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The United Nations on December 10 recognised ecologist Madhav Gadgil with the annual Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour, for his seminal work in the Western Ghats. 
Mr. Gadgil, the only Indian on the list of this year’s award recipients, chaired the government-constituted Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel to study the impact of population pressure, climate change, and development activities on the ecologically fragile region in India. 
The panel recommended in 2011 that the entire hill range be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and divided it into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones. 
The other five awardees include, Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples honoured in the Policy Leadership category; 
Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate honoured in the Inspiration and Action category from US; 
Gabriel Paun, a Romanian environmental defender honoured in the Inspiration and Action category; 
Lu Qi, a Chinese scientist honoured in the Science and Innovation category, has worked in science and policy sectors for three decades helping China reverse degradation and shrink its deserts; 
Sekem, a sustainable agriculture initiative honoured in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, is helping farmers in Egypt transition to more sustainable agriculture.
About Champions of the Earth award:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established Champions of the Earth in 2005 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders from the public and private sectors and from civil society.
The annual Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour, recognises trailblazers at the forefront of efforts to protect people and the planet.
Since 2005, the award has recognised 122 laureates for outstanding and inspirational environmental leadership.
Award details:
Typically, five to seven laureates are selected annually. Each laureate is invited to an award ceremony to receive a trophy, give an acceptance speech and take part in a press conference. No financial awards are conferred.
The prize includes $15,000 of financial support.

IN SHORT:
India’s veteran ecologist, Madhav Gadgil has been named as one of the six ‘Champions of the Earth’ by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for 2024.
Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples honoured in the Policy Leadership category; 
Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate honoured in the Inspiration and Action category from US; 
Gabriel Paun, a Romanian environmental defender honoured in the Inspiration and Action category; 
Lu Qi, a Chinese scientist honoured in the Science and Innovation category, has worked in science and policy sectors for three decades helping China reverse degradation and shrink its deserts; 
Sekem, a sustainable agriculture initiative honoured in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, is helping farmers in Egypt transition to more sustainable agriculture.
UNEP established Champions of the Earth in 2005.
The prize includes $15,000 of financial support.
Useful information for all competitive exams:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.
Formation: 5 June 1972
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
Executive Director(8th): Inger Andersen (since 2019) (Denmark)
Parent organization: United Nations