• A self-help group (SHG) from a small village in Kundgol taluk of Dharwad district, Karnataka, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Equator Initiative Award’ presented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation,” the award is given biennially to recognize exceptional community efforts in reducing poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
• The award carries a cash prize of $10,000.
• This year’s selection was based on the theme “Women and Youth Leadership for Nature-Based Climate Action.”
• The award is presented under the UNDP’s Equator Initiative and is open to local community-based groups or Indigenous Peoples’ communities in rural areas of UNDP-supported countries.
• Eligible initiatives must have existed for at least three years and demonstrate nature-based actions delivering benefits related to two or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The recognition for the Karnataka SHG underscores the vital role of grassroots community action in biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.