A Voice for Kashmir’s Environment: Arif Shafi Wani Receives State’s Top Environmental Honor
Arif Shafi Wani, the Executive Editor of Greater Kashmir, the leading English daily in Jammu and Kashmir, has been conferred with the prestigious State Award for Outstanding Environmentalist by the Jammu and Kashmir Government on the occasion of Republic Day. This marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first journalist to receive this accolade in this category. The award includes a cash prize of ₹51,000 and a citation, recognizing his remarkable contributions to environmental conservation and awareness.
With over two decades of journalistic experience at Greater Kashmir, Arif has established himself as a pioneer in environmental reporting. He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Media Education Research Centre (MERC) at the University of Kashmir and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. A proud alumnus of Tyndale Biscoe School, Arif has consistently focused on critical environmental issues facing Jammu and Kashmir, earning widespread respect for his expertise and advocacy.
Arif’s groundbreaking work includes a sustained campaign spanning more than a decade to conserve Dal Lake and other water bodies in Kashmir that have been severely impacted by pollution and encroachment. His reporting has not only brought these issues to the forefront but has also highlighted the broader environmental challenges affecting the region, including the impacts of climate change, the rapid melting of glaciers, the degradation of wetlands, the destruction of karewas, and illegal riverbed mining.
Over the years, Arif has been widely recognized for his efforts and has received numerous accolades. In 2007, he was honored with the Sher-e-Kashmir Award for Environmental Awareness, presented by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. This was followed by the Ozone Award in 2008 for his exemplary environmental reporting. His commitment to raising awareness also earned him the Award of Excellence for environmental and tourism reportage in 2009 and 2012, presented by the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir.
In 2012, he received the Green Journalist Award for his invaluable contributions to the conservation of Dal Lake. This was further reinforced by the Parvaran Mitra Award in 2013, presented by the Environmental Medical Association of India. Arif’s work has also been recognized by the Jammu and Kashmir Ski and Mountaineering Association, which felicitated him with the Award of Honour for environmental reporting, and he has received the Ahad Zargar Memorial Award for his dedication to environmental conservation.
In 2017, Arif’s exceptional contributions were acknowledged with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who commended his impactful work in environmental journalism. The same year, the Central University of Kashmir’s Department of Religious Studies honored him for his outstanding services toward environmental conservation.
His achievements continued with the State Award in the Outstanding Media Persons category in 2018, followed by the Real Hero Award in 2021, presented by Members of Parliament led by NDA leader Chirag Paswan. The Kashmir Welfare Trust also recognized his efforts that year, acknowledging his exceptional service to the community and the environment. In 2024, Arif was honored with the Award of Excellence by Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma during a ceremony organized by the Nigeen Tourist Traders Association.
Arif Shafi Wani’s steadfast dedication to environmental issues and his relentless efforts to raise awareness about pressing ecological concerns have positioned him as a trailblazer in environmental journalism. His work continues to inspire and drive meaningful change in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond.
