Vera Voronova from Kazakhstan and Ysabel Agustina Calderón Carlos from Peru have been selected for the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversty 2024.

They have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to conservation and sustainability.

Vera Voronova is the executive director of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan and she has made significant contributions to restoring ecosystems and recovering endangered species in Central Asia. This has improved the lives of local rural communities by involving them in important conservation efforts.

The second winner, Ysabel Agustina Calderón Carlos is the founder and chief executive of Sumak Kawsay, an environmental business in Peru. Her work focuses on stopping the decline of pollinators while supporting local economies, especially for Indigenous women and youth.