Since 2013, Balipara Foundation has highlighted and invested in the efforts of societal entrepreneurs who are working tirelessly to create social, economic, and environmental impact in protecting the essential natural resources and restoring the beauty of the Eastern Himalaya. Through the Balipara Foundation Awards, we award, reward, and recognize these extraordinary visionaries of the Eastern Himalaya and their indomitable contribution. Our Awardees continue to live in harmony with nature and adopt sustainable methods for greening the economy. These Grassroots Leaders empower, engage, sensitize their communities towards environmental protection and create opportunities for rural livelihoods. Adopting new technologies and inventions with indigenous knowledge, they are the Custodian Experts of the biodiversity in their region. These entrepreneurs receive a Social Impact Recognition Award which comes with a Citation and a contribution to the organization or individual from Social Impact Recognition Fund of Balipara Foundation.
Award Categories
To be accorded to an individual/community/ governmental/non – governmental organization, whose outstanding contributions to preserve, restore and sustainably manage forests are commendable and has raised awareness of the key role forests play in supporting local communities, rural livelihoods, women, youth and the environment.
To be accorded to a visionary scientist/NGO/ farmer who has practiced organic cultivation and has demonstrated successful alternative farming model that has brought replicable change in the agricultural practice.
To be accorded to forest heroes, who have demonstrated exemplary service by going beyond the call of duty to protect and preserve the rich flora and fauna of protected areas, national parks and reserve forests across the Eastern Himalayas.
To be accorded to an individual who has been devoted to the ecological welfare of the people of the Eastern Himalayas and whose philosophy and purpose have been guided by the need to protect, restore and care for habitats.
To be accorded to a green entrepreneur whose conservation model has led towards the growth in community knowledge, decision making ability, and increase in economic mobility of the local economy
To be accorded to a lawyer or legal organization which has used the courts to win justice for wildlife or for communities living in or around ecologically fragile wildernesses.
To an environmental journalist who has done extensive coverage on community stories, conservation pieces, and whose voice stand up for restoration and preservation of our habitats.
To be presented to a green teacher who has inspired students and youth groups to be the voices of changes and has adapted teaching measures focussed on holistic learning by encouraging students to understand on-ground conservation
To be accorded to a young conservationist in the age group 18 to 35, whose relentless efforts have led towards conserving local habitats, and has inspired youth groups into conservation
‘REWILDING THE EASTERN HIMALAYAS’ GRANT
Rewilding is about restoring the natural ecosystems and landscapes that make life on this planet possible today. The development of nature through rewilding is an opportunity for a new economy. It enhances the lives and livelihoods of our local communities.
Earth Heroes around the Eastern Himalayas are weaving wondrous blue and green ribbons of wilderness that wrap the Earth in beauty, offering the promise of a better future, and habitats for all.
Balipara Foundation with a vision towards Rewilding our collective Future across the Indian Eastern Himalayas, is hereby delighted to announce a social grant of INR 5,00,000, this year to honour and support an individual or community organization working towards implementing a conservation model that is helping to rebuild healthy ecosystems, restoring habitat for plants and wildlife and enhancing community engagement in the process. The grant will facilitate field activities and provide an opportunity to leverage this support to make their work more sustainable.
