TANZANIA’S Rahima Njaidi, a pioneering lawyer and leading advocate of community-led forest conservation, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa.

Presented by Prince William at the 13th annual Tusk Conservation Awards in London on Wednesday, it recognises her transformative work empowering thousands of people across rural Tanzania to restore forests, secure land rights, and improve livelihoods.

A press statement by the Tusk Conservation Awards stated that Njaidi, the founder and Executive Director of the Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania (MJUMITA), leads Tanzania’s only nationwide community forest conservation network. More than 49,000 people—many of them women and marginalised groups—have been trained and supported through MJUMITA’s programmes. These efforts have helped communities secure land tenure, adopt sustainable livelihood models, and implement forest management systems that both protect biodiversity and improve household incomes.

“This award is both humbling and deeply inspiring,” Njaidi said during the ceremony. “It affirms the efforts of my colleagues and I, working tirelessly to ensure that communities are at the heart of forest management and conservation. Let this award stand as a reminder that investing in communities is investing in conservation, resilience, and hope.”

Prince William praised the three frontline conservationists honoured this year—Njaidi, Kumara Wakjira of Ethiopia, and Kenya’s Laban Mwangi—for their unparalleled commitment and ingenuity. 

“Tonight is a reminder that our planet continues to face serious environmental concerns,” he said. “Indigenous communities and local conservation leaders provide the practical solutions to sustain our precious natural landscapes and vital biodiversity,” he said.

Tusk CEO Nick Bubb said the awards highlight the continent’s global significance. “Africa is a key global asset for biodiversity. The individuals we honour demonstrate the power of locally led conservation.” Hendrik du Toit of Ninety One added that protecting Africa’s biodiversity is “fundamental to our collective future.”

Njaidi’s work has connected 503 villages and 132 community-based organisations in a coordinated effort to curb deforestation and strengthen local governance of natural resources.

Under her leadership, MJUMITA has championed innovative approaches including REDD+ benefit-sharing schemes, sustainable charcoal production, and comprehensive land-use planning. 

These initiatives have restored degraded ecosystems while channelling revenues into schools, health centres, and local economies—demonstrating that effective conservation and community welfare can go hand in hand.

The awards, organised by conservation charity Tusk in partnership with investment firm Ninety One, celebrate exceptional leadership, innovation, impact, and inspiration in safeguarding Africa’s natural heritage. Since their inception in 2013, they have honoured 57 conservation leaders from more than 20 African countries.

Prize funding is directed to winners’ organisations to support ongoing conservation work: £100,000 over three years for the Prince William Award, £75,000 for the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, and £50,000 for the Wildlife Ranger Award.