Green Long March Wins China’s Prestigious Mother River Award

On April 21, 2009, the eve of the 40th anniversary of World Earth Day, the Green Long March was awarded the Mother River Award – considered to be one of the highest honors presented to non-governmental environmental protection projects in China.

The 4th Mother River Award Ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and was hosted by high-ranking representatives from the Communist Youth League Central Committee and a wide range of government ministries.

Key officials in attendance included Yan Junqi, Vice Chairman of the Chairman's Council of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) and Sun Jiazhang, Vice Chairman of the 11th CPPCC National Committee. 

Awarded only once every two years, the Mother River Award recognizes projects that have made outstanding contributions to environmental protection.

This year’s Mother River Award had 189 applicants. Thorough an online vote of 7.45 million Chinese citizens, projects from 7 individuals and 5 organizations were chosen for their meaningful and long-term environmental impact.

The Mother River Award was presented by the Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to Yu Jishun, Secretary General of the Beijing Forestry University Youth League, who accepted the award on behalf of the volunteers of the Green Long March and co-organizers Future Generations China.

Government partners of the Mother River Award include the Communist Youth League Central Committee, the National Afforestation Committee, the NPC Environmental and Resources Protection Committee, the CPPCC National Committee of Population, Resources and Environment, the Environmental Protection Department, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the State Forestry Administration.

For more information about the Mother River Award and this year’s winners, please visit: www.momriver.org