Eden Project co-founder and chief executive Tim Smit was declared a "Great Briton" at an awards ceremony in London on January 31.
Mr Smit fought off stiff competition from the likes of Jonathan Porritt, the co-founder of the UK's leading sustainable development charity Forum for the Future, and Jeremy Leggett, the founder and chairman of Solarcentury, to win in the Environmental category.
His dedication to promoting the understanding of human dependence on plants and the natural environment secured him the award, which was presented by Lord Stern of Brentwood.
A delighted Mr Smit said: "It's a cliché to say it's a real honour, but it felt really special and it was a privilege to be in such extraordinary company.
Tim Smit, Eden Project: "It's a cliché to say it's a real honour, but it felt really special and it was a privilege to be in such extraordinary company."
"In truth, the award was for the Eden team, who'd made our little piece of magic come true, and everyone was aware of that.
"It was a shame they couldn't all have been there to enjoy the magnificent surroundings and the sweet smell of success."
JK Rowling, world-renowned author of Harry Potter, won the Arts category and also the overall prize of Morgan Stanley "Great Briton of 2007".
Also honoured at the ceremony was Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton (Sport), chief executive of Rolls-Royce Sir John Rose (Business), director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti CBE (Public Life), Apple's senior vice-president of design Jonathan Ive (Creative Industries) and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sir Martin Evans (Science and Innovation).
Former Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher was given a Lifetime Achievement award at the ceremony by current Conservative party leader David Cameron in recognition of her lifetime contribution to public service and international affairs.
The fourth annual Morgan Stanley Great Britons Awards, hosted by Clive Anderson, celebrated what it means to be British by recognising those who have contributed exceptional achievements to their field in a distinctly British way.
Each year, the public nominates people who have made them proud to be British, with the winners chosen by a panel of judges.
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