The 2008 winner of the US$1 million Rio Tinto Prize for Sustainability has been won by a previous Ashden Award winner - Trees, Water and People (TWP).

The prestigious Prize was announced at the 2009 International Economic Forum of the Americas (Conference de Montreal) in Montreal last week.

The Prize will allow TWP to expand its life-changing improved cook stove and community reforestation programs in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti. In particular, they hope to use the Prize to leverage additional sources of funding, and share the work they are doing with other interested organisations.

Co-founder and International Director of TWP, Stuart Conway, said he was delighted to accept the Prize at the 2009 International Economic Forum of the Americas (Conference de Montreal) in Montreal today.

Rio Tinto global head of Health, Safety & Environment Elaine Dorward-King said the Rio Tinto Prize for Sustainability was designed to recognise and reward not-for-profit, civil society and non-government organizations for significant contributions to the goals of economic, environmental and social sustainability.

“We congratulate Trees, Water & People co-founders Stuart Conway and Richard Fox, employees and all Trees, Water & People partner organizations and networks on being awarded the 2008 Prize. To win this international award is a real achievement and testament to the work that Trees, Water & People is doing on the ground to balance today’s needs with those of future generations,” she said.

Rio Tinto partners with the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) to facilitate an inclusive, rigorous and transparent management process for the award of the Prize. IBLF engages independent sustainability experts from around the world to ensure the process and decisions are made in an objective and consistent manner. Rio Tinto does not participate in the assessment process.

IBLF chief executive Adam Leach said the diversity of the organizations short listed for the Prize in 2008 demonstrated the diversity of work being undertaken locally throughout the world to contribute to global sustainable development.

“All ten short listed organizations in 2008 highlighted the depth and range of talent, initiative and skills that exist in the civil sector,” he added.

About Trees, Water & People

Trees, Water & People (TWP) is a non-profit organization founded in 1998. They develop and manage community reforestation, watershed protection, renewable energy, environmental education, and carbon offset programs in countries including Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and the United States.