CONSERVATION CATALYST PROGRAMME 2026-27

WWF-India’s flagship Conservation Catalyst Programme (CCP) supports grassroot conservationists and organisations to conserve wildlife and habitat, and helps awardees become more effective, structured and empowered.

This isn’t your ordinary grant. Tapping into our vast experience and network, WWF-India will provide a small grant (up to 6 Lakh INR per year), and also mentor the awardees with communication, networking, institutional, fundraising and leadership capacities.

There will be an opportunity for CCP awardees to avail a repeat grant.

Over the past few years, we have received multiple exciting entries that have gone the extra mile for conservation and worked in neglected areas and species such as wolves, migratory crabs, endangered plants, scrubland biodiversity and more.

Applications for the 2026-27 cycle of the programme are now open.

If you know or are an exceptional organisation/ individual that works at the grassroots to conserve lesser-known species and habitats, please use this form (Conservation Catalyst Programme 2026-27 Nomination Form – Fill out form) to make a nomination. The deadline for nominations is 22 January 2026. We are looking for people who believe in making a difference, for places and species that need it the most.

For any questions, please reach out to: ccp@wwfindia.net.

Past Projects under Conservation Catalyst Programme

2025-26

  • Society for Eco-Restoration and Livelihood (SEAL): Conservation of the Yellow-breasted Bunting: Reviving the breeding grounds and habitat of the Yellow-breasted Bunting, a threatened and lesser-known avian species, in the wetland areas of Ikop pat, Manipur
  • International Border Area Peoples Welfare Organisation (IBAPWO): Protecting Pangolins along the Indo-Myanmar Border: Implementing community-driven efforts towards the conservation of pangolins, which are threatened by trafficking along the Indo-Myanmar International Border Region, Nagaland
  • Golden Earth Bioprreserve Foundation (GEBF): Restoration of the Grassland Habitat of Dhule: Conserving the grassland and scrubland habitats of Dhule, Maharashtra, which support vulnerable species including Indian Wolf, Indian Hyena, and Lesser Florican
  • Social Awareness and Development Organisation for Women (SAADOW): Slender Loris Conservation Project: Habitat revitalization of the Slender Loris in the Karanthamalai and Mundamalai Hills of the Eastern Ghats, a nocturnal primate species facing threats due to canopy-cover loss, human-wildlife conflict, and anthropogenic pollution
  • Research and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA): Conserving Endemic and Endangered Flora of Pachgani Tableland: Conservation efforts towards protecting and reviving the endemic and endangered flora species of the lateritic rock outcrop of Pachgani tableland, Maharashtra, which face threats due to overtourism and habitat degradation
  • EcoSanskriti: Himalayan Serow Conservation Project: Community-based approach to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and habitat degradation for protection of the Himalayan Serow around Dharkot, Uttarakhand
  • Jignasu Dolia: King Cobra Conservation Project: Monitoring and conserving the King Cobra in the forests of Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand, which often have their nesting sites close to human habitation

2024-25

  • Gramya Sikshan Paryavran Sanstha: Sustainable Management of the Bugyals of Kedarnath: A community-led effort for conserving alpine meadows in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand
  • Wildlife Information and Nature Guide Society (WINGS): Indian Grey Wolf Conservation Project: Mitigating human-wolf conflict in Pashchim Bardhaman, West Bengal, for conserving the wolf population and encouraging coexistence
  • Jana Jagruti: Community Based Forest Conservation: Empowering Panchayat-level committees for sustainable management and protection of forest commons in Andhra Pradesh, home to threatened species such as Indian pangolins and wild cats.
  • Human & Environment Alliance League (HEAL): Communities for Carnivore Conservation: Community-based effort to reduce human-wildlife conflict in Purulia, West Bengal, for protection of carnivore species, including Leopard, Indian Grey Wolf, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, and Bengal Fox.
  • Mitrajit Deb: Phayre’s Langur Conservation Project: Monitoring and conserving the Phayre’s Langur population in Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura, an important folivore primate threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict
  • Wanmei Konyak: Community Forests Restoration Project in Nagaland: A youth-led effort for ecological restoration and conservation of abandoned jhum plots in Changlangshu, Nagaland
  • Bryan Miranda: Study of Guitarfish Nurseries in Goa: Identifying the critical habitats and abundance of the Widenose Guitarfish along Goa’s coastline, and developing conservation plans for the species
  • BONROU Nature Conservation Society: Chinese Pangolin Conservation Project: Conservation efforts towards protecting the Chinese Pangolin of Karbi Anglong region, with the involvement of local communities and ex-hunters

2023-24

  • Thangsoi Khiamnuingan: Hoolock Gibbon Conservation Project: A community-based conservation effort to protect the last surviving Hoolock Gibbons in Khelia Forest, Nagaland.
  • Chinmay Sawant: Kiraksal Conservation Project: Conserving the Kiraksal region, Satara, Maharashtra, which contains unexplored semi-arid grasslands and thorny scrub forests habitats, and is refuge to threatened species such as the Indian wolf and striped hyena.
  • Sunil Bhoite: Behavioural Study of Crabs in Chalkewadi Plateau: Examining the behaviour of crabs in the Chalkewadi plateau, Maharashtra, locally known as "Raja," which have shown evidence of extensive migration. This is a unique freshwater crab migration that deserves protection.
  • Capacity Development of Odisha Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abhiyan Trust (OPSA): Developing the capacity of a grassroot organization working towards conservation of mangrove ecosystem and coastal dune vegetation in Odisha.
  • Vishwanath Rajan: Project Cloudbase: Conservation efforts towards protecting the Karst Cave Habitat in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, a fragile and sensitive ecosystem facing the threats of mining, dynamite fishing, human waste and effluent discharge, climate change and other anthropogenic factors.
  • Speleological Association of India: Robber’s Cave Conservation Project: Conserving the subterranean habitats of Robber’s Cave in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, which have ecological as well as socio-cultural importance, and are threatened by pollution and irresponsible tourism

2021 Phase I

  • An Innovative Wildlife Fencing and Early Warning System to Mitigate Human- Wildlife Conflict in Gorumara National Park, West Bengal, India
  • An assessment of the fishery and trade in mobulids in the context of its cites status with a view to formulating effective conservation plans
  • Strengthen Community Initiatives for Sustainable management of Chala Reserve Forest

2020 Phase I

  • Assessing wildlife corridor fragmented by highway and its conservation within a tiger landscape in Southern India

2019 Phase I

  • Establishing pilot Black Soldier Fly Larvae organic waste processing facility

2018 Phase II

  • Impact Assessment of Receding Wetlands on livelihood of Rural Population: A Study of Wetlands of Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Management and Conservation Efforts on Endemic Fish Mahseer in West Garo Hills, Tura, Meghalaya

2018 Phase I

  • Mapping land use change and correlating with tree and faunal diversity, in the Delhi-Haryana Aravalli hills in and around Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary
  • Conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in and around Jadhav Sagar Lake and Maniyar river through community mobilization and legal interventions.
  • ACT Car Pool (Community Based Initiative)
  • Using Gorgonians as surrogate across depth gradient to monitor El Nino and climate change implications in the Lakshadweep Archipelago

2017

  • The relationship between soil carbon sequestration, dung beetles and grassland management in the Korangadu grasslands of western Tamil Nadu
  • Mitigation of human conflict with a ‘Highly Endangered’ monkey species through ecological research and community engagement
  • The characterization and analysis of micro-plastics in coastal seawater from the selected regions of south west coast of India
  • Assessment of Threatened Batoids: South west and South east coast, India

2016

  • Sustainable Solid Waste Management along Trekking Trails in the Indian Himalayas
  • In situ conservation of four critically endangered, recently described and endemic plant species of Western Ghats
  • How has Tamhini Ghat changed? Comparing butterfly populations in a threatened landscape after eighteen years
  • Assessment of Human-Asiatic Black bear conflict and their mitigation measures in an around Khangchendzonga National Park of Sikkim, India

2015

  • Mobilization of local youth for protecting Anjaneri Conservation Reserve the only known locality for Critically Endangered Ceropegia anjanerica Malpure et al.
  • Ecology of Relocated Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi.
  • Understanding impacts of vehicular traffic on wildlife in the Western Ghats and other areas of Karnataka
  • Impact of selective logging on understorey insectivorous birds

2014 Phase II

  • Community structure and trophic categorization of aquatic insects in selected streams around Agumbe, Central Western Ghats, Karnataka, India
  • Assessment of Natural Spawning Ground and Establishment of Species Environment Relationship of Indian Horseshoe crab

2014 Phase I

  • Study of Sloth bear habitat, identification of suitable corridors for wildlife conservation in fragmented forests of Mirzapur and assessment of human-bear conflict.
  • An Experimental Study on Elephant Seismic Communication to Reduce Human Elephant Conflict
  • Eco restoration of Mampuzha River banks in Perumanna Village of Kozhikode District in Kerala
  • Status survey of Elasmobranchs in Ganga hoogly river system West Bengal with a special emphasis on rare and endangered Gangetic shark
  • Life for Rivers
  • Radio telemetry and outreach as a tool to secure a future for the threatened Mahseer, and their habitat.

2013 Phase II

  • Is animal feed causing overfishing?: The fishmeal industry and fisheries sustainability in Gujarat
  • Biodiversity Assessment of Erstwhile Closed Areas of Barmer and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan

2013 Phase 1

  • Assessing ecological Impacts of commercial agro-forestry plantations on forest-dependent insectivorous bat species in the Southern Western Ghats, India
  • Finding spaces for co-existence: marine fisheries livelihoods and threatened species in India
  • Landform plant diversity and its utilization pattern by ungulates in Upper Dhauli Valley: A case study from Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
  • Evaluation of conservation status of the Critically Endangered Large Rock Rat Cremnomys elvira

2011-2012

  • Conservation of Crocodilians and Freshwater turtles in Corbett Tiger Reserve
  • Assessment of the population status and habitat for the Gharial and smooth coated otter in the river Hooghly

2010-11:

  • Status Survey of the Fishing Cat in West Bengal
  • Assessing Conservation Threats to the Great Slaty Woodpecker in an Endemic Bird Area
  • Conservation of Vultures in Gujarat
  • Reassessment of the impact of nest collection on the edible-nest Swiftlet in Andaman islands
  • Study of feeding behaviour of northern pig tailed macaque in Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam
  • Status and Distribution of Malabar Giant Squirrel in Northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra
  • Study of the Diversity and Ecology of Bats in Coimbatore
Support Banner

Help Support Our Work

Your contribution helps protect wildlife and habitats.