[1] Often referred to by others as "Green Oscars", the Awards seek to recognise outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation with a focus on Asia, Africa and Latin America, bringing international attention to the work of deserving individuals committed to precipitating long-lasting conservation benefits on the ground, with the support of local communities.
In addition to the funding aspect of the Whitley Awards, WFN also provides media and speech training to enable winners to effectively communicate their work and inspire further philanthropic support.
Established in 1994 by Edward Whitley, WFN has given £26 million to support the work of 200 local environmental heroes benefiting wildlife and communities in more than 80 countries across the Global South.
The Gold Award winners are international advocates for biodiversity with the passion and ambition to spread conservation messages to a wider audience.
More than 200 conservationists from over 80 countries in Asia, Africa, or Latin America have received a Whitley Award for their work to protect wildlife, habitats, and communities.