Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld Named a 2027 Indianapolis Prize Nominee

We are proud to share that Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld, our Co-Founder and CEO, has been named a Nominee for the 2027 Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation. She is among 27 conservationists selected for the 2027 group of Nominees.

The nomination reflects Laly’s leadership and draws attention to a body of work built over nearly three decades by our Tanzanian team, community leaders, government colleagues and conservation partners. Before community-led conservation became a global priority, Laly and Tanzanian communities were already showing what it could achieve for wildlife.

Our earliest work focused on conflict between rural families and lions in the Maasai Steppe of Tanzania. Community members helped develop practical ways to protect livestock, respond quickly when conflict occurred and gather the field data needed to prevent retaliatory killings. These efforts contributed to the recovery of a key lion population in the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem.

As the work expanded, so did our understanding of what lasting wildlife conservation requires. Today, African People & Wildlife brings together conflict prevention and rapid response, community-collected data, habitat monitoring and restoration, environmental education and livelihood opportunities for rural women. The result is a model built for complexity. It can respond to immediate threats involving large carnivores, elephants, buffalo and other species while strengthening the land, livelihoods, knowledge and local leadership that conservation depends on.

Community members lead much of this work. Human-Wildlife Coexistence Officers respond to conflict and monitor wildlife within their own communities. Community Savanna Monitors track changes in rangeland health. Educators prepare young people to take part in conservation. Women build enterprises connected to healthy habitats and greater economic opportunity. Their knowledge and data inform decisions within communities and contribute to planning with government stakeholders at the district, regional and national levels.

According to Laly, "This nomination may carry my name, but it represents an extraordinary Tanzanian team, dedicated community leaders and years of collaboration with government and conservation partners."

"I am enormously proud of what we have built together and grateful that this recognition brings greater attention to the Tanzanian leadership and ideas behind it."

In early 2027, the Indianapolis Prize Nominating Committee will select six DeHaan Finalists. A Jury will then select the Indianapolis Prize Winner. Laly was previously nominated for the 2025 Indianapolis Prize, making this her second consecutive nomination.

Read the official Indianapolis Prize announcement and learn more about the 2027 Nominees.