Goldman Environmental Prize

About Goldman Environmental Prize:

• It recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk. It is also known as the Green Nobel.
• It recognizes grassroots environmental heroes from roughly the world’s six inhabited continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America and South & Central America.
• The Goldman Prize views “grassroots” leaders as those involved in local efforts, where positive change is created through community or citizen participation.
• The first Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony took place on April 16, 1990. It was timed to coincide with Earth Day.

Key facts about Hasdeo Aranya region:

• It is a sprawling forest in the northern part of Chhattisgarh which is known for its biodiversity and also its coal deposits.
• The forest falls under Korba, Surajpur and Sarguja districts with sizeable tribal population. The Hasdeo River, a tributary of Mahanadi, flows through it.
• It is the largest un-fragmented forests in Central India consisting of pristine Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak forests.