The Habitats Trust, a not-for-profit organization working towards the protection and conservation of India’s natural habitats and their indigenous species, is inviting applications to financially support organizations and individuals doing seminal work towards protecting and conserving India’s threatened wildlife and natural habitats. The Habitats Trust Grants, with a total of Rs. 3.20 Crore, will be given in three categories.
The revised grant categories include (1) THT Conservation Grant of Rs. 1 crore, each to two organizations – The Habitats Trust Conservation Grant will support organisations working towards the conservation of lesser-known species and critical habitats. This grant is only open to organizations that have a proven record of working in wildlife conservation for a minimum of five years. The selected projects will have to be executed over a three-year period. (2) THT Action Grant of Rs. 25 lakhs, each for three organizations/ individuals – The Habitats Trust Action Grant will support three individuals or organizations or both, working on-ground on lesser-known species and/or habitats that require urgent conservation intervention. They should have been working in the field of wildlife conservation for a minimum of two years.
The selected project will have to be executed over a two-year period.
Applications for the Grants will be evaluated through a multi-level screening process by a panel of experts from the field of conservation including scientists and subject-matter experts. They will screen and shortlist 30 applicants across the two categories and will further assess these shortlisted projects through a field evaluation round. 20 applications will move to the final Jury Round. The five recipients will be announced by an eminent jury towards the end of this year.
The organization has also introduced a new category – THT Seed Grant which will support upto 15 applicants with Rs 3 lakhs, each. Applicants testing new methodologies and/or conducting rapid surveys will be eligible for this grant. The application portal for the Grants will remain open from June 23, 2022 to August 5, 2022 and forms can be filled online.