Noida, 14 January 2026: The Habitats Trust has announced the 9th edition of the THT Grants, inviting applications from conservation practitioners and non-profit organisations across India. The grants programme, with a total outlay of ₹3.5 crore, aims to support holistic, innovative, and replicable projects that address biodiversity loss, climate change, and water scarcity.
Applications for the 2026 edition will open on January 10, 2026, and close on February 10, 2026. Grant recipients are expected to be announced in the first week of August 2026. Application forms and detailed guidelines are available on the Trust’s website.
India is home to nearly 7–8% of the world’s biodiversity, yet many species and ecosystems—especially those outside protected areas—remain underfunded and poorly documented. The THT Grants seek to address this gap by supporting projects focused on endangered wildlife, lesser-known species, and underrepresented ecosystems, while also emphasising community engagement and long-term sustainability.
Since its inception in 2018, the THT Grants programme has supported more than 38 projects across 21 States and Union Territories, disbursing over ₹16.2 crore. Supported initiatives span species recovery, habitat restoration, applied research, and community-led conservation, contributing to measurable on-ground outcomes and strengthening local conservation capacity.
Commenting on the launch of the new edition, Rushikesh Chavan, Director, The Habitats Trust, said, “India’s conservation challenges are complex and deeply interconnected with climate pressures and local governance. Through the THT Grants, we aim to back organisations that are not only addressing urgent conservation needs but are also building models that can be sustained and replicated. We are particularly keen to support work on lesser-known species and habitats that often fall through the cracks of traditional funding.”
Grant Categories and Evaluation
The 2026 THT Grants will be awarded under three categories:
THT Conservation Grants (₹1 crore): Supporting organisations working on lesser-known species and critical habitats through holistic conservation approaches. Two grants will be awarded for a three-year period.
THT Research Grants (₹40 lakh): Supporting interdisciplinary research that directly informs on-ground conservation action. Two grants will be awarded for two years.
THT Action Grants and Action Service Projects (₹25 lakh): Supporting urgent on-ground conservation action for lesser-known species or habitats. Three grants will be awarded for two years.
Applications will be evaluated by a panel of 12 experts, including scientists and subject-matter specialists. Projects will be assessed on relevance, expected conservation impact, stakeholder engagement, scalability, replicability, and sustainability.
In the previous edition, the Trust received 119 applications, shortlisted 36 for field evaluation, and awarded grants to eight organisations and individuals, with total funding of ₹3.8 crore.
Through the 2026 edition, The Habitats Trust reiterates its commitment to addressing India’s most underfunded conservation priorities by combining immediate action with research-driven, scalable solutions that protect biodiversity and empower local communities.
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