Mumbai-based NGO The Harmony Foundation bestows the award annually on organizations and individuals whose work aligns with the current needs of humanity worldwide. This 17th edition recognises those devoted to Environmental Sustainability.

WeForest was awarded for its role in leading a sustainable reforestation movement, conserving the ecological integrity of forests and in addressing the planet’s most grave challenges: global warming, water scarcity and poverty. The foundation described WeForest as “an extraordinary and prolific organization in the world with a monumental vision to eradicate serious threats to our environment through the restoration of our forests”.

“WeForest is now a team of 50 passionate people that have grown and protected nearly 50 million trees in 21 sites globally. We had no idea we would grow so fast,” says Marie-Noëlle Keijzer, WeForest’s co-founder and CEO. “Thanks to hundreds of partners that trusted us, we have now established the capacity to reach 100 million trees in the next three years.” 

Other awardees this year include Plastic Pollution Coalition, Vidyut Mohan, Padma Bhushan Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi, Jamuna Tudu and the Prime Minister of Denmark H.E. Mette Frederiksen. Four winners – Padma Shri Tulsi Gowda, Subhajit Mukherjee, Dr. Avinash Pol on behalf of the Paani Foundation and Aadya Joshi – were felicitated in person by the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at an event on 13th December 2021.

Watch the Harmony International Student’s Webinar, in which WeForest CEO Marie-Noëlle Keijzer was one of the speakers, here.

Watch the awards ceremony on 30th December 2021 here.