The prestigious annual WESSA Awards celebrate the remarkable efforts of individuals, groups, and institutions who have gone above and beyond to advance environmental conservation and education in South Africa.
Among the categories honoured are those that recognise the vital contributions of youth who are shaping the future of conservation, individuals whose dedication and passion inspire change, and corporates making significant strides toward sustainability. Additionally, groups and teachers are acknowledged for their collaborative efforts and innovative approaches to environmental education.
The WESSA Awards also pay tribute to those whose lifelong commitment and impact have left an indelible mark on the landscape of environmental conservation—a recognition of lifetime achievement in the field.
We invite you to nominate deserving candidates for the 2025 WESSA Awards. This is your chance to recognise sustainability champions who are doing exceptional work to protect our planet and promote sustainable development.
Call for Nominations
1. To recognise the people, groups, or institutions who passionately advance the cause of environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa in an exceptional and sustained manner.
2. To increase public awareness of local or national achievements in environmental conservation and/or education. The main criteria for the WESSA Awards are: “Any individual, corporate/organisation, community group, educational group, conservation or environmental group who have done outstanding and sustained work for the benefit of environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa.”
Note:
The above contribution can be made at a local level, but it should be of national significance or be able to be replicated at a national level.
In exceptional cases, the WESSA Awards committee may consider submissions where the activity has not been on a sustained basis.
Who can nominate?
Anyone can nominate a deserving candidate, however, WESSA staff are not eligible for these awards. Only in exceptional cases may previously awarded recipients be nominated again. Nominations can be submitted to the WESSA Awards Committee using the link provided below.
WESSA reserves the right to alter or cancel the awards at its discretion. By participating in the awards, the nominees and winners agree to publication of their name and where possible photographs for marketing and promotional purposes.
Nominations Timeline
Nominations via the online link, close at 5pm on 3 October 2025. Thereafter the Awards Committee of independent judges will adjudicate the submissions and select the winners in each category. Late submissions outside this period will not be accepted.
The final decision by the Awards Committee is based on the contents of the submission. As a rule, the committee will not undertake further research into the achievements of the nominees, nor the veracity of the claims made. Nominations must therefore be both substantial and substantiated. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Successful candidates will be notified by 14 November 2025 that they are in-line to receive an award. Winners will be presented with their award in person from late November 2025 onwards, with various media releases concerning the winners planned.
Procedure for WESSA Awards nominations
Nominations must be submitted in writing via the online form and should include:
- Full name of person or organisation being nominated (nominee).
- Nominee’s or their representative’s telephone and email contact details.
- Full name of person’s proposing the nominee (proposer) and their telephone and email contact details.
- Full motivation for the nomination in which the nominee’s exceptional and (where appropriate) sustained contribution(s) to environmental conservation and/or education are described, with a specific focus on outcomes and achievements.
- Optional links to any web-based information about the nominee and/or their work for which they are being lauded for may be included at the end of the motivation.
- Submission of a photo of the nominee if available that can be used for publicity purposes. The photo can highlight the work of the nominee. If there is more than one person in the photo, then please indicate which is the nominee in the photo caption line on the Form. There is an option to submit a video or a link to a video that showcases the nominee and/or their work being nominated for.
Award Categories
WESSA AWARD FOR INDIVIDUALS
This is WESSA’s premier award to an individual. The person nominated must be considered to have made an outstanding contribution to environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa over a sustained period and at a national level. “Outstanding contribution” in this context is understood to be a contribution over and above what would normally be expected from their work.
WESSA AWARD FOR YOUTH
Youth are increasingly taking on environmental issues and making them their life’s work. In the Youth Award category, WESSA would like to acknowledge a young person, under the age of 35 years, who has committed themself to environmental conservation and/or education. This individual should be making an “outstanding contribution” that is having positive outcomes at a national level.
WESSA AWARD FOR CORPORATES
This award is made to corporations or institutions for outstanding contributions to environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa over a sustained period and at a national level.
WESSA AWARD FOR GROUPS
This award is made to any group of volunteers (e.g., community, educational, environmental) who have done outstanding work for the benefit of environmental conservation and/or education over a sustained period. Such contributions could be in their local area but should be of national significance or be able to be replicated nationally.
WESSA AWARD FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR
This award celebrates the unique contribution of teachers that are a part of WESSA’s Education Programme and honours their commitment to improving the quality of environmental education in the South African school curriculum and enriching the lives of their students.
WESSA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Lifetime Achievement Award honours a person who has made an outstanding contribution to environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa, over their lifetime and at a national or international level.
The intention is that a single award be made in each category each year. However, there is no restriction on the Awards Committee to limit awards made in one year. Furthermore, should no suitable candidate/s be nominated, the Awards Committee reserves the right to make no awards or call for more nominations.