The Nature Conservation Award is in recognition of Runa Khan’s exceptional leadership and innovative work in addressing climate change, conserving the environment, and improving the quality of life of vulnerable communities.
A formal award ceremony was held on Monday, 29 December 2025, at Channel i’s Chetana Chattar. The event was further graced by the presence Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, chief Conservator of Forests.
The integrated adaptation solutions pioneered and popularised by Friendship has transformed the lives of people in some of Bangladesh’s most hard-to-reach regions.
In collaboration with the local government, local communities, and the Bangladesh Forest Department, Friendship carries out mangrove afforestation across the coastline, with 62km currently secured.
The initiative is also aligned with the regional Mountains to Mangrove project that aims to plant 1 billion trees from the Himalayas to the Sundarbans. Mangroves can unilaterally tackle desertification, conserve biodiversity, and trap carbon.