Events

Kudu Awards 2023

Date: 30 November 2023
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre
Location: 19 Richards Drive, Midrand, Gauteng

South African National Parks (SANParks) in partnership with First National Bank (FNB) and TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa is proud to announce the call for nominations for the 17th annual Kudu Awards.

The purpose of the awards is to recognise external stakeholders for their contributions and efforts in making SANParks the custodian of choice for the national parks system in South Africa.

Background

The Kudu Awards is an initiative to celebrate the successes and contributions of individuals and groups in conservation management in South Africa.

The key to the success of conservation management lies in the dedication of all people involved in the protection of South Africa’s natural assets and heritage. These people often do selfless, unrecognised work to protect and educate the South African citizenry about our natural assets that are endangered. At times this occurs in the cold face of physical harm and danger, and trying financial constraints.

The primary objective is to give recognition to award winners and in doing so raise awareness about efforts being done in conservation management.

Internal staff members will be bestowed with “top achievers” awards, known as the Chief Executive Awards. This national award recognises their dedication and selfless efforts towards achieving the goals of the organisation from across the National Parks under SANParks management. The Chief Executive Awards are meant to encourage staff to do their work with ‘pride and joy’ and to always view this organisation as their personal business.

The Kudu Awards is an annual event that was launched in June 2005 and is one of the highlights of the social calendar in conservation circles.

Categories & Descriptions

Corporate

This award is given to an organisation that has made a significant contribution to conservation in South Africa, whether through the awarding of land, funds, human resources or any contributions in-kind or goodwill and practical assistance to active conservation projects/research-bearing scale. This category shall not include contributions by SANParks official business partners.

Non-Governmental Organisations

This award is given to an organisation that has made significant contributions to conservation in South Africa, whether through the awarding of land, funds, human resources or any contributions in-kind or goodwill and practical assistance to active conservation projects / research-bearing scale in mind. This category recognises communities that use best management practices in one of the three categories: wildlife management, bioprospecting and other nature conservation initiatives. Examples of best management practices include the conservation of water, energy, wildlife, habitats and land rehabilitation as well as indigenous knowledge practices that promote conservation. The nominees must own, rent, farm or manage the land. This category shall not include contributions by the SANParks volunteer group (Honorary Rangers).

Media Contribution to Conservation and Eco-Tourism Award

In order to be eligible for these awards the applicant/s should submit a portfolio of work from 1 April of the previous year until 31 March of the current year (12 months) with a recommendation from the editor/publisher/producer of the media concerned. The stories should show:

How environmental issues affect people’s lives and the solutions around these issues
How the stories have impacted communities/public opinion/policy
New audiences to be introduced to relevant issues
New issues relevant to existing audiences
Stories demonstrate investigative and journalistic flair

There are three sub-categories for these awards:

Best Journalist – print/online
Best Publication
Best electronic media (television/radio)

Community Contribution to Conservation

This award is given to an individual/group/project that has advanced the cause of sustainable conservation of our biodiversity and cultural heritage in their communities and/or others.

Environmental Education

This award shall be given to a group of learners, educators and school primary or secondary education institutions (private or public) as well as private individuals that have contributed to educational programmes that further the conservation of our biodiversity and cultural heritage or reduce the environmental impacts of climate change and pollution. These programmes should be community-based and could include cleanup projects, recycling initiatives, water conservation, agricultural livelihoods, food gardens, efficient use of natural resources, or any other similar projects. Further recognition will be given to Post Graduate (PHD) candidates who have completed research on Conservation; climate change; water conservation and/or management, food security, the UN Sustainable Development Goals; tourism, cultural heritage sites, environmental and social risk and opportunity management; environmental and conservation education and capacity building; biodiversity; and socio-economic development.

Individual Contribution to Conservation

This award is given to a person who has made a significant contribution to conservation in South Africa, whether through the awarding of land, funds, human resources or any contributions in kind or goodwill and practical assistance to achieve conservation projects and research.

Professional Stakeholders

This award is given to state/public organs/parastatals/departments/public servants who have made significant contributions to conservation in South Africa in whatever manner.

Associated Partners

This award is given to private entities/organisations/ employees/members/business partners of SANParks.

Women in Conservation

This award recognises and celebrates women that are groundbreakers in the area of conservation, environmental education, tourism and socio-economic development areas. In presenting this award, the aim is also to raise awareness among other women of opportunities available in conservation, tourism and socio-economic issues relating to SANParks mandate.

Youth in Conservation

This award shall be given to any young person/ youth-led project that is making an outstanding and progressive influence in protecting and improving the environment. The impact that is being made may be through leading a recycling project, transferring of skills in the conservation of natural resources, projects that create environmental management awareness or innovation in promoting responsible nature conservation. The individuals who will be considered within the youth in the conservation category are young people from the age of 18 to 35 and should be South African citizens.

Innovation

Innovation is crucial to the success of any organisation. This award is given to an individual or group of people who can demonstrate that their idea can be translated into a service/ app or product which will address the requirements of conservation, tourism and/or environmental positive impact in the immediate or long term. It requires energy, passion, creativeness, dedication, free-thinking, and entrepreneurship that is not constrained by traditional barriers but creates new paradigms and innovative solutions for the future.