A Contest for Environmental Protection—Through Storytelling

Last August, GLP, a content marketing firm, invited me to join as a panelist for its inaugural Sustainability Storytelling Competition. I reviewed over a dozen applications from organizations worldwide, each detailing their missions and efforts to safeguard the planet. It was a genuinely uplifting day of engagement.

In this first competition, more than 130 organizations from 65 countries competed for a chance to win a tailored video-production package—GLP will assist them in creating a mini film that narrates their story and distribute it through global partners. Last month, the grand prize winner was announced: the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group, based in Querétaro, Mexico.

Participants were categorized into six segments: sustainable and regenerative tourism, sustainable food, environmental justice, conservation and nature, community and cultural preservation, and “best of the rest.” Each category victor will produce a video, but only the grand prize winner’s video will be filmed on location in their region—the others will be produced remotely.

The competition aligns with GLP’s goal of promoting sustainability through storytelling. Accordingly, the video packages are entirely carbon neutral; GLP has teamed up with Sustainable Travel International to offset the carbon emissions resulting from the production work for this competition.

The story of the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group stood out for its global significance in tackling the climate crisis and its impact on communities worldwide. Founded in 1987 by local citizens aiming to protect the biodiversity of the Querétaro mountains in Mexico, Sierra Gorda empowers rural communities to become conservation allies by making forest protection economically beneficial—through controlled harvesting, carbon and water capture, and developing a tourism sector in the area.

As a judge, I was particularly impressed by the diversity of the contestants—they represented various missions, locations, and backgrounds. I was also heartened to see how deeply rooted many applicants are in the communities they serve. I eagerly anticipate the videos coming to life and inspiring environmental action worldwide.