The Habitats Trust to Kick-Start Multi-city Symposium Series

Jaipur: The Habitats Trust, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of India’s natural habitats and native species, is set to kick-start its Grants symposium series with its inaugural event in Jaipur, a city renowned for its rich biodiversity. The symposium will be held at Hotel Arya Niwas on May 29th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and is open to all the biodiversity conservationists interested.

This year’s symposiums are aimed at helping grass-roots conservationists learn to design and develop effective and time-bound conservation project proposals that can attract grants. Despite India’s rich biodiversity that accounts for 7% – 8% of all recorded species in the world and houses four of the 34 globally identified biodiversity hotspots (The Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the North-East, and the Nicobar Islands), conservation often takes a back seat to immediate human needs, leading to limited support for the conservationists who are doing seminal work on-ground. The Habitats Trust seeks to address this by equipping conservationists secure institutional support and foster networking among the conservation organizations in India

Rushikesh Chavan, Head of The Habitats Trust, emphasising the importance of the symposium series, said, “Jaipur, with its rich biodiversity and vibrant conservation community, is the ideal starting point for our symposium series. We are eager to unite conservationists and stakeholders to share knowledge and inspire action. The Habitats Trust is committed to addressing the root causes of conservation challenges, and these symposiums will be crucial in fostering collaboration and innovation.”

The Habitats Trust’s application portal for its annual The Habitats Trust Grants will remain open till 1^st July and can be accessed at https://www.thehabitatstrust.org . The grants, worth Rs 2.75 crores, aim to support holistic, innovative, and replicable projects dedicated to the conservation of India’s endangered wildlife and natural habitats.

Evaluation Process of The Habitats Trust Grants

The panel of 9 experts, including scientists and subject-matter specialists, will conduct a thorough screening of applications. Criteria such as relevance, expected conservation impact, stakeholder engagement, scalability, replicability, and sustainability will guide the selection process, reflecting the organization’s commitment to nurturing conservation efforts.

Prospective grant recipients and non-profit organizations working towards conserving India’s biodiversity are invited to apply under the following categories:

• THT Conservation Grant: Supporting organizations with a proven track record in wildlife conservation for at least five years, this grant aims to address critical challenges such as habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity, and human-wildlife conflict. Two selected projects will receive a grant of Rs 1 crore each and a span of three-year period to maximize the impact.
  • Two organizations namely, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) andWildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS) – were the recipients of THT Conservation Grant 2023. SACON’s project aims to conserve the largely overlooked subterranean cave habitats in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. WRCS is working on the conservation of the endangered Forest Owlet in the Khandwa and Burhanpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.

• THT Action Grant: This grant aims to support urgent conservation interventions for lesser-known species and habitats. Three individuals or organisations will be selected to receive grants of Rs 25 lakhs each, with projects running for a minimum of two years.
  • Nature Mates– nature club, Rimung Tasso and Forest First Samhiti, were the recipients of THT Actions Grants 2023. Nature Mates Nature Club is actively enhancing capacities for Hornbill conservation near the Buxa tiger reserve. Rimung Tasso focuses on community empowerment through ecotourism for the conservation of Red Pandas and Takins in Manigong, Arunachal. Meanwhile, Forest First Samhiti is dedicated to restoring degraded critical elephant habitats in Tholpetty, Wayanad, by supporting local livelihoods.

The Habitats Trust is engaged in impactful projects nationwide including marine, eco-restoration, tech for conservation, and on-ground terrestrial and freshwater initiatives. Besides partnering with NGOs possessing area-specific expertise to facilitate knowledge exchange and tailored conservation efforts, the organisation also works closely with government bodies such as the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Indian Navy. In Dudhwa Tiger Reserve situated in Uttar Pradesh, the organization works very closely with the state forest department and provides them with mobility and on-request conflict mitigation support in addition to the major conservation and restoration efforts in the area. The Habitats Trust is also working on conserving Hoolock Gibbons, an elusive, endangered species in the Northeastern states of India. The organization believes in addressing the root cause of conservation issues, engaging with key stakeholders, and using technology for conservation.