In a significant step toward celebrating environmental leadership beyond its borders, the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Award has broadened its scope to recognize global conservation achievements. This year’s honorees reflect both regional dedication and decades-long national commitment to protecting fragile ecosystems.
Accion Andina, a grassroots restoration movement working across the high Andes, received top recognition for its remarkable progress in revitalizing mountain landscapes. The initiative has planted more than 12.5 million native trees and restored 5,000 hectares of high-altitude ecosystems—an early milestone on its ambitious path to rehabilitate one million hectares across the region. President Constantino Aucca Chutas expressed deep appreciation for the acknowledgment, noting that such recognition strengthens collective resolve in safeguarding threatened mountain environments.
Also celebrated was the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC), a pioneering organization that has spent 25 years supporting the resilience of Bhutan’s protected areas. Under its stewardship, the country has advanced long-term conservation planning, community engagement, and sustainable environmental financing. Managing Director Karma Tshering emphasized that the award highlights not only institutional effort but the shared responsibility of all who depend on healthy ecosystems.
The Bhutan Ecological Society, custodian of the award, said the decision to extend its reach globally reflects the interconnected nature of environmental challenges. By spotlighting impactful initiatives from around the world, the Society hopes to inspire broader cooperation and greater visibility for innovative conservation work.
With this year’s recipients setting powerful examples in ecological restoration and protected-area management, the award signals a growing international commitment to preserving the planet’s most vulnerable landscapes.
