Noida,18th February: The Habitats Trust, a not-for-profit dedicated to protecting India’s natural habitats and indigenous species, has announced the launch of the 8th edition of The Habitats Trust Grants. A key highlight of this edition is the introduction of the THT Research Grant, aimed at encouraging interdisciplinary research on ecological, social, and technological aspects of conservation. Applications opened on February 15 and will close on March 17, with the final selection to be announced in October 2025. Interested individuals and organizations. This year marks the largest funding cycle in the initiative’s history, with grants exceeding Rs 3.5 crore to support conservation projects nationwide.
Rushikesh Chavan, Head of The Habitats Trust, emphasized the significance of this year’s expanded grants, stating, “The THT Grants represent our commitment to conserve and drive meaningful change for lesser-known species and critical habitats. By investing in impactful projects, we partner with organizations and individuals who are creating solutions to protect and restore India’s biodiversity.”
Evaluation Process
Applications will undergo a multi-stage evaluation by a panel of experts, including scientists and conservationists. Projects will be assessed based on their relevance, expected conservation impact, stakeholder engagement, scalability, replicability, and sustainability. The rigorous process ensures that funding is directed toward initiatives with the potential for long-term, on-ground impact. Prospective applicants working towards biodiversity conservation in India can apply under the following categories:
• THT Conservation Grant
The THT Conservation Grant will provide ₹1 crore each to two organizations with at least five years of experience in conservation. It focuses on critical challenges such as habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, and human-wildlife conflict.
o Last year, Dr. Umesh Srinivasan and Dr.Anubhab Khan from the Indian Institute of Science, along with MilloTasser and the Singchung Village Council, received a Grant for their work in Arunachal Pradesh to conserve the BugunLiocichla, a critically endangered bird found only in a single locality, with just 14 to 20 known individuals.
• THT Action Grant
The THT Action Grant will offer ₹25 lakh each to three selected organizations or individuals for targeted conservation efforts focused on lesser-known species and habitats.
o Last year’s recipients included DivyaPanicker, a cetacean and bioacoustics expert studying endangered blue whales in the Lakshadweep Archipelago using passive acoustic monitoring; Malyasri Bhattacharya, who is protecting critically endangered vulture habitats in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, through community-led ecotourism involving Gaddi and Gujjar herders; the Durgapur Wildlife Information and Nature Guide Society, which is implementing a community-driven conservation program in West Bengal to safeguard Indian grey wolves in human-dominated landscapes through monitoring and conflict mitigation; and the Veditum India Foundation in Madhya Pradesh, which is enhancing environmental governance and citizen participation to protect riparian habitats threatened by sand mining, benefiting species like gharials, Gangetic dolphins, and Indian skimmers.
• THT Research Grant(New Addition in 2025)
The newly introduced THT Research Grant will support interdisciplinary research on conservation challenges, focusing on ecological and social dynamics. Two selected organizations will receive ₹40 lakh each over a two-year. By fostering research that informs on-ground action, this grant aims to bridge the gap between academic study and real-world conservation efforts.
In addition to these grants, The Habitats Trust also supports organizations and individuals through its monthly THT Seeds Grant, which provides up to ₹3 lakhs for short-term projects. The Seed Grants are designed to address issues related to lesser-known species and to pilot projects in relatively unexplored landscapes, or data-deficient species.
The Habitats Trust actively engages in conservation projects across India, spanning marine conservation, eco-restoration, technology-driven solutions, and terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem protection. In collaboration with leading NGOs and government agencies, including the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Coast Guard, the organization works on large-scale initiatives such as conserving species like the Hoolock Gibbon and habitat restoration efforts in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
With a mission to address the root causes of conservation challenges, The Habitats Trust emphasizes stakeholder engagement, technological interventions, and viable impact. Through its grants, the organization continues to be a catalyst for conservation, supporting initiatives that safeguard India’s rich biodiversity for future generations.