Who is IFS officer Anupam Sharma selected for Eco Warrior Awards 2024?

Anupam Sharma, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, has been named one of five recipients of the Eco Warrior Award 2024. Recognized for his efforts in forest protection, Sharma's dedication to curbing teak smuggling and reclaiming encroached forest land has set a benchmark in environmental conservation.

Eco-Warrior Award 2024, by IFS Officers Association @CentralIFS & @i3Masterminds, presented by Sh. Jitendra Kumar sir DGF & Spl Secy, MoEF&CC, Govt of India.

Credits:
* Burhanpur & Sendhwa Forest teams
* CCF sir, HoFF sir
* बुरहानपुर जंगल बचाओ समिति
* @Bhavna_Srivastv & Parents pic.twitter.com/Ytmd08tT8C

— Anupam Sharma, IFS (@AnupamSharmaIFS) September 12, 2024

Who is Anupam Sharma? 

Anupam Sharma is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer and has been recognized to receive the Eco Warrior Award 2024. The award, initiated in 2023, celebrates the contributions of IFS officers in Forest Protection, Wildlife Conservation, and Community Connect. Sharma was selected for his work in Forest Protection, combating teak smuggling and freeing encroached forest land. He also held its annual drive for planting 4.7 lakh tree saplings in June and July 2021 in Maihar forest sub-division in Madhya Pradesh.

The Eco Warriors Award is a joint initiative of the IFS Officers Association and Indian Masterminds. An esteemed jury of senior civil servants, including IAS, IFS, IPS officers, social workers, and media personnel, evaluated the nominations. Sh. Jitendra Kumar, Director General of Forests (DGF) and Special Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, presented this year's awards.

Anupam Sharma's contributions

Sharma was honored for his work as the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sendhwa and DFO Burhanpur, where he curbed timber smuggling and reclaimed encroached forest land.

1. Raids Against Timber Smuggling in Sendhwa (April 2022 – February 2023): Sharma led high-profile raids targeting inter-state teak smuggling networks, resulting in the seizure of over 50m³ of illicit teak timber and cutting machines, valued over ₹1 crore. Several prominent smugglers were arrested, and the smuggling chain was dismantled in Chachariya, Pansemal, and Khargone. His work earned him a Certificate of Appreciation from the Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF).

2. Freeing Encroached Forest Land in Burhanpur (March – April 2023): As DFO Burhanpur, Sharma mobilized over 100 Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and reclaimed over 1,000 hectares of encroached forest land. His efforts led to the arrest of over 30 encroachers, the surrender of more than 120, and the seizure of 600m³ of illegally felled timber. He used night-vision drones to monitor forest areas and prevent further encroachments.

Anupam Sharma’s recognition extends beyond his achievements. The Eco Warrior Awards 2024 highlights the efforts of forest officers like him in safeguarding India’s natural resources and combating illegal activities threatening the environment.

Senior officers like Chandra Prakash Goyal, Satya Prakash Yadav, Sushil Kumar Awasthi, and actor and well-known environmentalist Randeep Hooda were present at the awards ceremony. Sharma’s award in the Forest Protection category highlights his leadership in environmental conservation and protection.