Nature Conservation Foundation

The Nature Conservation Foundation was founded in 1996. Their mission is to carry out "science-based and socially responsible conservation".

The organisation works in a variety of habitats. The high altitude program focuses on human wildlife conflicts and conservation of endangered species such as the snow leopard and the Tibetan gazelle. A livestock insurance program has been launched to prevent retaliatory killings of snow leopards by communities whose livestock were being preyed on.{{cite journal | last =MISHRA | first =CHARUDUTT |author2=ALLEN, P. |author3=McCARTHY, T. |author4=MADHUSUDAN, M.D. |author5=BAYARJARGAL, A. |author6=PRINS, H.H.T. | year =2003 | title =The Role of Incentive Programs in Conserving the Snow Leopard | journal =Conservation Biology | volume =17 | issue =6 | pages =1512–1520 | doi =10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00092.x | bibcode =2003ConBi..17.1512M }}{{cite journal |last1=Ghosh-Harihar |first1=Mousumi |title=Protected areas and biodiversity conservation in India |journal=Biological Conservation |date=September 2019 |volume=237 |pages=114–124 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320719302927 |access-date=17 April 2023|doi=10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00092.x|bibcode=2003ConBi..17.1512M | s2cid =55097518 |url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ncf-india.org/projectoverview.php?class=theme&type=conflict&project=People%2C+livestock+%26+snow+leopards |title="protecting livestock and snow leopards" from the NCF website |accessdate=2008-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525101547/http://www.ncf-india.org/projectoverview.php?class=theme&type=conflict&project=People,+livestock+&+snow+leopards |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead }} The organisation has partnered with the International Snow Leopard Trust and the Government of India to launch a Project Snow Leopard, similar to Project Tiger for the protection of the wildlife in the Himalayan landscapes.{{cite web|url=http://snowleopardnetwork.org/new/docs_news/PSL%20Press%20Release%20SLN%20July%2006.htm |title=Launch of Project Snow leopard: A report from Snowleopard Network |accessdate=2008-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006124251/http://snowleopardnetwork.org/new/docs_news/PSL%20Press%20Release%20SLN%20July%2006.htm |archive-date=6 October 2007 }}[http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=46855 Press Release by the GoI on the launch of Project Snow Leopard] The Project Snow Leopard seeks to address the problem of species declines in the high-altitude Himalayan landscape through evidence-based conservation plans as well as local support. Species such as snow leopard, Asiatic ibex, argali, urial, chiru, takin, serow and musk deer will particularly benefit from this project.

In 2003, three wildlife biologists from the foundation reported the Chinese goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) from Arunachal Pradesh, the first record for IndiaCharudutt Mishra, Aparajita Datta and M.D. Madhusudan (2005) Record of the Chinese Goral Naemorhedus caudatus in Arunachal Pradesh. JBNHS Vol. 102(2) In 2005, scientists from the foundation described the Arunachal macaque from western Arunachal Pradesh, India, a species new to science.{{cite journal | author = Sinha, A., Datta, A., Madhusudan, M. D. and Mishra, C. | year = 2005 | title = Macaca munzala: a new species from western Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India | journal = International Journal of Primatology | volume = 26 | issue = 977 | pages = 977–989 | doi = 10.1007/s10764-005-5333-3| citeseerx = 10.1.1.576.1210 | s2cid = 20459400 }}

• {{cite news |first= Alex|last= Kirby|title=Scientists find new Indian monkey |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4101001.stm |publisher=BBC |date= 2004-12-16|accessdate=2008-06-01 }} The organisation runs a rainforest restoration program in the Anamalai hills in the Western Ghats where fragments of degraded patches of rainforests outside national parks or wildlife sanctuaries are restored in partnership with the private tea and coffee plantations.{{cite news |first=Janaki |last=Lenin |title=Rainforest revival |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2005/07/17/stories/2005071700090200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312083040/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2005/07/17/stories/2005071700090200.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=12 March 2011 |publisher=The Hindu (newspaper) |accessdate=2008-08-01 }}

Charudutt Mishra and M. D. Madhusudhan, two of the founders received the Whitley award, also called "Green Oscar"{{Cite web |url=http://www.whitleyaward.org/display.php?id=74 |title=Profile from Whitley website |access-date=31 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211170556/http://www.whitleyaward.org/display.php?id=74 |archive-date=11 December 2008 |url-status=dead }} for 2005 and 2009 respectively. Charudutt Mishra was awarded for the conservation efforts in the high altitude landscapes, while Madhusudan was conferred the honor in recognition of his work to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the Western Ghats.Whitley Award for Mysore-based wildlife biologist. The Hindu. 14 May 2009. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090517024413/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/14/stories/2009051454061100.htm LINK]Indian Wildlife Biologist wins 'Green Oscar' on Doordarshan News. [http://www.ddinews.gov.in/Homepage/Homepage+-+Other+Stories/niha.htm LINK]{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2006, the organisation won the Distinguished service award from the Society for Conservation Biology.{{Cite web|url=https://conbio.org/professional-development/service-awards/past-recipients|title=Society for Conservation Biology {{!}} Past Recipients|website=conbio.org|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}} for outstanding contributions to nature conservation. Sushil Dorje, a field coordinator with the organisation was awarded the Van Tienhoven Foundation award for his work on human-wildlife conflict in Spiti and Ladakh.[http://www.vantienhovenfoundation.com/awarded.php?menu_id=6&submenu_id=58&win_id=%206 Details of the Award from the website of the Van Tienhoven Foundation for International Nature Protection]

In 2013, Aparajita Datta was awarded the Whitley award to continue her decade long work on conservation of hornbills.{{cite web|title=Hornbills as flagships for the Himalayan forests of Arunachal Pradesh|date=2 May 2013 |url=http://whitleyaward.org/winners/hornbills-as-flagships-for-the-protection-of-himalayan-forests/|publisher=Whitley Fund for Nature|accessdate=3 May 2013}} Aparajita Dutta, a Senior Scientist at NCF was announced as the recipient of 2009 Woman of Discovery Humanity Award by the New York-based Wings World Quest for a lifetime dedicated to wildlife biology and her work in Namdapha Tiger Reserve.[http://www.wingsworldquest.org/?q=node/73 List and profile of winners from Wings World Quest Website][http://www.deccanherald.com/CONTENT/Nov192008/scroll20081119101624.asp?section=scrollingnews Award for Indian wildlife scientist, Deccan Herald 19 Nov. 2008] She was also awarded by the National Geographic Society as an Emerging explorer for 2010, which recognized "..14 trailblazers from around the world".{{cite web|title=Aparajita Datta, Wildlife Biologist|url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/field/explorers/aparajita-datta/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524105534/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/field/explorers/aparajita-datta/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2010|work=National Geographic Emerging Explorer|publisher=National Geographic Society|accessdate=11 June 2010}}

In 2015, Dr. Ananda Kumar was awarded the Whitley award for his work on elephant-human conflict management on the Valparai plateau. In 2017, he was awarded a continuation of funding.{{cite web|title=Human-elephant coexistence in Southern India|date=30 April 2015 |url=https://whitleyaward.org/winners/human-elephant-coexistence-in-southern-india/|publisher=Whitley Fund for Nature|accessdate=8 October 2018}}{{cite web |title=Nature Conservation Foundation |url=https://www.ncf-india.org/about-ncf#:~:text=The%20Nature%20Conservation%20Foundation%20(NCF,innovative%20research%20and%20imaginative%20solutions. |access-date= 16 April 2023}}

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{{Commons category|Media contributed by NCF}}

• [http://www.ncf-india.org/ Website of NCF]
• [http://blog.ncf-india.org/ eco-logic, the NCF Blog]
• [http://elephanthills.org/restoration/ Restoration project showcase]

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Category:Non-profit organisations based in India

Category:Environmental organisations based in India

Category:Organizations established in 1996

Category:Scientific organisations based in India

Category:Nature conservation organisations based in India

Category:Environment of Karnataka

Category:Nature conservation in Asia

Category:Lahaul and Spiti district

Category:Nature conservation

Category:Himalayan studies

Category:Environmental studies institutions in India