Assam‑based conservationist Dr Varun R. Goswami, founder and senior scientist of Conservation Initiatives, received the 2026 Hidden Heroes Award from KfW Stiftung for his contributions to biodiversity conservation and mitigation of human‑elephant conflict. The award was presented on August 27 at the headquarters of KfW Development Bank in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Hidden Heroes Award, formerly known as the KfW Bernhard Grzimek Prize, carries a prize of €50,000 and recognises individuals whose often low‑profile work advances the protection of ecosystems, species and local communities. A specialist jury selected Goswami for more than a decade of conservation efforts in Northeast India, focusing on the Asian elephant, a species threatened by habitat fragmentation and increasing human activity.
Goswami’s approach blends field research with quantitative methods such as capture‑recapture models, landscape analysis and behavioural ecology to map elephant movements and identify corridors that facilitate coexistence with people. His team works directly with local residents in tea‑plantation landscapes, seeking practical solutions to reduce conflict while preserving critical habitats. KfW Stiftung described his methodology as a potential model for broader biodiversity initiatives.
Board member Dr Michael Helbig praised Goswami for demonstrating how scientific rigour and community engagement can together sustain conservation outcomes. The ceremony, hosted by German television presenter Bärbel Schäfer, featured photographs of Goswami conducting research and collaborating with communities. Since its inception in 2013, the Hidden Heroes Award has honoured nine international conservationists for notable contributions to global biodiversity.
