Dr. Triloki Nath Khoshoo
(27 April 1927-10 June 2002)
Dr. Triloki Nath Khoshoo, founder trustee of ATREE, was a world-renowned environmental scientist and an able administrator. Dr. Khoshoo started his professional career as co-founder of the Department of Botany at the Punjab University, Lahore, which moved to Khalsa College, Amritsar, soon after the partition of India. After a brief stint as Chairman of the Botany Department at Jammu and Kashmir University, he joined the National Botanical Gardens, Lucknow, in 1964 as Assistant Director. He soon became the Director, and due to his untiring efforts, the institution rose to the stature of being the National Botanical Research Institute in 1978.
Dr Khoshoo became the first Secretary of the newly created Department of Environment of the Government of India in 1982, with the responsibility of developing an Environment Policy for the country. In 1985, he joined the Tata Energy Research Institute as a Distinguished Fellow and contributed to public policy discussions at national as well as international forums. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Sasakawa Environment Prize by the United Nations Environment Programme in 1996.
Dr. Khoshoo was a prolific writer. Over the course of five decades, he authored more than 250 research papers on plant genetics and evolution, biomass, energy, forestry, conservation and, the utilisation and management of natural resources. He has written seven books and edited eleven more on a wide range of subjects. His book 'Mahatma Gandhi: An Apostle of Applied Human Ecology', published in 1996, was widely applauded for his interpretation of the practical relevance of Gandhian views.
Annual Khoshoo Memorial Award and Lecture
The Khoshoo Memorial Award in Conservation is given to a young individual in the field of Conservation and Sustainable Development. The award consists of a citation and a cash prize. Above all, the award is a peer-level public recognition of excellence in the field, and serves to encourage even greater achievement.
A scholar of international standing is invited to deliver the Khoshoo Memorial Lecture after the award ceremonies.
The Khoshoo Memorial Award is an annual event sponsored by his family and friends, ATREE, the Ford Foundation, the Institute of Rural Research and Development (an initiative of the S.M Sehgal Foundation) and the Khoshoo family. The objectives of the award are to recognise outstanding contribution to ecology and environment in India, in the fields of conservation science, conservation policy and conservation action with two yearly awards of Rs 100,000/- each; support research program in biodiversity of two post doctoral fellows and institute a children's environment awareness award.
The 2010 memorial lecture is tentatively scheduled for March 2010 in New Delhi. The Khoshoo Endowment Committee is actively seeking nominations and is in the process of finalizing the venue and date.
Recipients of the T.N. Khoshoo Award
| Year | Awardees | Chief Guest | Guest Lecture |
| 2009 |
Ashish Kothari For his work on conservation and livelihood issues ...more & Charudutt Mishra For his work on usage of natural resources and human-wildlife conflicts ...more |
Shri Shyam Saran Special Envoy of the Prime Minister on Climate Change Issues |
Dr. Charles Perrings Professor of Environmental Economics at Arizona State University |
| 2008 |
Ms Rebecca Pradhan For her contribution to conservation of Bhutan's biodiversity ...more |
Shri Digvijay Singh Senior Congress (I) politician |
Dr. Ramachandra Guha Author and Historian |
| 2007 |
Dr. B. R. Ramesh For his contribution to the application of technology for effective conservation ...more |
Dr. Jairam Ramesh Minister of State for Commerce |
Prof. M. S. Swaminathan Founder and Chairman M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation |
| 2006 |
Dr. Anupam Mishra For his contribution to environment protection and water conservation ...more |
Mr. M. C. Mehta Supreme Court Lawyer |
Prof. David W. Ehrenfeld Distinguished Professor of Biology at Rutgers |
| 2005 |
Ms. Nafisa Barot For her work in Gujarat with local communities to achieve self-reliance ...more & Dr. Anil P. Joshi For his work to promote sustainable livelihoods in the Himalayas ...more |
Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, GoI |
Dr. Sam Pitroda Chairman, World Tel Ltd., and National Knowledge Commission |
| 2004 |
Dr. R. Sukumar For his contribution to the conservation of Asian elephants ...more |
Dr. M. G. K. Menon, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor, ISRO |
Dr. Peter H. Raven President, Missouri Botanical Gardens, St Louis |
Recipients of the T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Award, 2009
Ashish Kothari
Ashish Kothari is an environmentalist who works at the grass roots level with various people's movements as well as with various government committees and international associations.
He is a founding member of Kalpavriksh, an Indian environmental NGO active on conservation and livelihood issues since 1979. The T. N. Khoshoo Memorial Award in Conservation recognises not only Ashish's outstanding contributions to conservation, but also those of Kalpavriksh.
Ashish's interest in environmental and developmental issues related to big dam projects motivated him to participate in people's movements such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan and at the same time be a member of the Environmental Appraisal Committee on River Valley Projects, Government of India, from 1993 to 1995. He has contributed to environmental policy formulation and governance by being member of various influential government committees
He has advocated a socially and culturally more sensitive process of wildlife conservation for the last twenty years. He has been able to direct this interest to serving as the Co-Chair of the IUCN Inter-Commission Theme on Indigenous/Local Communities, Equity, and Protected Areas (TILCEPA) and other such similar groups.
Over and above his role as Coordinator, Project on Community Based Conservation in South Asia, Kalpavriksh, and International Institute of Environment and Development, London, Ashish has associated with other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as Greenpeace, Centre for Communication and Development Studies and Bombay Natural History Society, in various capacities.
Ashish is also a prolific writer, having authored or edited 25 books, and over 150 articles, on environment, development, and conservation issues.
Charudutt Mishra
Charudutt Mishra is a conservation scientist who has tried to understand and work on various areas related to the usage of natural resources, the human impacts of natural resource use, and human-wildlife conflicts. He is the Science and Conservation Director of the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT), and one of the founders of the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF). He served as NCF's Executive Director between 2002 and 2008, and also headed the India Program of the SLT. He serves on the editorial board of the journal Animal Conservation and is a member of the IUCN's Cat Specialist Group.
He has a Ph.D. in Ecology and Natural Resource Conservation from the Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University (The Netherlands). Charu's chief academic interests lie in understanding pastoralism and resource use, human impacts on wildlife, ecology of human-wildlife conflicts, large herbivore community ecology, and carnivore ecology.
Charu also tries to dedicate time and effort to extend conservation science for societal welfare, on-ground conservation, and policy. His recent work involves setting up community-based wildlife conservation and conflict-resolution programs, conducting research and exploration, teaching and guiding Ph.D. students, and working with governments to set up wildlife reserves and formulate conservation policy.
His current work spans the Himalaya and several Central Asian countries where he is involved in guiding research and conservation efforts. He was involved in post-conflict wildlife assessments in Afghanistan on behalf of the United Nations. Expeditions led by him in Arunachal Pradesh led to the discovery of the Arunachal macaque, M. munzala, a primate new to science.
Charu is a recipient of the Whitley Gold Award in 2005 and the Golden Ark Award in 2008.
Recipient of the T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Award, 2008
Rebecca Pradhan
A repository of knowledge on the flora and fauna found throughout the Himalayas, Rebecca Pradhan, can easily recount the genus and species of over 90% of Bhutan's plant life off the top of her head. Rebecca is a true naturalist, working and writing about birds as easily as about plants. While her academic qualifications include a B.Sc and a post graduation in Library Science, whatever she has learnt about plants and animals has been through a process of self-education. Impressed by her knowledge, Rebecca was invited to spend two terms as a Mercer Fellow of Arnold Arboretum in Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. With her vast botanical knowledge, innate skill and passion, Rebecca has already impacted conservation efforts in Bhutan.
Originally from Kalimpong in India, Rebecca, has been living and working in Bhutan for many years. Starting her career as a school teacher in 1972, Rebecca moved on as the Head of the Herbarium and Forestry Research Library, Department of Forestry, Royal Government of Bhutan in 1985. Since 2000 she has worked as an Ecologist with the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), Bhutan, where she is at present involved with the White-bellied Heron Project and in conducting biodiversity surveys of RSPN conservation areas. Over the years, Rebecca, has also been closely involved in a number of surveys to study and document the flora and fauna of Bhutan.
Rebecca has written extensively about the extraordinary biological richness of the north-eastern Himalayas, and particularly Bhutan, a region of which our knowledge is very meagre. She is the author of the books 'Wild Rhododendrons of Bhutan' and 'Threatened Birds in Bhutan'. She is also the principal compiler and data contributor of the Important Bird Areas of Bhutan for the Birdlife Conservation Series 'Important Bird Areas in Asia.' She has also produced a DVD on the ecology of the white-bellied heron. Rebecca has done much more than her written papers would indicate; for example she has discovered new species of bamboos, oaks and other plant groups. In her work she is involved with wildlife officials, community members and non-governmental organisations, and also teaches school children about wildlife in her spare time.
Rebecca's immense knowledge of the biota and ecosystems of the eastern Himalayas is vital to the future of Bhutan's resources. And she herself is committed to advancing further the knowledge about and the conservation of the pristine forests of Bhutan.
Recipient of the T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Award, 2007
Dr. B.R. Ramesh
A scientist and conservationist, Dr. B.R. Ramesh has contributed greatly to the application of new technologies for effective conservation. He completed his M.Sc. Botany at Bangalore University before doing a Ph.D. in Ecology at University of Madras. A taxonomist by training he has been working at the French Institute of Pondicherry (an autonomous Research Organization under the Ministry of French Foreign Affairs) since 1982. He is currently the Director of Research in the Ecology Department. His research interests include phytogeography, landscape ecology, community ecology, conservation biology, and forest management. He continues to actively train the younger generation and forest officials in field ecology and taxonomy.
Most of his work has been carried out in the Western Ghats, which is considered a biodiversity hotspot. He has published over 25 research papers, 6 books, 2 CD ROMS, 7 vegetation maps and 1 atlas. His vegetation maps of the Western Ghats and Atlas of Endemic tree species have become classic baseline reference materials for foresters, ecologists and conservationists. He has studied the plant diversity across different ecosystems to develop biological indicator values for measuring disturbance in ecosystems. Using Geographical Information Systems he has developed wildlife management models for a Tiger Reserve and for several Wildlife Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. His studies have shown that despite large-scale disturbance, considerable amount of undisturbed forest areas exist in Kerala and these forest patches need management attention. As an expert consultant to Kerala Forest Department, he reviewed biodiversity components of Kerala Forestry Project, developed 'biodiversity conservation strategy and action plans' for the forestry sector as well as rationalized the existing protected area network in order to cover the substantial gaps in conservation. Going one step further, he developed an alternative model of integrated forest management using a landscape approach that would address not only biodiversity conservation but also socio-economic issues of local communities and other stakeholders.
[Dr. B. R. Ramesh continues as the Director of Research, Department of Ecology at the French Institute of Pondicherry. The book Forest landscapes of the Southern Western Ghats, India: Biodiversity, human ecology and management strategies edited by him along with Rajan Gurukkal was released in 2007.]
Recipient of the T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Award, 2006
Dr. Anupam Mishra
A Gandhian and an environmental activist Anupam Mishra has spent decades in the field of environment protection and water conservation and is among the most knowledgeable persons in India on traditional water harvesting systems. He has travelled to various part of the country, especially Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, visiting various water harvesting systems managed by people.
Dr. Mishra has interacted with grassroots-level water harvesters, inspired and supported them and helped them in their traditional water harvesting systems campaign. Winner of the Indira Gandhi National Environment Award, Mishra has been associated with the Gandhi Peace Foundation since its inception. He has authored two books on traditional water management and water harvesting systems in India, titled Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab (Ponds are Still Relevant) and Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boonde (The Radiant Raindrops of Rajasthan).
Dr. Mishra continues to travel to different parts of the country, while keeping in touch with grassroot-level water harvesters and NGOs and inspiring them. The mission of the Gandhi Peace Foundation is to promote the environmental activities of rural development agencies; to prepare survey reports on distressed areas and place them before concerned authorities; to disseminate environmental information through the publication of up-to-date reports on environmental issues; to organise workshops and seminars for environmental experts, policy makers, individuals and organizations engaged in environmental issues.
[Dr. Anupam Mishra continues his association with the Gandhi Peace Foundation working in the field of environment protection and water conservation.]
Recipients of the T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Award, 2005
Ms Nafisa Barot
Ms. Nafisa Barot has been championing the efforts of local communities to achieve self-reliance in natural resources in the Bhal region of Gujarat. She is the founder trustee of Utthan, an organization dedicated to the upliftment and empowerment of impoverished local communities, especially women. Nafisaben as she is popularly known, has been involved in a number of water management activities in the region such as drought proofing, rain-water harvesting and desilting. Other activities carried out by Utthan in Gujarat include women's credit groups, community health programs, afforestation and education. Ms. Barot represents Utthan on several national and international committees. She is a strong believer in the empowerment of vulnerable sections of the society through socio-economic and cultural development based on the principles of sustainable resource use and conservation.
[Ms. Nafisa Barot continues her work on social and environmental issues. She also continues as Executive Director of Utthan an organisation she co-founded that works in the areas of gender empowerment, integrated natural resource management, and peace and justice through conflict transformation.]
Dr. Anil P. Joshi
Dr. Anil P. Joshi works to promote sustainable livelihoods in the Himalaya. He started his career as a college teacher in Botany and encouraged many of his students to carry out academic research oriented towards solving the basic needs of the hill people. He has been instrumental in developing participatory approaches to natural resource conservation and is credited with developing a variety of ingenious schemes related to water supply, cheap lighting, traditional agriculture, employment generation, earthquake resistant housing and alternative uses of weeds such as lantana. Dr. Joshi and his colleagues formed the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO), which aims to reconcile basic needs of rural communities with the need to conserve natural resources. Dr. Joshi is the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his pioneering contributions towards sustainable living in the Himalayan region.
[Dr. Anil P. Joshi continues his work with the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization that he co-founded. He was awarded the 'Padma Shri' in 2006 in recognition of his pioneering contribution towards sustainable living in the Himalayan region.]
Recipient of the T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Award, 2004
Dr. R. Sukumar
Dr. R Sukumar is a Professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. He is one of the world leaders in the efforts to conserve the elephants especially the Asian elephant.
Since 1997, he has been the Chair of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of IUCN-The World Conservation Union. He has published three books and over 70 scientific articles. He is the winner of the Presidential Award of the Chicago Zoological Society in 1989 and was honoured with the Order of the Golden Ark, by the Government of Netherlands in 1997 for his outstanding contribution to Elephant conservation. His approach has been in using the elephant as a flagship for conserving landscapes, their biodiversity, and reconciling human interests with conservation. Most recently he was the recipient of the Whitley Gold Award for International Nature Conservation (2003).
[Dr. R. Sukumar continues as Professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science. At present research in his lab spans the areas of wildlife ecology, tropical forest ecology and climate change. He is a recipient of the International Cosmos Prize in 2006.]