GUWAHATI, Aug 12 - The Prabhakar Barua Rhino Conservation Trust is seeking nominations for the Rhino Conservation Awards for 2015, a press release stated. The awards will be presented in September to coincide with the 100th birth anniversary of late Prabhakar Barua who was the first Assamese Chief Conservator of Forests of undivided Assam from 1963 to 1976, a press release stated.
Barua created an exceptional model of conservation in terms of protection of both forest area and threatened animal species, culminating in the formation of the Assam Valley Wildlife Society, of which he was the founder vice president. It was during his tenure of office that Kaziranga was declared a national park in 1974.
Conceived in 2005 during the centenary celebration of the Kaziranga National Park, the trust aims to honour forest personnel at the grassroots level, who have done exceptional work for the protection of the one-horned rhino in Assam.
The trust also recognises the importance of the role of communities that live in the vicinity of rhino habitats in the conservation and protection activities. It aims at encouraging individuals and communities by awarding them for their deeds and thereby promoting awareness about the importance of saving the rhino.
Towards this end, citations along with two cash awards of Rs 50,000 each will be presented for exemplary acts of bravery by an individual for the protection and conservation of the rhino beyond the scope of his or her official duty, and also to any member of a community residing in the vicinity of the rhino habitat in recognition of his or her leadership role and exemplary work in mobilising the community for the protection and conservation of the rhino, protection of straying rhinos and providing useful information about the activities of poachers.
Since these awards are essentially related to rhino conservation, the geographical areas of activity chosen are the four rhino habitats of Assam � Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Orang Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
The nomination forms for this year�s awards are already in circulation and the trust has sought the cooperation of all citizens in helping it to reward deserving conservation workers and activists, the press release added.
