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Kudu Awards 2026: Call for Nominations

  • Closing Date: 19 September 2026

Background

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

Kudu Awards recognises contribution by individuals and institutions to conservation management at two levels, which is SANParks staff members and external stakeholders in different categories, in the form of the Chief Executive Awards and the Kudu Awards respectively.

The Kudu Awards specifically recognises contribution in the following area; Corporate Contribution to conservation, Environmental Media Contribution to Conservation, Community Contribution to Conservation, Environmental Education/Capacity Building Award, Professional Stakeholders and Associated Partners award.

The Chief Executive awards recognises excellent performance by staff members in 14 categories ranging the whole spectrum of SANParks business.

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 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.

Categories & Descriptions

Corporate

This award is given to an organisation that has made 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 who use best management practices in one of the three categories: wildlife management, bioprospecting and other nature conservation initiatives. Examples of best management practices include 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

In order to be eligible for these awards the applicant/s should submit a portfolio of work from 1 April 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:

  1. Best Journalist (print/online)
  2. Best Publication
  3. 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 reduces 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 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 ground breakers in the area of conservation, environmental education, tourism and socio-economic development areas. In presenting this award, the aim is also to raise awareness to 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 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 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.

Reference & Guidelines for Nominations

The closing date for submission is 19 September 2026.

Compulsory entry guidelines for all categories:

  • Description of project(s)
  • Amount of money contributed (if applicable)
  • Level of perceived impact (e.g. number of people reached or number of animals saved, etc.)
  • Sustainability of the project
  • Period the project has been running
  • Size of organisation that made contribution (if applicable)
  • Visual references (e.g. photos, pamphlets, videos, etc.)
  • Two references
  • The nominated project/individual should fall within 1 April of the previous year until the 31 March of the current year (12 months) and the portfolio of evidence should be attached.

The guidelines below are in reference to the Environmental Media Awards categories (Best Journalist and Best Publication/Programme/Online)

In order to be eligible, the Journalist should submit a portfolio of work for 1 April of the previous year until the 31 March of the current year (12 months) with a recommendation from the editor of the media concerned.

The journalist work should:

  • Make evident in an accessible way how environmental issues affect people’s lives, and highlighted the solutions available
  • Make an impact in their community, or on public opinion or policy
  • Make issues relevant to new audiences, or have made new issues relevant to existing audiences
  • Demonstrate investigative and journalistic flair

Nomination Form

The following instructions should be considered before completing the form:

  1. Supply all the requested information
  2. Please read ‘Categories & Descriptions’ above and select the relevant category
  3. Supply all information requested in the ‘Reference & Guidelines’ according to your selected category
  4. Nominations are open to South Africans and Foreign Nationals doing conservation work in South Africa
  5. Your motivation may not exceed a number of 500 words
  6. All nominees must accept the nomination for the form to be considered valid
  7. Nominations without portfolio of evidence will be disqualified

Fields marked with * are required.

Category

Nominee

Nominator

Motivation for Nomination

Please include the Nominee's nature of involvement and period of involvement.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 2 files.
NB: It is compulsory to include the portfolio of evidence to support your nomination.

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Enquiries

Lerato Mathole

Gabrielle Venter