GUWAHATI, March 14 � The Forest Department of Assam and WWF-India jointly instituted the �Vanya Prani Mitra Award� for outstanding contribution towards wildlife conservation in Assam on an annual basis since 2011.
The award is instituted with an aim to recognize extraordinary service rendered by individuals or groups and for their motivation, and each year two cases are selected for the awards that carry a cash reward of Rs 25,000.
Nominations can be made for any frontline staff of the Assam Forest Department (not above the rank of a Range Officer) or any other individual or agency outside the State Forest Department who have made extraordinary/significant contribution towards conservation of wildlife in the state of Assam during January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013, an official press release said.
The themes for nominating the cases includes (but not restricted to) 1. Wildlife crime prevention; 2. awareness generation and strengthening support of local communities; 3. securing wildlife corridors, habitat protection/restoration and prevention of encroachment; 4. attending to wildlife emergencies and crisis; and 5. any other aspect of wildlife protection.
Nominations can be sent through an officer not below the rank of a Divisional Forest Officer (DCF) and he should be contacted before March 30, 2014 with a written application. The nominations can be made using the standard format available in the office of the nearest DFO, CF or CCF on or before March 30, 2014 and those received after March 30, 2014 will not be entertained. A copy of the nominations may be also sent by e-mail with the subject line �Nomination for VPMA 2014�.
