Earth Guardian Award

NatWest Group India, the global capability center of the NatWest Group, on October 20, 2021, announced the winners of the 11th edition of the NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards. PaTCoF is a non-profit organisation under forest department which seeks to facilitate conservation of tiger and biodiversity in the Parambikulam tiger reserve.Eight winners of the award were felicitated by secretary general of “UN Convention on International Trade in the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora”, Ivonne Higuero in a virtual ceremony on October 20, 2021.

About Earth Guardian Award

• These awards were instituted by NatWest Group India.
• They are part of an initiative which recognises the efforts of individuals and institutions that are working to subvert the climate change by conserving & preserving biodiversity in India.

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

• Parambikulam Tiger Reserve also includes erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread across 391 square kilometres. It is a protected area in Palakkad district of Kerala.
• It was established in 1973. The sanctuary lies in the Sungam range of hills in between Anaimalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills.
• Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a part of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in 2010.
• Tiger reserve implements the Participatory Forest Management Scheme (PFMS).

Is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

• The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is currently under consideration for selection as World Heritage Site, by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Indigenous Peoples

• The sanctuary is home to four different tribes of indigenous peoples namely, Malasar, Kadar, Mala Malarsar and Muduvar. These people are settled in six colonies.
• People of these tribal colonies are working as guides for treks and safaris. They are provided employment through several eco-tourism initiatives.