THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026

About this grant

The THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026 is a flagship funding initiative by The Habitats Trust aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation in India. The grant is designed to support organisations working on lesser-known species, data-deficient taxa, and overlooked or threatened habitats. The grant is awarded over a three-year period, enabling organisations to design and implement long-term, science-backed, and holistic conservation programmes rather than short-term interventions. Supported projects are expected to integrate ecological research, habitat protection, and community engagement to ensure sustainable and scalable conservation impact. For the 2026 cycle, two shortlisted organisations will receive funding under this programme. The grant prioritises projects aligned with national biodiversity priorities and those that demonstrate measurable outcomes, strong methodologies, and the potential for large-scale, long-term conservation impact across India.

Eligibility requirements

All of the following criteria must be met:

• The grant is open only to organisations working in the field of conservation in India.
• Applicants must:
• Be registered not-for-profit entities in India such as a Society, Trust, Section 8 company, or approved scientific research association.
• Have a minimum of three years of functional existence in India as per registration documents.
• Demonstrate prior experience in biodiversity conservation, species protection, habitat conservation, or ecosystem restoration.
• Possess the capacity to design, manage, and implement multi-year conservation programmes.
• Hold valid registrations under Section 12AB and Section 80G or 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Have an average annual expenditure of at least INR 30 lakhs across FY 2022-23, FY 2023-24, and FY 2024-25.
• Hold a valid CSR-1 certificate.
• Individual applicants and private limited companies are not eligible. Projects must focus on lesser-known species or critical habitats and follow a holistic conservation approach.
• Application Process
• Applications must be submitted through The Habitats Trust Grants online portal.
• Submitted applications are first screened by external auditors for eligibility and completeness.
• Eligible applications are evaluated by a Sub-Jury comprising experts and sector specialists based on predefined evaluation parameters.
• Shortlisted applicants undergo field-level evaluation and site verification by the Sub-Jury and THT team.
• Finalists are selected after in-depth due diligence and are invited to present their projects to the Jury.
• The Jury makes the final selection of grant recipients based on evaluations and presentations.
• Selected organisations complete onboarding formalities before fund disbursement

What the funding covers

• Funding: Upto: ₹1 Cr

How to apply

1. 1Apply online at https://www.startupgrantsindia.com/tht-conservation-grant-for-critical-habitats-2026-by-the-habitats-trust-359

Application tips