The Queen’s Award for Forestry was presented to CIFOR's Dr. Ravi Prabhu at Buckingham Palace on 24 February 2005.
For almost 20 years the award has recognized commonwealth citizens who have made a significant contribution to forestry in Commonwealth countries, with the winner of the award nominated by the Commonwealth Forestry Association.
Dr. Ravi Prabhu was awarded the prize in recognition of his outstanding contribution to work on sustainable forest management. Dr. Prabu is particularly well-regarded for pioneering a more responsive form of forest management that adapts to changes in the objectives, context and condition of forests and their management.
Dr. Prabhu has a firm commitment to transforming public sector forestry institutions into more dynamic, transparent and accountable, learning-based organizations.
He works tirelessly to encourage and mentor young developing country scientists. Many young leaders in Asia and Africa have benefited greatly through working with him.
Dr. Prabhu was recently appointed to the task force on environmental sustainability for the United Nation’s Millennium Project, established by Kofi Annan and led by Jeffrey Sachs.
A writer, speaker, teacher, and facilitator, he has worked to bring together industrial forestry, community forestry, and government organisations.
Since finishing his doctoral degree at the University of Gottingen in Germany in 1994, Dr. Prabhu has spent most of the last ten years at CIFOR, where he is widely acknowledged as one of the Center’s leading researchers.
Dr. Prabhu is Indian by birth and nationality, but has contributed greatly to the forestry sectors of a number of other commonwealth countries, including Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
The award will enable Dr. Prabhu to travel to other Commonwealth countries and become involved in the development or improvement of forestry or forestry product activities.
The Commonwealth Forestry Association will agree to a travel programme in conjunction with Dr. Prabhu that will maximise the benefits to him, his hosts and the Association. The successful candidate is expected to deliver a lecture upon return, describing his experiences and lessons learned.