Founded in 2013 by an Iranian artist couple, Mojtaba Ramzi and Paridokht Moshkzad, the Yahya Prize rewards wardens who have risked their life to protect the Iran’s biodiversity. In collaboration with the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS), last year the prize awarded to five wardens who have been severely injured by poachers or natural resources smugglers.
The pre-award procedure for the 2nd year of the prize has been started by a committee compromising of the founders, ICS, deputies from Iran Department of the Environment and some Iranian artists.