Blogs & Ecology

If it wasn't for Ignace Schops, one of the seven winners of the 2008 Goldman Environmental Prize, Belgium may have lost much of its natural habitat. A herpetologist, Schops studies amphibians and reptiles and has worked in the field since 1990. With tremendous effort and much help, the Belgium native was able to change his country's approach to conservation.

Belgian Beer and a Can-do Attitude

Marina Rikhvanova, Co-chairwoman of the NGO Baikal Environmental Wave, was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia for her on-going achievements in the protection of Lake Baikal, the "pearl of Siberia," in Russia. Founded in 1990, the prize is given annually to six grassroots environmentalists working for change around the globe.

Rosa Hilda Ramos accepting Goldman Prize

Photo credit: Will Parrinello and Jim Iacona.

It’s difficult to imagine the courage it takes to go against a huge corporation. Worse, an oil giant like Chevron. But Pablo Fajardo Mendoza and Luis Yanza are not afraid: They are convinced Ecuador and its people deserve a clean Amazon, and their conviction has led them to the final stages of what could be the largest environmental lawsuit ever filed in the world.

Feliciano dos Santos accepts the Ouroboros trophy from Richard Goldman at the 2008 Goldman Prize ceremony held earlier this month in San Francisco. A second ceremony was held in Washington, D.C.

The following post was written by Claire Alexander, vice president of Operations & Interactive Media for Planet Green, and TreeHugger's woman on the ground at the Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony in Washington, D.C. earlier this week.

This is the last in a series of interviews with previous winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize. Founded in 1990, the prize is given annually to six grassroots environmentalists working for change around the globe. So far, we've met a salmon saver and an Amazonian advocate. This year's prize winners will be announced on April 14.

This is one in a series of profiles of previous winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize. Founded in 1990, the prize is given annually to six grassroots environmentalists working for change around the globe. This year's prize winners will be announced on April 14.

This is the third in a series of interviews with previous winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize. Founded in 1990, the prize is given annually to six grassroots environmentalists working for change around the globe. This year's prize winners will be announced on April 14.