The Habitats Trust invites applications for 9th edition of Conservation Grants

INR 35 million available in grants to selected projects

As India’s lesser-known species and habitats face chronic funding gaps, the Habitats Trust has opened applications for the 9th edition of its grants to support conservation, research and on-ground action nationwide.

The Habitats Trust (THT), a not-for-profit organisation, has announced the 9th edition of the Habitats Trust Grants, inviting applications from conservation practitioners and non-profit organisations across India.

In a press statement, the Habitats Trust India says that India is home to nearly 7-8 pc of the world’s biodiversity, yet many species and ecosystems remain underfunded and poorly documented, especially outside formally protected areas and the Grants aim to address this gap by supporting projects focused on endangered wildlife, lesser-known species and underrepresented habitats across the country.

The statement adds that this grant cycle will disburse a total of INR 35 million to selected projects. The Trust will support initiatives that demonstrate clear conservation outcomes, involve local communities and show potential for long-term sustainability.

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“India’s conservation challenges are complex and deeply interconnected with climate pressures and local governance. Through the THT Grants, we aim to back organisations that are not only addressing urgent conservation needs but are also building models that can be sustained and replicated. We are particularly keen to support work on lesser-known species and habitats that often fall through the cracks of traditional funding,” says Rushikesh Chavan, Director, the Habitats Trust.

The statement adds that the applications will open on January 10, and will close on February 10. The grant recipients will be announced in the first week of August.

It adds that applications will be reviewed by a panel of 12 experts, including scientists and subject specialists. Projects will be evaluated on criteria such as relevance, expected conservation impact, stakeholder engagement, scalability, replicability and sustainability.

The grants will be awarded under three categories. The THT Conservation Grants of INR 10 million each will support two organisations over three years. The THT Research Grants of INR 4 million each will support two organisations over two years, focusing on research that informs on-ground conservation action. The THT Action Grants and Action Service Projects of INR 2.5 million each will support three recipients engaged in urgent conservation action over two years says the organisation.

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It adds that in the previous grant cycle, THT received 119 applications, of which 36 were shortlisted and field evaluated. Twelve projects were presented to the jury following a four-stage evaluation process. In 2025, eight grantees collectively received INR 38 million across the three grant categories.

Since the programme began in 2018, THT has supported over 38 conservation projects across 21 States and Union Territories, disbursing more than INR 162 million. These projects have included species recovery efforts, habitat restoration, applied research and community-led conservation work.