About Us

What we do

At the Nature Conservation Foundation, our goal is to contribute to the knowledge and conservation of India’s unique wildlife heritage with innovative research and imaginative solutions. We work in a range of wildlife habitats, from coral reefs and tropical rainforests to the high mountains of the Himalaya.

Here, we strive to understand the survival needs of endangered species such as snow leopards and elephants, as well as equally fascinating but lesser-known wildlife such as corals and spiders. Our research also addresses human resource-use and its impacts on wild species and ecosystems. Using this knowledge of wildlife ecology and human society, we design conservation strategies that are locally-appropriate. These are implemented in collaboration with local communities who depend the most on natural resources, and the governments that manage them. While promoting wildlife conservation, our programmes also strive to safeguard livelihood and development options for local communities.

Apart from our research and conservation work, a third focus is public engagement. We do this at each of our field sites, as well as with the larger citizenry of the country -- child and adult alike.

How we work

NCF works through its Programmes. The different Programmes are almost entirely autonomous and they determine their own research and conservation priorities and directions. Each Programme is led by one or more Programme Heads. The names of Programmes describe the primary focus of work. These may describe the focal geography (Western Ghats Eastern Himalaya High Altitude), ecosystem (Oceans & Coasts), taxon (Primate; Cranes & Wetlands), or theme (Education & Public Engagement). Despite these labels, there is also considerable work that happens outside that particular geography, ecosystem, taxon or theme. As we've said, Programmes make their own decisions!

Our main office, located in the city of Mysore in southern India, provides library and infrastructural support and coordinates the Foundation's conservation research projects in various parts of India.