The Habitats Trust’s Post

With the introduction of the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA), people from communities such as Salakunda are now able to explore diverse livelihood activities, augmenting their financial prospects and fostering sustainable economic growth while conserving their forest. Read more on how VSLA initiatives are driving economic change in rural communities around the Outamba-Kilimi National Park in Sierra Leone: https://lnkd.in/dSP7DVNQ #conservation #VSLA #wildlife Tetra Tech International Development

NatureCo has hit the ground running in 2025, making significant progress on an exciting community forest management project in Vidarbha, India. Through the restoration of degraded land, this project aims to improve livelihoods and increase climate resilience of vulnerable forest-dwelling communities in the area.   During their recent visit to the region, Alessia Cascione and Chandrakant Deokar collaborated closely with local stakeholders to drive early-stage project preparation. This included providing capacity building to our local partners, the Vidarbha Livelihood Forum (VLF), and engaging with the state government and local communities to better integrate local insights and priorities into the project’s design.   Are you interested in being involved in this impactful initiative? Let’s explore how we can work together to create lasting change – reach out today to discuss opportunities for partnership and support. natureco.earth   #NatureCo #VidarbhaLivelihoodForum #naturebasedsolutions #communityforestry #positivechange #integrity #carbonmarkets

🌟 Day 94 - Grant Number 80 - Grant Alert: 🌟 🌿 The Habitats Trust Grants – Empowering Conservation Efforts in India 🌿 We're excited to announce that the application portal for The Habitats Trust Grants 2024 is now open! At The Habitats Trust, we're committed to fostering impactful conservation projects that prioritize neglected natural habitats, threatened species, and data-deficient species across India. Grant Details: - 📅 Application Period: Open Now! Apply exclusively through our online portal [here](https://lnkd.in/dcnKa5Yj). - 📍 Eligibility: Open to registered non-profit organizations in India undertaking conservation projects within the country. - 💸 Budget: Proposals should be detailed in INR. - 🌱 Focus Areas: Projects should involve practical conservation work, especially those gathering critical data for conservation or management strategies. Key Points: - Applications for pure research will not be considered unless it's crucial for data-deficient species or habitats. - Projects must aim for long-lasting, impactful conservation outcomes with measurable indicators. - A comprehensive peer-reviewed publication record is required to back grant applications. - Preference will be given to projects that address global conservation priorities according to the IUCN Red List, focusing particularly on species threatened in India. Criteria for Application: - Only one grant application per year. - Must align with the ethos of promoting native species and natural habitats conservation. 🌍 Join us in our mission to protect and conserve India's rich but vulnerable natural heritage. Let's work together to make a meaningful, lasting impact! For detailed eligibility criteria, application instructions, and more about our grants, visit [The Habitats Trust Grants] https://lnkd.in/ggSvANcZ 🔗 Apply Now | Share | Empower #TheHabitatsTrust #Conservation #Biodiversity #Sustainability #Grants2024 #NonProfit #ConservationInIndia #WildlifeConservation #Nature #ProtectOurPlanet

🌿 Alongside IUCN, we’re making strides in okapi conservation. We’re thrilled with our progress in the Eastern DRC so far, as laid out in our latest report: 📊 Monitoring and Management: Data analysis for optimal forest coverage in Maiko National Park. Enhanced management of Omate, Bitule, and Kanyama forests. Organized exchange visits with Okapi Faune Reserve. 🚶♂️ Field Efforts and Awareness: Established 256 Okapi traces over 11,800 km² and patrolled 9,232 km. Raised awareness about protecting Okapi and other endangered species. 👩🏫 Strengthening Capacities: Secured management plans and trained 63 rangers. Installed 52 camera traps for monitoring. 🤝 Collaboration and Law Enforcement: Joint patrols covering 446 km. Inventory surveys with the University of Kisangani. 🌱 Sustainable Livelihoods: Established 27 agricultural schools and supported 810 households. Trained 125 individuals in market development. Our combined efforts aim to protect okapi and promote sustainable livelihoods for local communities - we’re proudly saving nature, together. #SavingNatureTogether #SustainableDevelopment #Conservation

Ridge-to-valley still lingers in our minds, in our documents: Dr A V Bhavani Shankar highlights WOTR’s relation with NABARD and community participation The Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) had the privilege of hosting Dr Adimulam bhavani shankar, Chief General Manager, Farm Sector Development Department, NABARD, at the 'Ripples of Change: 30 Years of Impact' celebration on January 17, 2025, in Mumbai. Talking about NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development 's enduring partnership with the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), Dr Shankar emphasized that this collaboration was sustained due to shared philosophies and values. He pointed out that effective program implementation transcends mere policies; it requires a robust mechanism, which was established through NABARD's collaboration with WOTR, focusing on the communities' central role in ensuring these initiatives' success. The approach developed as a result was to restore degraded landscapes through participatory watershed programmes, a strategy that remains integral to NABARD’s operational framework. At the grassroots level, Dr Shankar explained that funds allocated for projects are directly managed by the communities, empowering them to make decisions regarding program execution. Dr Shankar detailed the start of this association with a few projects with the Indo-German Watershed Development Programme, which has now grown into almost 4000 projects covering nearly 3 million hectares of land. “Scaling up with funding agencies, with the support of ground-level entities, can take programs to a certain extent, but if it gains the government's attention, the actual scaling up happens. The true champions of change have been the farmers who have accepted the approaches we (NABARD) tried to drive in. The women's self-help groups empowered through this programme have been instrumental in the sustainability of these programmes. The ground force of partner agencies, especially WOTR, are the soldiers. They have made it happen, and for all of them, it is my sincere appreciation,” said Dr Shankar. The event at Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Centre brought together dignitaries, donors, partners and community members. It celebrated WOTR’s extraordinary achievements over the past 30 years while unveiling its vision for the future of community-led sustainable development. Tune in for excerpts from Dr A  V Bhavani Shankar’s inspiring address here.🎥 #WOTRat30 #WOTR4Development #RipplesOfChange #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateResilience #RuralEmpowerment Crispino Lobo 👇👇👇 When you engage with our posts, you're not just showing support - you're amplifying our voice! 📢 Every like, share, and comment helps our message reach more people who care, helping us tackle rural poverty at its very core 🌳 👍 Like if you support our cause, 💬 Comment to share your thoughts, ➜ Share to spread the word!

Our multipronged human-elephant coexistence model, supported by Coforge and implemented in Jhargram, was recently featured in The Telegraph. The article highlights our approach to mitigating conflict and increasing tolerance by compensating loss in kind, creating mini food reserves for elephants, and surrounding human habitations with elephant-proof fences. In a region where the struggle for space and food has turned deadly, our pioneering mitigation measures are benefiting both elephants and local communities. The most unique aspect of this project is the creation of food reserves for elephants, supported by Coforge's CSR, which will provide both immediate and long-term benefits. In the short term, we have cultivated 40,000 kg of paddy for elephants to consume now. In the long term, we are planting over 13,000 saplings to create sustainable food sources along elephant corridors. This project is a beacon of hope in a complex crisis. Curious to learn how we are reshaping the future of human-elephant coexistence? Dive into the full article shared in the post below or head to the link provided to discover the exciting details and our vision for harmonious human-elephant coexistence! https://lnkd.in/dnPGujxJ Coforge Manvika Sharma Anuradha Sehgal Dipti Ghone-Kamble #Conservation #Ecology #HumanElephantConflict #HumanElephantCoexistence #wildlife #Biodiversity #CSR #WildlifeConservation #philanthropy #sustainability #CorporateSocialResponsibility #socialimpact #Elephants #CommunityEmpowerment

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? At some point in our lives, our most perpetual questions are the search for meaning and purpose. We are often told that, as individuals or as a small group, we cannot make much difference to the world's problems. But let’s add an additional value: Time. This perspective aligns with what we observe in nature's succession and the notions of continuation and transformation in Buddhist teachings. In this context, I invite you to explore a beautiful natural farming community in the remote Huong Son mountainous district, Central Vietnam. During the COVID-19 lockdown, citizens in metropolitan Ho Chi Minh City, like us, gracefully received vegetable aid from these farmers as a manifesto of resilience, kindness, and solidarity. While pursuing my journey of regeneration over the last decade with Slow Travel Hue, LAK Tented Camp, and the ongoing project of reforestation, I was deeply moved by the confession of Mrs. Hằng, the protagonist natural farmer: “Since having a baby, I simply think that with what I do, I can keep the green space for my children, as well as give them a chance to know what the ecosystem is, what the natural process is, and how beautiful nature is… Now my reason has narrowed to this little thing, and I feel like I am living with it to the fullest.” The movie "Imprint" by Campfires Stories takes us through 13 places with 13 projects in Sweden, planting in us the seed of HOPE. It mentions an inspiring example of Nelson Mandela, known as the most important person in South Africa’s history. However, it may be thanks to the qualities and values instilled by his grandmother that he carried the seeds of peace, compassion, and resilience. Our “Imprint” could be narrowed to the question of what people in the future will look back upon with gratitude. Let’s do a little bit more of those things, day by day. 🙏 “Maybe a hope worth having can find a space in which to grow.” 🤲 Ecological farming - The essentials: https://lnkd.in/gPY_KvM8 #sustainability #nature #happiness #regenerativetourism #communitybasedtourism #ecologicalfarming #naturalfarming #reforestration #imprint #purpose

Once on the brink of disappearing from cities, sparrows are making a comeback in Chennai, thanks to the remarkable efforts of Ganeshan D and his NGO, Koodugal Nest. An engineer by profession, Ganeshan turned his passion for nature into action. In 2020, he and his wife, Shanthini, founded Koodugal Nest with a simple yet impactful goal: to give back to nature. Partnering with 35 schools, they have helped students build over 10,000 sparrow nest boxes, creating safe shelters for these vulnerable birds. “Nature gives us everything, but we give back so little,” says Ganeshan, summing up his mission. As a result, sparrow populations in some parts of Chennai have risen by 15%. This initiative has also inspired children to reconnect with nature. Fourteen-year-old Prayukta shares, “It’s amazing to watch sparrows take care of their young ones. I want to continue this in the future.” In addition to nest boxes, Koodugal Nest has established eight sparrow sanctuaries, teaching children essential life skills, fostering empathy, and deepening their understanding of our fragile ecosystem. “Sparrows thrive close to human settlements,” Ganeshan explains. “Protecting them helps preserve the balance of nature.” This inspiring work has earned accolades such as the Tamil Nadu Leadership Award and the Inspiro Award, proving how one person’s vision can ignite an entire generation to protect and preserve. Read more: https://buff.ly/3YPQseo #GaneshanD #KoodugalNest #SaveSparrows #EnvironmentalSustainability #Inspiring #KidsForConservation #NatureConservation [Ganeshan D, Koodugal Nest, Save Sparrows, Nature Conservation, Chennai Conservation, Sparrow Rescue]

Once on the brink of disappearing from cities, sparrows are making a comeback in Chennai, thanks to the remarkable efforts of Ganeshan D and his NGO, Koodugal Nest. An engineer by profession, Ganeshan turned his passion for nature into action. In 2020, he and his wife, Shanthini, founded Koodugal Nest with a simple yet impactful goal: to give back to nature. Partnering with 35 schools, they have helped students build over 10,000 sparrow nest boxes, creating safe shelters for these vulnerable birds. “Nature gives us everything, but we give back so little,” says Ganeshan, summing up his mission. As a result, sparrow populations in some parts of Chennai have risen by 15%. This initiative has also inspired children to reconnect with nature. Fourteen-year-old Prayukta shares, “It’s amazing to watch sparrows take care of their young ones. I want to continue this in the future.” In addition to nest boxes, Koodugal Nest has established eight sparrow sanctuaries, teaching children essential life skills, fostering empathy, and deepening their understanding of our fragile ecosystem. “Sparrows thrive close to human settlements,” Ganeshan explains. “Protecting them helps preserve the balance of nature.” This inspiring work has earned accolades such as the Tamil Nadu Leadership Award and the Inspiro Award, proving how one person’s vision can ignite an entire generation to protect and preserve. Read more: https://buff.ly/3YPQseo #GaneshanD #KoodugalNest #SaveSparrows #EnvironmentalSustainability #Inspiring #KidsForConservation #NatureConservation [Ganeshan D, Koodugal Nest, Save Sparrows, Nature Conservation, Chennai Conservation, Sparrow Rescue]

🚨 #FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 📢 Have you ever heard of the Darwin Initiative Funding? Darwin Initiative is one of the UK Government’s flagship Biodiversity Challenge Funds, alongside the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and Darwin Plus. The Darwin Initiative competitively awards grants for biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction activities in eligible countries, helping these countries meet their commitments under the Multilateral Environment Agreements, Sustainable Development Goals, and national policy. Funding support will cover projects that help protect biodiversity, the natural environment, and communities that coexist with it in locally led projects worldwide. The 🇬🇧 Darwin Initiative is currently seeking proposals 📝for three grant schemes: - Darwin Initiative innovation grants (up to £200,000); - Darwin Initiative capability and capacity grants (up to £200,000); - Darwin Initiative Extra grants (up to £5 million). Learn more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply: #fcdo #defra #climate #biodiversity #darwininitiative