The National Geographic Society has announced Iroro Tanshi and Mauricio Hoyos Padilla as the 2026 recipients of the National Geographic/Buffett Awards for Leadership in Conservation in recognition of their outstanding dedication to protecting endangered wildlife, restoring critical habitats and inspiring public action to defend at-risk species.

Tanshi, a Nigerian ecologist and conservationist, is leading efforts to protect threatened bat species and small mammals across West Africa.

Both Tanshi and Hoyos Padilla are spearheading groundbreaking research aimed at strengthening conservation efforts across West Africa and the eastern Pacific Ocean while mobilising communities to implement evidence-based solutions to reverse species decline.

Established in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the awards recognise two changemakers from Africa and Latin America who demonstrate exceptional commitment to biodiversity protection in their regions, serve as role models and mentors to aspiring conservationists, and promote environmental stewardship within their communities and globally.

“Because of Iroro and Mauricio’s decades of courageous leadership, the world’s most biodiverse regions and vulnerable wildlife are more resilient for generations to come,” said the Society’s Chief Science and Innovation Officer, Ian Miller.

“Their heroic fieldwork is a testament to the power of curiosity and collaboration to illuminate new paths forward for conservation despite the global challenges we face,” he added.

By investing in and amplifying the leadership of changemakers like Tanshi and Hoyos Padilla, who are advancing knowledge and driving bold conservation programmes across the globe, the Society said it is reaffirming its commitment to supporting explorers who are protecting the planet’s biodiversity.

Tanshi’s passion for conservation has been driven by her deep curiosity about the natural world, particularly Afrotropical bats and small mammals. She is credited with rediscovering the short-tailed roundleaf bat after a 45-year absence and establishing Nigeria’s first national bat database to support future research.

As co-founder of the Small Mammal Conservation Organisation (SMACON), Tanshi combines scientific research, community engagement and habitat protection to safeguard endangered bat populations from growing threats such as wildfires, habitat loss and cave disturbances.

She has also dedicated her career to creating sustainable conservation interventions in Nigeria, where bat conservation has historically suffered from limited research and inadequate resources.

Over the past decade, she has strengthened research capacity in Nigeria by mentoring local scientists and conservationists while partnering with communities to establish long-term conservation strategies.

Among these initiatives is the Zero Wildfire Campaign, which empowers local farming communities to prevent dry-season fires at critical bat roosting sites.

“I am deeply honoured by this recognition and hope it inspires greater support and capacity for species conservation across West Africa. The more we champion evidence-based, community-led solutions in our fieldwork, the closer we are to achieving a sustainable future for humans and mammals alike,” Tanshi said.

“Bats, in particular, play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, from pollination to pest control. By safeguarding these threatened species, we can preserve the rich biodiversity that sustains our livelihoods and the health of our planet,” she added.

Meanwhile, Tanshi was recently named among the six recipients of the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize by the Goldman Environmental Foundation.

Awarded yearly to environmental heroes from each of the world’s six primary regions, the Goldman Environmental Prize recognises the achievements and leadership of grassroots environmental activists worldwide while inspiring collective action to protect the planet.

The prize was founded in 1989 in San Francisco by philanthropists and civic leaders Rhoda and Richard Goldman. Over the past 37 years, the award has had a significant global impact.

After rediscovering the endangered short-tailed roundleaf bat in Nigeria, Tanshi identified human-induced wildfires as the main threat to the species and launched a successful, community-led campaign to protect its refuge, the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary.

Between early 2022 and May 2025, she and her community fire brigades prevented any serious wildfires from occurring in and around the sanctuary by patrolling thousands of farms and effectively responding to more than 70 fire outbreaks, safeguarding communities, forests, and the bat’s fragile habitat.

To date, the prize has honoured 239 recipients, including 112 women from 98 countries. Many winners have gone on to serve as government officials, heads of state, NGO leaders and Nobel Prize laureates.