Batswana invited to enter prestigious Tusk Conservation Awards
Staff Writer | Monday February 23, 2026 13:05
The Awards, whose patron is Prince William, have been held since 2013, with 61 winners from 23 countries but none from Botswana, despite the country’s stellar record in conservation.
In a statement, the Awards organisers said nominations opened on February for the 14th annual edition of the event.
Held in partnership with Ninety One, the Awards provide significant grant funding for the winners’ organisations alongside international recognition, giving winners the resources, credibility, and momentum to scale proven conservation solutions for people and nature.
“This year, a total of £225,000 in prize money will be awarded across three categories £100,000 for the Prince William Award, £75,000 for the Tusk Award, and £50,000 for the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award,” organisers said.
Three winners will be selected from hundreds of nominations across Africa and honoured at a prestigious ceremony expected to be held in London later this year.
Speaking at last year’s awards, Tusk Royal Patron HRH The Prince of Wales said: “It is so often communities and local conservation leaders who provide the practical solutions to how we can best sustain our precious natural landscapes and vital biodiversity. The award winners are always wonderful examples of what can be achieved locally, regionally and at the national level. Identifying and supporting locally-led conservation has always been at the heart of Tusk’s ethos.
“The insight and expertise of the Tusk award winners should inspire us to drive change. We must continue to amplify their voices and support their vital work.”
Since the Awards were launched in 2013, the winners and finalists have used the recognition and grant money to support various conservation work, including expanding ranger patrols and intelligence networks, securing critical habitats and wildlife corridors, equipping community conservancies with vital infrastructure and training, and creating sustainable, conservation-linked livelihoods for rural communities.
Award organisers said from protecting gorillas in eastern Congo and turtles in Sierra Leone, to restoring forests in Madagascar and dismantling poaching syndicates in Zimbabwe, the Awards have helped turn bold African ideas into lasting conservation impact. The grant funding is deliberately designed to be catalytic, enabling winners to scale their work further and unlock new partnerships and long-term investment.
Rahima Njaidi, Founder of Tanzanian women-led forest conservation organisation MJUMITA, won the Tusk Award in 2025.
“I’ve been contacted by people from as far away as Jamaica, by people offering opportunities to work together, by organisations inviting me to join their board,” she said. “The money means we can do many things we otherwise couldn’t with existing project funding, and you speak with more authority because people see you’ve won this award. “I feel the award is not really for the winner, it’s not for me, it’s for the whole team and the communities we work with, it recognises their effort and their sacrifices, and it really motivates them.”
Africa’s ecosystems are under unprecedented pressure. Wildlife populations have declined by more than 75% since 1970. Forests the size of Switzerland or Guinea-Bissau are lost each year.
Rangelands supporting millions of pastoralist families are rapidly degrading. Tusk believes the most effective solutions to these challenges will be led by Africans, working hand-in-hand with local communities, and backed with the long-term funding and partnerships needed to succeed.
“The Awards shine a light on the remarkable courage and commitment of individuals working tirelessly to safeguard Africa’s natural heritage, often in challenging and dangerous conditions,” said Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk. “We’re committed to ensuring the Awards continue to provide invaluable international exposure for these conservation leaders, alongside vital funding for their projects. “We encourage anyone who knows an individual or ranger team who has made a significant impact on wildlife conservation to nominate them for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their achievements recognised on a global stage.
Tusk’s mission is to accelerate the impact of African-driven conservation. Since the charity was founded in 1990, it has generated £150 million to support the growth of over 250 local partner organisations and wildlife ranger teams in more than 25 African countries, enabling and empowering the conservation movement across the continent.