Context:
Alok Shukla, convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, has been awarded the 2024 Goldman Prize from Asia.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
About Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize, often referred to as the “Green Nobel,” is a prestigious award that recognizes individuals for their sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk. Here are some key points about the Goldman Environmental Prize:
- Recognition of Environmental Heroes: The Prize acknowledges grassroots environmental heroes from around the world who have made significant contributions to environmental conservation and activism.
- Scope: The Prize recognizes individuals from roughly the world’s six inhabited continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America.
- Grassroots Leadership: The Goldman Prize places a strong emphasis on grassroots leadership, defining “grassroots” leaders as those involved in local efforts where positive change is brought about through community or citizen participation.
- Inception: The first Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony took place on April 16, 1990, timed to coincide with Earth Day. Since then, it has become an annual event celebrating environmental activism and conservation.
Hasdeo Aranya region:
- Location and Characteristics: The Hasdeo Aranya region is a sprawling forest located in the northern part of Chhattisgarh, India. It is renowned for its rich biodiversity and also contains significant coal deposits.
- Geographical Coverage: The forest spans across Korba, Surajpur, and Sarguja districts of Chhattisgarh and is home to a sizable tribal population.
- River: The Hasdeo River, a tributary of the Mahanadi River, flows through the forest, contributing to its ecological significance.
- Forest Composition: The Hasdeo Aranya region is notable for being one of the largest unfragmented forests in Central India, consisting of pristine Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak forests. This makes it an important habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna.
-Source: The Hindu
