SHILLONG: Tambor Lyngdoh, a conservationist from Meghalaya, has been conferred with the 2020 NatWest Group Earth Heroes Award for passionately working towards mitigating climate and changing and managing the planet’s biological diversity. He is one of the eight such awardees from across the country.
Lyngdoh’s concerted efforts have protected 9,250 hectares of dense forests, aided in the regeneration of 5,000 hectares of open forests, and mobilised 74 villages throughout the state to engage them in the conservation of forest ecosystems, a statement said.
He also implemented the first REDD+ project (a UN initiative to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) in India across 27,000 hectares effectively, uniting 10 local self-governance bodies to protect and sustainably manage community forests, the statement added.
Apart from introducing homestays in Mawphlang since 1998, he has also been training local youths to work as tourist guides and Mawphlang Sacred Grove researchers.
Thrilled with this achievement, Lyngdoh said, “I would like to thank the NatWest Group, RBS Foundation India, directors and jury members, for the ‘Green Warrior’ Earth Hero Award. It is my privilege to be awarded at this prestigious ceremony which is being held virtually”.
NatWest Group India, (formerly RBS India), the global capability centre of the Natwest Group, announced the winners of the 10th edition of the NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards on Thursday.
In 2007, NatWest Group (formerly RBS Group) set up the RBS Foundation India to contribute to India’s UN Sustainable Development Goals (then Millennium Development Goals) with a focus at the intersection of critical natural ecosystems and excluded communities.