The Habitats Trust (THT) has announced the recipients of its eighth edition of grants, awarding INR 3.8 crore to eight conservation projects across India. This is the largest private funding of its kind, with a focus on protecting lesser-known species and critical habitats. For the first time, THT has introduced a Research Grant to support interdisciplinary research combining ecological, social, and technological approaches.
The grants are divided into three categories: Conservation Grant, Action Grant, and Research Grant. The Conservation Grant supports organizations addressing India’s conservation challenges, with a focus on lesser-known species and critical habitats. The Action Grant supports urgent, on-ground projects for lesser-known species and habitats requiring immediate intervention. The Research Grant supports interdisciplinary research that informs on-ground conservation action strategies.
The recipients of the 2025 grants include organizations such as Grameen Sahara, HUME Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, and Wildlife Institute of India. The projects funded include species recovery, habitat restoration, applied research, and community-led conservation.
The THT Grants programme has supported over 31 projects across 25 states and union territories since its inception in 2018, disbursing more than INR 12.93 crore. The programme aims to advance the conservation of critical yet neglected components of biodiversity, while strengthening and supporting grassroots organizations.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Founder and Trustee of The Habitats Trust, said, “The ecological security of our nation depends not only on charismatic species, but more importantly on lesser-known species and fragile habitats that often remain overlooked.” Rushikesh Chavan, Director of The Habitats Trust, added, “India’s conservation challenges increasingly require science-led, interdisciplinary solutions.”
The 2025 grants reaffirm The Habitats Trust’s commitment to addressing India’s most pressing and underfunded conservation priorities. By combining immediate on-ground action with research-driven insight, THT aims to create scalable, sustainable solutions that protect biodiversity while empowering local communities and conservation practitioners. The Habitats Trust works with over 120 partners in 32 of India’s 36 states and union territories, providing solutions to the complex challenges of economic growth by securing ecological functionality.