Kabir Kaul
Kabir Kaul | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2005 (age 18–19) |
| Occupation(s) | Conservationist, writer and campaigner |
| Awards | Prime Minister's Points of Light award |
Kabir Kaul FRSA[1][2][3] (born 2005) is a British conservationist, writer and urban wildlife campaigner.[4][5]
Biography
[edit]In February 2019, he published an interactive map on his blog, Nature Reserves of London - 2nd Edition, showing more than 1000 publicly-accessible nature reserves and Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation in Greater London.[6]
In celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II, he led the '70 Nestboxes for 70 Years' campaign, aiming to donate nest boxes to schools in London in early 2022.[7] A total of 106 boxes were donated to schools. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport subsequently invited him to a Jubilee lunch at 10 Downing Street,[8] where the 107th nest box was placed in the 10 Downing Street Garden. During the Jubilee he was also Young Ambassador for The Queen's Green Canopy. In this role he helped launch an urban greening project in Tower Hamlets[9] and contributed to The Queen’s Green Canopy Book: Ancient Woodlands and Trees by Adrian Houston and Charles Sainsbury-Plaice.[10]
Kaul has roles in several charities and organisations, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and London National Park City. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan appointed him a member of the London Rewilding Taskforce in 2022, a role in which he served until March 2023.[11]
He has made appearances on a number of national television programmes, including BBC Springwatch[12] and BBC Autumnwatch.[13] He has written for The Big Issue[14] and has been featured in or contributed to The Guardian,[15] The Observer,[16] The Financial Times[17][18] and BBC Radio 4.[19][20] In 2023 he spoke at the 'Restore Nature Now' protest outside DEFRA's main headquarters, organised by naturalist Chris Packham in response to that year's State of nature report.
Kaul advocates for the protection and restoration of nature in urban areas, particularly in London where he lives. Notably he has campaigned for Warren Farm, Southall to receive Local nature reserve status.[21][22]
He co-authored London in the Wild: Exploring Nature in the City in 2022.[23]
Recognition
[edit]- In recognition of his Nature Reserves of London map, Kaul received the Marsh Award for Young Ornithologist 2019[24] and was named a Big Issue Top 100 Changemaker of 2020.[25]
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson recognised him with a Points of Light award in 2020,[26] celebrating his advocacy of nature conservation in London and nature blog Kaul of the Wild.
- The International Fund for Animal Welfare awarded him its first ever Youth Conservation Award, presented by Baroness Gale in 2021.[27]
- In 2024, he was the recipient of the Linnean Society's John Spedan Lewis Emerging Leader award, awarded to "an individual who is making a significant and innovative contribution to conservation".[28][29]
Personal life
[edit]Kaul attended Watford Grammar School for Boys[13] and lives in North West London. His family is of Kashmiri origin.[30]
References
[edit]- ^ "Kabir Kaul - RSA". www.thersa.org. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ RSA (6 March 2024). COURAGE + CLIMATE I LORRAINE WHITMARSH + KABIR KAUL + MARTIN I WRIGHT I FELLOWS FESTIVAL 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Nature takes centre stage at RSA President's Lecture". The RSA. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "The London Society | London - the greenest city? Discovering the capital's unique habitats". www.londonsociety.org.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Kaul, Kabir – New Networks For Nature". Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "The 13-year-old boy mapping a complete list of London's green spaces". The Big Issue. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Bullen, Holly (11 January 2022). "70 NEST BOXES: Eco conscious teen from Eastcote launches project promoting conservation in schools". My Local News. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Downing Street hosts afternoon tea in honour of Platinum Jubilee". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "The Queen's Green Canopy at Furze Green". 1 November 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Houston, Adrian; Sainsbury-Plaice, Charles (1 June 2023). The Queen's Green Canopy: Ancient Woodlands and Trees. Random House. ISBN 978-1-5299-0911-1.
- ^ "London Rewilding Taskforce | London City Hall". www.london.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "BBC Two - Springwatch, 2020, Out to Lunch – 5th June". BBC. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ a b "15-year-old wildlife enthusiast appears on BBC show". Watford Observer. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Kaul, Kabir (22 April 2021). "How to connect to nature in towns and cities". The Big Issue. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Weston, Phoebe (5 December 2022). "'We need to be braver': young naturalists on the world beyond Cop15". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Eyes on the skies: young birdwatchers take flight". The Guardian. 13 October 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Bott, Ian; Barrett, Claer (29 August 2020). "How Britain became a nation of birdwatchers". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Barrett, Claer (1 February 2021). "Fowl play: five water birds to spot in London this winter". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Costing the Earth, Green Places for Everyone". BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Costing the Earth, The New Environmental Sheriff in Town". BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Leading environmental campaigners including RSPB, Kabir Kaul and Chris Packham give backing to Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign". Warren Farm Nature Reserve. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Stanley, Megan (26 January 2023). "Ealing beauty spot will have football pitches built on it despite local outrage". My London. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Trust, London Wildlife (13 October 2022). London in the Wild: Exploring Nature in the City. Octopus. ISBN 978-1-80419-071-5.
- ^ "Winner of Young Ornithologist Award announced". BirdGuides. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Top 100 Changemakers 2020: Environment". The Big Issue. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Kaul of the Wild". Points of Light. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Animal heroes shine at the 2021 Animal Action Awards". IFAW. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Find out about our 2024 Medal and Award winners". The Linnean Society. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "The John Spedan Lewis Emerging Leader Award". The Linnean Society. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ https://naee.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NAEE-ANNUAL-REVIEW-2019-20.pdf