IAS officer Supriya Sahu, Tamil Nadu’s Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, has been honoured with the 2025 UNEP Champions of the Earth award in the Inspiration and Action category for her transformative leadership in sustainable cooling, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience across the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and statewide initiatives.
Announced at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi on 10 December 2025, her efforts have generated 2.5 million green jobs, expanded forest cover through massive tree-planting drives including a Guinness World Record for 42,000 trees in one day doubled mangrove areas, and benefited over 12 million people via projects like Operation Blue Mountain and the Cool Roof initiative amid rising threats from climate change, invasive species, and urban heat.
Stakeholders such as UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, local indigenous communities like the Toda and Irula tribes, environmental NGOs, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin celebrate her community-centric approach, with Sahu humbly crediting her teams and nature’s reciprocity; recent developments include statewide plastic bans and a US$60 million Endangered Species Fund, positioning her work as a scalable model for India without reported controversies.
Trailblazing Impact: Stats, Stories, and Voices from the Ground
Supriya Sahu’s achievements stand as a testament to dedicated public service in one of India’s most ecologically sensitive regions. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, spanning 5,520 square kilometres across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986 has seen remarkable revival under her stewardship since her early posting as District Collector in 2000.
Key initiatives include Operation Blue Mountain, which has restored shola grasslands and forests by removing invasive exotics like eucalyptus and wattle, while planting over 100 million trees statewide, including the record-breaking 42,000 saplings in Nilgiris that earned a Guinness accolade.
These efforts have not only boosted native biodiversity evidenced by a 30% rise in bird populations and healthier wildlife corridors for species like the endangered Nilgiri tahr but also created sustainable livelihoods through eco-tourism homestays supporting 500 families and green jobs in mangrove restoration along 1,000 kilometres of coastline.
The Cool Roof Project, rolled out in 200 green schools, combats urban heat islands by reflecting sunlight, directly aiding vulnerable students and communities in heat-stressed areas.
Sahu’s own words from the Nairobi ceremony capture the human element: “I accept this award with deep humility on behalf of my incredible team of foresters, scientists, and the resilient people of Tamil Nadu… Nature protects those who protect her.”
UNEP’s Inger Andersen echoed this, calling Sahu “a beacon of policy innovation” whose work exemplifies heat adaptation and inclusive job creation on a massive scale. Tamil Nadu’s initiatives have added 65 new reserve forests, showcasing how her vision turns data-driven policy into tangible, life-affirming change.
Building Resilience: From Early Crises to Nationwide Collaboration
Sahu’s environmental legacy traces back to pivotal moments that shaped her resolve. Appointed Nilgiris Collector in 2000 amid rampant single-use plastic pollution choking rivers and wildlife, she pioneered Tamil Nadu’s first statewide plastic ban a move that predated national efforts and stemmed from stark realities like forest degradation, water table depletion from monoculture plantations, and escalating human-elephant conflicts displacing indigenous groups.
Drawing lessons from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, where coastal ecosystems proved vital buffers, she expanded to mangrove rehabilitation and launched the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company, mobilising finance for resilience projects.
Her administration fostered partnerships with NGOs like the Bombay Natural History Society and hosted forums such as NilgiriScapes 2025, blending indigenous knowledge from Toda and Irula communities with scientific expertise to enforce community patrols and promote regenerative tourism.
These steps built on the biosphere’s foundational declaration in the 1980s but addressed modern crises, including 40% forest loss reported in 2020 audits. Recent expansions include a US$60 million Endangered Species Fund and statewide enforcement against illegal tree felling, ensuring exotic species removal without harming livelihoods.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin praised her publicly: “Supriya Sahu’s vision transforms policy into action, safeguarding our natural heritage for generations to come.” This collaborative framework has not only stabilised ecosystems but also empowered locals, turning potential adversaries into stewards of the land.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian applauds Supriya Sahu’s extraordinary honour as a shining example of empathetic leadership that weaves kindness, dialogue, and harmony into environmental action, proving that true progress blooms from coexistence between communities, wildlife, and policymakers.
Her journey from grassroots plastic bans to global acclaim inspires India to embrace similar people-first models, fostering positive social change through inclusive green jobs, indigenous wisdom, and bold innovation that uplifts millions while healing the planet. In a world facing climate urgency, her story urges us towards unity and sustainability.
