In 2025, CLP alumna Eva Ayaro Johnson was selected for the prestigious Marsh Award for Early Career Conservation in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the conservation of globally threatened pygmy chameleons in Tanzania.
CLP alumna and Marsh Award winner, Eva Ayaro Johnson, holding a pygmy chameleon © Rikki Gumbs
Each year, through the Marsh Awards, the Marsh Charitable Trust celebrates the outstanding contributions of people who are committed to social, cultural and environmental causes, with the Early Career Award honouring individuals in the early-to-mid stages of their careers.
Eva won the 2025 Marsh Award for Early Career Conservation after CLP nominated her for the award through one of our partners, Fauna & Flora, to recognise her remarkable work conserving pygmy chameleons in the South Nguru Mountains, Tanzania.
Eva Ayaro (far left) and her CLP team © Women in Conservation Network Tanzania
Eva received a cash prize of £1,000 and widespread professional recognition of her fantastic achievements, which include:
🦎Conducting systematic surveys across four protected areas
🦎Raising over $40k of funding for her conservation work
🦎Delivering conservation education to 500 students in seven rural schools
🦎Training and mentoring 35 young Tanzanian conservationists
🦎Initiating habitat restoration in degraded chameleon corridors
🦎Facilitating 12 community meetings to identify local conservation priorities and reduce threats from agriculture and the pet trade
Eva said: “This recognition celebrates not only my journey, but also the collective efforts of my team at Women in Conservation Network (WICO), my mentors, and the communities I work with in Tanzania to protect endangered reptiles and amphibians, inspire young conservationists, and promote community-led conservation.”