India shines at ‘Green Oscars’ 2026: Meet Parveen Shaikh & Barkha Subba leading wildlife conservation

On the sandy riverbanks of north India and in the mist-laden wetlands of the eastern Himalayas, Parveen Shaikh and Barkha Subba are working at the frontlines of wildlife conservation. Protecting species on the brink while empowering communities that live alongside them. Their efforts, rooted in local knowledge and lived realities, are now drawing global attention.

Their work has now earned international recognition. At the 2026 Whitley Awards, populary known as the 'Green Oscars' ceremony held in London, six conservation leaders from across the world were honoured for building locally driven solutions to protect biodiversity. Among them were two Indian changemakers whose work bridges ecology, livelihoods, and community participation in deeply threatened ecosystems.

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Saving a vanishing river bird

Parveen Shaikh’s work centres on one of India’s most endangered riverine birds, the Indian Skimmer. Once found across large parts of South and Southeast Asia, the species has vanished from much of its historical range due to habitat destruction.

Today, India holds over 90 per cent of its global breeding population, placing the responsibility of its survival squarely within the country.

Her project, run in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society, focuses on protecting nesting sites along the Chambal, Yamuna, and Ganga rivers. Increasing pressure from sand mining, pollution, and human disturbance has severely damaged these habitats.

Skimmers, known for their distinctive feeding style of gliding low over water with their bills slicing the surface, are highly sensitive to environmental change.

To address this, Parveen has built a network of trained community guardians who monitor nests, track data using GPS tools, and respond quickly to threats. The programme has also created employment opportunities in marginalised communities.

The results are already visible. Along the Chambal River, the skimmer population has grown significantly over the past eight years, offering a rare conservation success story.

The model is now being extended to other critical sites, including areas around Prayagraj, with additional efforts such as artificial nesting platforms and stronger local engagement.

Protecting a rare amphibian in the himalayas

In the eastern Himalayas, Barkha Subba is working to save a species that few have encountered but whose survival is deeply tied to the region’s ecological balance.

The Himalayan salamander, often described as a living fossil, now survives in isolated pockets across the Darjeeling hills, parts of Nepal, and Bhutan.

Wetlands that once supported these amphibians are rapidly disappearing due to unplanned construction, tourism pressure, and pollution.

These water bodies also hold cultural significance for local communities, often linked to traditional beliefs and practices.

Barkha’s initiative, in partnership with the Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection, focuses on restoring key wetlands while monitoring breeding populations.

Her approach places communities at the centre. By involving local residents, tea garden workers, and youth groups, the project aims to create a shared sense of ownership.

What are the 'green oscars'?

The Whitley Awards, often referred to as the Green Oscars, recognise grassroots conservation leaders from across the Global South.

Winners are selected through a competitive global process and receive funding of 50,000 pounds over one year, along with training and international visibility.

Organised by the UK-based Whitley Fund for Nature, the awards have supported over 230 conservationists across more than 80 countries, channeling millions into projects that benefit both people and ecosystems.

The focus remains on locally led solutions that address environmental challenges while strengthening communities.

Why this matters now?

At a time when climate change, biodiversity loss, and geopolitical instability are intersecting in complex ways, such work carries added urgency. Environmental stress is already reshaping migration, livelihoods, and food systems.

In that context, efforts like these offer more than conservation wins. They demonstrate how local action can build resilience in an increasingly uncertain world, where protecting nature is inseparable from protecting people.