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{{Infobox organization | |||
| name = Wildlife Conservation Trust | |||
| formation = 2002 | |||
| logo = Wildlife Conservation Trust Website Logo.png | |||
| founder = Hemendra Kothari | |||
| leader_name = Dr. Anish Andheria | |||
| type = [[Non-governmental organization]] | |||
| purpose = [[Wildlife Conservation]] | |||
| headquarters = [[Mumbai]] | |||
| location_country = [[India]] | |||
| website = https://www.wildlifeconservationtrust.org/ | |||
}} | |||
'''Wildlife Conservation Trust'''<ref>{{cite web |title=This Organisation Doesn’t Just Protect Wildlife, It Conserves Forests and Empowers Villagers Too! |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/92276/wildlife-conservation-trust-tiger-forest-community-development/ |website=www.thebetterindia.com}}</ref> ('''WCT''') is an Indian [[not-for-profit organisation]] based in [[Mumbai]] which was registered in 2002. WCT currently works in and around 160 [[Protected area|protected areas]] across 23 states in India and works closely with government bodies,<ref>{{cite web |title=Many from Vid on state wildlife board |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/nagpur/many-from-vid-on-state-wildlife-board/amp_articleshow/76842883.cms |website=www.timesofindia.com}}</ref> corporates, communities and local NGOs through funding and technical support, knowledge partnering and consultancy. | |||
WCT's core areas of work focus on application of conservation methodologies on the ground; conservation research; understanding behaviour of people who live in and around forests to understand the inter-relation between them and the natural ecosystems; human-wildlife interface management;<ref>{{cite web |title=WILDLIFE WEEK 2019: INDIA'S TIGER CENSUS POINTS TO AN URGENT NEED FOR PEACEFUL ECOSYSTEMS WHERE HUMANS, TIGERS COEXIST |url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/wildlife-week-india-2019-indias-tiger-census-points-to-an-urgent-need-for-peaceful-ecosystems-where-humans-tigers-coexist-7081581.html |website=www.firstpost.com}}</ref> building capacity of the forest department in wildlife law enforcement and forensics; conservation education; livelihoods; health of frontline forest staff<ref>{{cite web |title=Focus on quality of life, mental health of Forest Guards: Study |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-focus-on-quality-of-life-mental-health-of-forest-guards-study-2787296 |website=www.dnaindia.com}}</ref> and road ecology.<ref>{{cite web |title=About 400 proposed infrastructure projects will destroy tiger corridors: report; Wildlife Conservation Trust recommends measures to achieve a win-win solution for development and wildlife |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/about-400-proposed-infrastructure-projects-will-destroy-tiger-corridors-report-61318 |website=www.downtoearth.org.in}}</ref> | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
WCT was registered in the year 2002. For the first seven years it operated as a family trust, making donations to various tiger reserves to strengthen protection of those parks. In September 2009, an office was set | WCT was registered in the year 2002. For the first seven years it operated as a family trust, making donations to various tiger reserves to strengthen protection of those parks. In September 2009, an office was set up and subject matter experts were hired to run on-ground projects. | ||
== Members == | == Members == | ||
Hemendra Kothari<ref>{{cite web |title=Hemendra Kothari: Beyond Profits |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/person-of-the-year-10/hemendra-kothari-beyond-profits/20822/1 |website=www.forbesindia.com}}</ref> is the Founder, Chairman and Trustee of the Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Hemendra Kothari Foundation. He is the former President of the Bombay Stock Exchange and founded DSP Financial Consultants Limited which later became DSP Merrill Lynch Ltd. He is currently the Chairman of DSP Investment Managers Private Limited. Dr. Anish Andheria,<ref>{{cite web |title=An Interview With India's Leading Wildlife Conservationist Dr. Anish Andheria |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/news/dr-anish-andheria-interview-wildlife-conservationist-carnivore-biologist-photographer-naturalist-motivational-speaker.html |website=www.worldatlas.com}}</ref> a Carl Zeiss Conservation Awardee is the President of the Wildlife Conservation Trust. He is a large carnivore biologist and a wildlife photographer of repute. Hemendra Kothari, Bittu Sahgal,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bittu Sahgal |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bittu_Sahgal |website=en.wikipedia.org}}</ref> Aditi Kothari Desai and Shuchi Kothari are the trustees of WCT. The advisory board of WCT comprises Mr. Subramaniam Ramodarai, Naina Lal Kidwai, Amit Chandra, Prashant Trivedi, Dereck Joubert, Thomas Kaplan, Alok Kshirsagar and Anshu Jain. | |||
== WCT's Work == | |||
=== Conservation Research === | |||
WCT’s Conservation Research division executes on-ground activities mainly in the Central Indian Landscape<ref>{{cite web |title=Landscape scale initiatives in South and Central India |url=https://www.iucn.org/theme/species/our-work/action-ground/integrated-tiger-habitat-conservation-programme/landscape-scale-initiatives-south-and-central-india}}</ref> to collect scientific data. WCT’s wildlife biologists are engaged in monitoring tigers outside Protected Areas and undertake camera trapping to assist the Forest Department to estimate the number of tigers and lesser known species both within and outside Protected Areas. WCT’s intensive studies on genetics and landscape ecology have provided substantial evidence for the need to safeguard corridors and forest patches outside the Protected Areas for the long-term survival of tigers and their prey. Apart from monitoring tigers, the division is also engaged in Eurasian otter ecology,<ref>{{cite web |title=Here it is, first proof of Eurasian Otters' presence in India |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-here-s-it-first-proof-on-presence-of-eurasian-otters-in-india-2220029}}</ref> hydrology, Indian pangolin ecology,<ref>{{cite web |title=World Pangolin Day: Madhya Pradesh radio-tags first-ever Indian Pangolin |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/world-pangolin-day-madhya-pradesh-radio-tags-first-ever-indian-pangolin-69293}}</ref> and large carnivore distribution and occupancy studies<ref>{{cite web |title=In Sahyadri-Konkan corridor, tigers largely found in forested regions closer to Karnataka, Goa: Survey |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/in-sahyadri-konkan-corridor-tigers-largely-found-in-forested-regions-closer-to-karnataka-goa-survey-7449595/}}</ref> in central India and the Western Ghats. | |||
=== Conservation Behaviour === | |||
WCT’s Conservation Behaviour division undertakes in-depth studies that help chart evidence-driven interventions for community engagement in conservation. Using a multi-disciplinary framework, including economics,<ref>{{cite web |title=Improving adoption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for better health and conservation outcomes |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14888386.2020.1803132}}</ref> psychology,<ref>{{cite web |title=Guarding the guardians: understanding the psychological well-being of forest guards in Indian tiger reserves |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14888386.2020.1809521}}</ref> and sociology, the team evaluates and compares existing policies and practices, assesses their impact, and drafts white papers that suggest optimal measures grounded in contemporary public policy design models. WCT has partnered with Google Research India<ref>{{cite web |title=Progress from a year of AI for Social Good at Google Research India |url=https://blog.google/intl/en-in/company-news/technology/progress-from-year-of-ai-for-social/}}</ref> on its AI for Social Good research programme for predicting human-wildlife conflict in the state of Maharashtra using AI. | |||
=== Road Ecology === | |||
WCT’s Road Ecology division studies linear infrastructure projects and undertakes policy-level interventions<ref>{{cite web |title=How India’s First Dedicated Underpass for Wildlife Was Built on India’s NH-7/44 |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/190973/india-first-wildlife-underpass-kanha-pench-corridor-tigers/ |website=thebetterindia.com}}</ref> for the creation of mitigation measures needed to minimise damage to wildlife and natural habitats from such projects. | |||
=== Conservation Dogs Unit === | |||
The Conservation Dogs Unit (CDU) comprises, at the moment, four specially trained working dogs<ref>{{cite web |title=International Dog Day: Here's How Dogs are Being Trained to Help in Wildlife Conservation |url=https://weather.com/en-IN/india/environment/news/2021-08-26-how-dogs-are-being-trained-to-help-in-wildlife-conservation |website=weather.com |publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref> to carry out varied tasks related to detection of target species or indirect evidences left behind by wildlife or wildlife poachers, and a well-trained staff which works in tandem with these dogs. The olfactory capabilities of dogs aid in ongoing conservation efforts and investigations. The CDU assists other verticals of WCT in human-wildlife interface management, conservation research, road ecology surveys, disease surveillance, and wildlife law enforcement. The CDU also assists Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh Forest Departments on request. | |||
=== Health === | |||
Lack of access to affordable quality healthcare for frontline forest staff, coupled with the remoteness of their work place, is an area of grave concern. WCT’s Health division has designed the ‘Caring for Conservators’ programme and Trauma Management Training<ref>{{cite web |title=The eyes of the jungle: A new study sheds light on the harsh and unsafe conditions forest guards in India have to work under |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/the-eyes-of-the-jungle/articleshow/80309006.cms |website=mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com |publisher=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref> to extend expert clinical healthcare<ref>{{cite journal |title=The feasibility of non-communicable disease (NCD) risk-factor estimation among forest staff at Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Central India |journal=Biodiversity |date=20 August 2020 |volume=21 |issue=2: One Health and Conservation |page=97-104 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14888386.2020.1793814}}</ref> to frontline forest staff. WCT works with state health departments to develop strategies aimed to improve access to primary health care facilities for forest staff working in Protected Areas. | |||
===Important positions held by WCT === | ===Important positions held by WCT === | ||
* The advisory board, Global Tiger Forum<ref>{{cite web |title=National NGO’s from India |url=https://globaltigerforum.org/members/ |website=globaltigerforum.org}}</ref> | * The advisory board, Global Tiger Forum<ref>{{cite web |title=National NGO’s from India |url=https://globaltigerforum.org/members/ |website=globaltigerforum.org}}</ref> | ||
* Member, National Tiger Conservation Authority<ref>{{cite web |title=Reinforce rules in tiger corridors, buffer zones: NTCA |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/reinforce-rules-in-tiger-corridors-buffer-zones-ntca/articleshow/66871964.cms |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref> | * Member, National Tiger Conservation Authority<ref>{{cite web |title=Reinforce rules in tiger corridors, buffer zones: NTCA |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/reinforce-rules-in-tiger-corridors-buffer-zones-ntca/articleshow/66871964.cms |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref> | ||
* State Boards of Wildlife for the following states - Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir<ref>{{cite web |title=Wildlife Board constituted for J&K |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/front-page-2/wildlife-board-constituted-for-jk/ |website=www.greaterkashmir.com}}</ref> | * State Boards of Wildlife for the following states - Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir<ref>{{cite web |title=Wildlife Board constituted for J&K |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/front-page-2/wildlife-board-constituted-for-jk/ |website=www.greaterkashmir.com}}</ref> | ||
* Executive Committee of the Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society (GLCS) | * Executive Committee of the Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society (GLCS) | ||
* Executive Committee of the Madhya Pradesh Tiger Foundation Society | |||
* Organising Committee of the Indian Climate Collaborative | |||
* Member of Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority | |||
* Member of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
{{ | == External links == | ||
* {{Official website|https://www.wildlifeconservationtrust.org/}} | |||
[[Category:2002 establishments in India]] | [[Category:2002 establishments in India]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Environmental organisations based in India]] | ||