The Future For Nature Awards 2027 recognize young conservationists who have achieved concrete results in protecting wild species. The award is presented by Future For Nature Foundation and provides three winners with €50,000 each to support conservation work of their own choice. Applications for the 2027 awards are open now, and the application deadline is August 23, 23:00 CEST.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: Future For Nature Awards
Category: Conservation Award
Host: Future For Nature Foundation
Event Location: Royal Burgers’ Zoo, Arnhem, the Netherlands
Award Amount: €50,000 for each winner
Award Event: May 2027
Application Deadline: August 23, 23:00 CEST
Eligible Applicants: Individual young conservationists aged 18 to 35 who meet the official criteria
About the Future For Nature Awards 2027
The Future For Nature Awards celebrate individuals who have made tangible contributions to protecting wild species. The awards aim to recognize, reward, and fund conservationists whose work has already produced meaningful results.
The programme is not a project funding scheme for organizations or groups. Instead, it focuses on individual conservationists with ongoing work, clear leadership, and a strong commitment to continuing their impact in nature conservation.
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Award Purpose and Recognition
The Future For Nature Awards support conservationists who are working directly to protect wild species. Winners receive funding, recognition, and a platform to share their conservation stories with a wider audience.
Future For Nature aims to help winners raise their profile, expand their professional network, and strengthen the funding basis for their work.
What Winners Receive
The official award page confirms that each winner receives €50,000 and the Future For Nature Award. The award money may be used at the winner’s discretion in service of nature conservation.
Confirmed award benefits include:
✓ €50,000 for each winner
✓ Future For Nature Award recognition
✓ International recognition for conservation work
✓ Platform to share conservation stories with a wider audience
✓ Access to a peer network of conservationists
✓ Opportunity to present work at the Future For Nature Awards event
✓ Covered travel and accommodation expenses for the event in Arnhem
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Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be individual conservationists, not organizations, programmes, or groups of individuals. The award is intended for candidates with proven achievements in protecting wild species and a clear commitment to continuing their conservation work.
Applicants must:
• Be an individual applicant
• Be born on or after 31 May 1992
• Be born before 31 August 2008
• Have achieved substantial and long-term benefits for the conservation status of one or more wild species
• Demonstrate commitment, determination, and passion for conservation work
• Show leadership, entrepreneurship, and a clear view of conservation work
• Demonstrate creativity and innovation in their work
• Be able to explain their conservation work in proficient written and spoken English
• Be determined to continue their conservation work
Applicants who applied for the 2026 Future For Nature Award through the summer 2025 submission cycle are not eligible to apply for the 2027 award.
Application Criteria
The application must be based on the candidate’s ongoing conservation work. Future For Nature states that it does not evaluate project proposals because the award is presented to individual nature conservationists.
Applicants should use the application to explain their own conservation achievements, vision, and planned use of the award money. The award should be used for a conservation initiative of the winner’s own choice and implemented by the winner.
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Application Requirements
Applicants must complete the official online application form in English. Non-English applications will not be considered.
The application form asks candidates to provide information about:
• Personal details and contact information
• Nationality, date of birth, country of work, and continent of work
• Focal species and scientific name of the focal species
• Focal species biome
• English proficiency
• Copy of passport or another identification document to verify date of birth
• Conservation achievements and personal contribution to species protection
• Conservation vision and strategies
• Planned use of the €50,000 award money
• Education record
• Employment record
• Previous Future For Nature Award applications
• Other conservation prizes received
• One or two relevant website links
• Contact details and short reference letters from two referees
The two referees must know the applicant in a professional capacity. They must be from different organizations, and the applicant is responsible for requesting the short reference letters.
Selection Process
The Future For Nature selection process begins after the application deadline. Eligible applications are forwarded to the National Selection Committee for assessment.
The official selection process includes:
• Eligible applications are reviewed after the deadline
• The National Selection Committee selects 6 to 12 candidate nominees
• Nominees provide further written information, photos, videos, and extended reference statements
• The International Selection Committee reviews and scores the nominees
• Three candidate winners are presented to the Future For Nature Board
• The three winners become official after Board approval
• Winners are informed before public announcement
• Preparations begin for the awards ceremony in Arnhem, the Netherlands
If a member of a selection committee has a conflict of interest with an applicant, that member is omitted from evaluating the candidate.
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Key Dates
Applicants should note the confirmed timeline for the 2027 award cycle.
• Application deadline: August 23, 23:00 CEST
• Shortlisted nominees: 6 to 12 candidates
• Award winners selected: Three winners
• Awards event: May 2027
• Event location: Royal Burgers’ Zoo, Arnhem, the Netherlands
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Future For Nature Awards 2027 is August 23 at 23:00 CEST. Applicants should complete the online form in English and submit all required information before the stated deadline.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official application link below.
