The Jigme Singye Wangchuck Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Award
The Jigme Singye Wangchuck Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes, celebrates and honours individuals and institutions from across the globe and Bhutan for outstanding contributions to the environment.

The Award is conferred by Her Royal Highness Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck, Royal Patron of the Bhutan Ecological Society, as homage to His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan.

His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck is a champion for nature and her protection. His Majesty’s legacy includes landmark policies such as the dictum to protect 60% of Bhutan’s land under forests for all times to come. It was also during his Majesty’s reign that close to 50% of Bhutan’s land was declared as Protected Areas. Recognizing early on that environmental conservation cannot happen in isolation to development, His Majesty espoused the philosophy of Gross National Happiness, calling for a paradigm shift in the way we measure human progress and development.

Recognizing His Majesty’s dedication to environmental conservation, His Majesty was honoured with the inaugural UNEP Champions of the Earth Award in 2005 and the 2006 J Paul Getty Conservation Leadership Award. His Majesty was inducted into the Kyoto Earth Hall of Fame on 13th February 2011 and honoured with the 2022 Blue Planet Prize.