The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity (International Award) Grant

The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity (International Award) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: AEON Environmental Foundation
Amount: US $100,000
Last Updated: February 15, 2026

Summary

The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity, established by AEON Environmental Foundation, honors individuals for their significant contributions to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Nominations for the 2024 prize are currently open, recognizing efforts aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This prestigious award, to be presented at COP 16 in November 2024, emphasizes collaboration across sectors to address urgent environmental challenges and aims to inspire global action on biodiversity.

Overview

The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity (International Prize) This prize was established by AEON Environmental Foundation during the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, the Prize has been awarded to biodiversity champions in several fields, including policymaking, science and civil society, reflecting the need for a whole-of-society endeavor—a seminal principle that underpinned the design of the Biodiversity Plan and its 23 targets (to be achieved by 2023). Up to now, 19 individuals from 17 countries have received the prize. Nominations open for 8th MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2024 Co-organized by AEON Environmental Foundation and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Prize is awarded to individuals who make outstanding contributions to global biodiversity-related objectives, including the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and other environmental issues such as climate change. The 2024 edition will acknowledge contributions to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also known as the Biodiversity Plan, and it’s four overarching goals to protect and restore nature, to prosper with nature, to share benefits fairly, and to invest and collaborate for nature. Agreed in a landmark decision of CBD COP 15 in December 2022, the Biodiversity Plan is the world’s masterplan to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. Established by AEON Environmental Foundation during the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, the Prize has been awarded to biodiversity champions in several fields, including policymaking, science and civil society, reflecting the need for a whole-of-society endeavor—a seminal principle that underpinned the design of the Biodiversity Plan and its 23 targets (to be achieved by 2023). Up to now, 19 individuals from 17 countries have received the prize. The founder of the prize, Takuya Okada, Honorary Chairman of AEON Environmental Foundation and Honorary Chairman and Advisor, AEON Co., Ltd., said: “The conservation of biodiversity and the prevention of climate change are considered two of the most important environmental issues of the present day. The Foundation hopes that this prize will contribute to these global environmental issues and to the global goals set forth in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022.” David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said: “Following the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022, the world community has been responding to the call to take urgent action for biodiversity. The eighth edition of the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity will honor individuals who are supporting the mission of this Biodiversity Plan: to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030. I invite you to also lead by example and be part of the Plan.” The Prize will be awarded during the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the CBD to be held from 21 October to 1 November 2024 in Cali, Colombia, under the theme “Peace with nature”. To strengthen collaboration with the prizewinners, various initiatives to disseminate their activities are planned thereafter through to 2025, such as holding forums in the prizewinners’ countries of origin. Conferment of the Prize The Prize is awarded to two individuals who are each honored at a award ceremony and who each receive a wooden plaque, a commemorative gift and a monetary prize of 100,000 US dollars.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The engagement of and collaboration between all stakeholders, including individual citizens, governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, researchers and the private sector are essential to safeguard the Earth's biodiversity.Recognizing this, the MIDORI Prize is open to all individuals contributing to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the field of practical activities**Practical activities: local activities and business activities conducted at several places in the world are taken into consideration.Candidates must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:Achievement: Have made outstanding achievements that greatly contribute to biodiversityPotential: Have the ability to influence future activities related to biodiversityImpact: Have conducted work which has impacts on various activities for biodiversity around the worldAccomplishment will be assessed on its:International contribution Contribution to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity Social contribution Long-term perspective and continuityCreativity and originalityOpenness for civil society Efficacy and influence