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 today. These are individuals and institutions who have done significant work in conservation of wildlife and habitats and welfare of communities therein thereby making an impact in “Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development”, the theme for the 2020 awards.
The prestigious nationally-recognized awards spotlight the grit and determination of individuals and institutions stepping beyond their call of duty, to protect India’s biodiversity and critical natural ecosystems, and in turn have worked to mitigate climate change. The eight winners were felicitated via a virtual ceremony that was graced by the Chief Guest, Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Assistant Secretary General, UN and Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
On the occasion, the honourable Chief Guest, Ms. Elizabeth Maruma, stated, “It is an honor to be able to witness the commitment and dedication of these outstanding individuals and institutions towards the conservation of India’s biodiversity over the years. I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the NatWest Group for their continued commitment to India’s conservation goals by developing internal policies that support the transition to a low carbon economy by investing in key areas like forests, wetlands, and mangroves in partnership with the UN adaptation fund and through the establishment of the Earth Heroes Awards.”
Congratulating the winners, N Sunil Kumar, Head of Sustainable Banking, NatWest Group India and CEO, RBS Foundation India, said, “Protecting our biodiversity and mitigating climate risks hold even more importance for our existence today. It is with pride that we look at the 10 years of these awards and its collective impact through the work of the award winners. The NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards are a celebration of the spirit of venerating nature that India has as its proud heritage. The outstanding work done by these award winners in biodiversity conservation has a direct impact on mitigating climate change. It is my privilege to congratulate the eight intrepid individuals of the 2020 edition as the champions of earth – for their excellent work in the communities and ecosystems they impact. These are stellar examples to replicate.”
Winners of the 2020 NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards:
| Winners | Location | Award Category |
| Anshu Pragyan Das | Odisha | Green Warrior |
| Tambor Lyngdoh | Meghalaya | Green Warrior |
| Narpat Singh Alawa and Chandrapal Dhurvey | Madhya Pradesh | Green Warrior |
| Mangrove Cell, Maharashtra | Maharashtra | Earth Guardian |
| Rashila P. Vadher | Gujarat | Save the Species |
| Malsingh Jamara | Rajasthan | Save the Species |
| Anwaruddin Choudhury | Assam | Lifetime Achievement |
Speaking on the occasion, Punit Sood, Head of India, NatWest Group, said, “As a Purpose-led organisation, we have committed to play a leading role in the fight against climate change to build a sustainable future through meaningful action and change. The NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards is our modest effort to show our gratitude to some of India’s outstanding citizens who have been passionately working towards mitigating climate change and managing the planet’s biological diversity.”
Institutionalised in 2011, the NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards (formerly RBS Earth Heroes Awards) aim at providing a national platform to champions who have walked the extra mile to protect and conserve India rich biodiversity. The award winners were selected by an independent jury comprising eminent personalities from conservation science and management, media, and the government.
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. Working on improving livelihoods and sustainable use/conservation of natural resources, the Foundation has impacted over 1,23,650 families, across 11 states, through 22 ongoing projects, some of which have been recognised by the United Nations Development Programme and UN World Tourism Organization awards besides national awards
