Presented by the Conservation Council of South Australia in partnership with Green Adelaide, the Department for Environment and Water, and the University of Adelaide Environment Institute, SA’s premier nature awards acknowledge individuals, groups and organisations that dedicate their time, expertise, and passion to care for our precious natural environment.
Green Adelaide sponsors the Pelzer Prize, an award is named in honour of Adelaide’s first city gardener – August Wilhelm Pelzer – who played an enormous role in transforming the city landscape.
Green Adelaide Presiding Member Professor Chris Daniels said that the quality of past nominations for this urban greening and biodiversity focused award highlights how passionate people are about making a significant difference for the South Australian environment.
“The Pelzer Prize celebrates the people and organisations helping create a cooler, greener and more biodiverse Adelaide,” Professor Daniels said.
“Each year we are inspired by the creativity and determination of those restoring habitats, connecting communities to nature and improving the resilience of our city.”
On the SA awards, Conservation Council SA CEO Kirsty Bevan says the work undertaken by community members and groups in conserving and protecting the environment deserves to be celebrated.
"The South Australian Environment Awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the passionate, dedicated, and innovative individuals and groups working tirelessly to protect and restore our environment," Kirsty Bevan, Chief Executive of Conservation SA, said.
"These awards honour the incredible contributions of South Australians who champion the health of our landscapes, climate, biodiversity, and community resilience. Their often-unseen efforts are building a brighter, more sustainable future for everyone."
Nominations are open across six categories:
- Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection – Since 1998, this award has recognised an individual living in South Australia who has made an outstanding contribution to protecting the state’s environment.
- Pelzer Prize – Championed by Green Adelaide, the Pelzer Prize recognises a conservation leader or environmental champion who works towards restoring landscapes, creating habitat for wildlife, connecting people to nature, or cleaning up natural spaces.
- Working Together Award – The Working Together Award recognises groups or organisations whose program has recently achieved significant results for our environment.
- Innovation Award – This new award recognises an individual, organisation or company for developing or applying an innovative solution towards a sustainable future.
- Leif Justham Young Achiever Award – Named for inspiring young climate activist Leif Justham, this award recognises individuals (or groups of young people) under the age of 28 who have made a significant contribution to protecting the state’s environment.
- Conservation Science Award - This prize recognises the development of application-ready research or the successful application of science and research into real-world conservation outcomes.
Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 27 March and an awards ceremony will be held on World Environment Day (5 June 2024) to celebrate the winners, finalists and Lifetime Achievers.
More details about the SA Environment Awards can be found at the SA Environment Awards website.