News

Pendeba initiative at Mount Everest wins prize

03.07.2014

The Pendeba Society of the Tibet Autonomous Region was chosen as one of the winners of the Equator Prize 2014 for its efforts to safeguard the Qomolangma (Mount Everest) National Nature Preserve, an area roughly the size of Switzerland. 

The award-winning Pendeba initiative employs locally-nominated volunteers (pendebas) from each of the 406 villages within the protected area to promote environmental conservation, improve family health, advance options for income generation and organize collective action for common goods.

Over the past two decades, the Pendeba initiative has helped decrease child mortality by 50 percent, reduce deforestation by 80 percent and protect threatened endangered wildlife species, including populations of the snow leopard, Tibetan wild ass and Tibetan gazelle. Pendebas have mobilized their villages to improve water and sanitation services, protect wetlands and water sources, establish hundreds of tree nurseries and reforestation campaigns, spread the use of solar energy, and prevent the killing of endangered animals. Activities are carried out with a strong sense of partnership within the communities and with local governments.

At the roof of the world, with six of the planet’s highest peaks, the initiative is helping to safeguard a climate change hotspot, a wetland ecosystem and the health and well-being of local communities.

Of the 1 234 nominations from 121 countries around the world, the Equator Prize went to the Pendeba Society and 34 other groups for their community-based, grassroots action to address environment, poverty and climate change challenges this year.

The Equator Prize is awarded biennially to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. As local and indigenous groups across the world chart a path towards sustainable development, the Equator Prize shines a spotlight on their efforts by honouring them on an international stage.

Read more: www.pendeba.org and www.equatorinitiative.org