, and Kamaluddin from Gilgit-Baltistan, who received the Snow Leopard, Ibex, and Blue Sheep awards, respectively. Syed Mussadiq Ali Shah and Zahid Ahmad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were awarded the Markhor and Wolf awards, while Jan Mohammad Nasir from Azad Jammu and Kashmir received the Musk Deer award.
The awards acknowledge the dedication and hard work of these individuals in protecting Pakistan’s wildlife and biodiversity. Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Romina Khursheed Alam, praised the winners for their efforts, emphasizing the crucial role they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and preserving natural heritage. Wildlife Ambassador Senator Sardar Jamal Khan Leghari and Snow Leopard Foundation Director Dr. Mohammad Ali Nawaz also commended the winners, highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation in the face of climate change. The awards aim to encourage and recognize the outstanding work of forest rangers and wildlife professionals in protecting Pakistan’s natural resources.
