Kenton R. Miller Award for Innovation in Protected Areas Management
Kenton R. Miller Award for Innovation in Protected Areas Management
Innovation and inspiration are essential to achieving conservation goals in the world’s protected and conserved areas. The Kenton R. Miller Award celebrates individuals who are taking bold, creative steps to safeguard our most valued natural and cultural places. Honourees receive a $5,000 USD grant, international recognition by their peers, and an accompanying citation acknowledging their contribution.
Nominations Now Closed
Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2025 Kenton Miller Award winners at IUCN WCC 2025.
IUCN WCPA is proud to announce that we will once again be awarding the Kenton R. Miller Award in 2025, continuing the legacy of celebrating innovation and leadership in protected areas management. The award will be presented at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—a global event that brings together conservation leaders and decision-makers to shape the future of nature and sustainable development.
Criteria for Selection
Nominees should demonstrate a strong commitment to an organization involved in protected area management, associated education, or research. The award is open to managers of marine and terrestrial protected and conserved areas under all types of governance arrangements including areas governed and managed by government agencies, Indigenous peoples, local communities, or the private sector.
Their innovation will fall within one or any combination of the following categories:
- Planning and management
- Assessment, monitoring and evaluation
- Learning and capacity-building
- Economics and financing
- Governance
- Communication
Additional considerations include:
The innovation must show clear, demonstrable impact and be recognized or endorsed by peers at local, national, or international levels.
Preference will be given to candidates who have not yet received international recognition for their innovation.
How to Nominate
To nominate a candidate, please download and complete the nomination form and submit it—along with a high-resolution photo of the nominee—by July 6, 2025 to wcpa[at]iucn.org. Nominations will be accepted in English, French, or Spanish. The successful awardee will be funded to attend the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, where they will be honoured in an award ceremony. The selected individual will be contacted by early September to coordinate travel arrangements.
Formulaire de candidature en français
Formulario de candidatura en español
Nominations are open to both IUCN WCPA members and non-members; however, preference will be given to members in good standing. Note that self-nominations are not allowed.
Past Recipients
WCPA presented the most recent Kenton R. Miller Award at IMPAC5 in Vancouver, Canada in February 2023 to Maria Del Carmen Garcia Rivas for her dedication to Marine Protected Areas in Mexico. You can watch a recording of the event here.
The 2020 Kenton R. Miller Award for Innovation in Protected Areas Management was presented to Pedro Estêvão Muagura of the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique and Nizar Youssef Hani of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve in Lebanon. Learn more about the winners here or watch the 2020 award ceremony here: