The Habitats Trust (THT) is founded by Roshni Nadar Malhotra, CEO of the $8.1-billion HCL Corporation is aimed at creating long-term strategic partnerships that can help secure India's natural wealth for future generations. Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra an organization based in Chiplun block, of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra secured first place at National level Lesser known Species Grant 2018 for Conservation of Indian Pangolin through Community participation in Konkan region of Maharashtra, India.
The Habitats Trust Grant 2018 Felicitation ceremony was at 8 pm on Thursday 20th December 2018 at Kiran Nadar Meuseum of Art, Auditorium Saket, New Delhi where Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra organisation president and member of IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group Mr. Bhau Katdare and Project Director Mr. Abhishek C Singh had received The Habitats Trust Grant 2018 Award received from Dr MK Ranjitsinh who is National level Wildlife veterans who had laid the foundation of Wildlife protection act launched Project tiger and had given his life for the conservation of wildlife and Roshani Nadar the co founder of The Habitats Trust and CEO of HCL corporation in Lesser known Species Grant Category. Also, Green Oscar winner of Wildlife Journalism and acclaimed journalist Bahar dutt said, Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra has done marvelous Olive ridley turtule (Lepidochelys olivacea) conservation in Maharashtra through local and community participation and it is one of the best examples of Community participation in conservation and one of the best work in India.
The programme received over 700 registrations for Lesser known species grant, Lesser known Habitat grant and Strategic Partnership grant and the recipients were selected through a rigorous three-stage process that took into account the impact of the project, the applicants' capacity to deliver and the sustainability of their proposed work.
The First 300 applicants were selected from 700 application than last 15 applicant 5 applicants from each category were selected on the basis of Administrative details and examining the importance of the project. Steffi Xavier and Dr. Dhruv Mankand had visited on field and examined project location, spoke to the people. At the end 9 applicant were selected for the final Presentation of their work.
Selected finalist was called in New Delhi for the final presentation of their project and work. Selected 9 finalist presented their project and work to the international stantdard panel consist of National Wildlife Veteran who had laid the foundation of Wildlife protection act and launched Project tiger Dr. MK Ranjitsinh, Wildlife journalist Green Oscar winner and exponent journalist Bahar dutt and the CEO of Masai mara Nature conservancy Mr. Brayan from Africa.
After the panel discussion in First category the Lesser Known Species Grant was Awareded to Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, for the second category Strategic Partnership Grant was awarded to Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) and for third category Lesser Known Habitat Grant was awarded to the Reef Watch Marine Conservation.
In addition to this honor, The Habitats Trust will support in the conservation of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) through Education, awareness in local villages and education institution as well as financial assistance will be provided for the trap cameras, public awareness, training for alternate sustainable livelihood for local and tribal (Katkari) Community, Education in Schools and Education institution for the conservation of Indian pangolin.
Indian pangolin is a unique mammal having rigid keratinized scale on their body is an endangered species as per IUCN red list of threatened species. Indian pangolin consumes 70 millions of insect annually play vital role in the ecosystem. The species is highly trafficked species in international market for their scales and meats. Past two years Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra in collaboration with forest department and police department had worked enormously for the conservation of Indian Pangolin.
