Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
Name	Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
Founded	1996
Founder	Kamaljit S. Bawa
Location	Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Fields	Ecology, Conservation Biology, Biodiversity Informatics

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment is an Indian conservation research organization headquartered in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, established to conduct scientific studies on biodiversity, landscape ecology, and sustainable development. The organization engages with stakeholders across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas through field projects, policy advising, and capacity building with emphasis on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. It collaborates with universities, research institutes, funding agencies, and multilateral bodies to translate ecological research into conservation practice.

History

Founded in 1996 by Kamaljit S. Bawa and colleagues, the institution emerged amid rising attention to biodiversity following events such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Earth Summit and policy initiatives inspired by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Early initiatives connected to regional efforts like work in the Western Ghats and networks including the National Biodiversity Authority (India) and academic partners such as University of Mysore and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Throughout the 2000s the organization expanded its remit, aligning projects with agendas from the United Nations Environment Programme and funding from organizations like the MacArthur Foundation and the National Science Foundation. Leadership and advisory interactions have included scientists linked to institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, Yale University, and Indian Institute of Science. Milestones include establishment of data platforms and long-term ecological monitoring linked to initiatives in the Nilgiris, Brahmaputra Basin, and transboundary collaborations related to the Eastern Himalaya and Sundarbans.

Research and Programs

Research themes span population ecology, landscape genetics, climate change impacts, and ecosystem services, with projects addressing species such as Elephas maximus (Asian elephant), Panthera tigris (tiger), Rhinoceros unicornis (greater one‑horned rhinoceros), and taxonomic groups including Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Aves. Programs integrate methods from remote sensing partnerships with groups like European Space Agency and analyses using statistical approaches popularized at institutions such as Imperial College London and University of Cambridge. Applied studies inform policy dialogues involving the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (India), regional planning in Karnataka, and conservation strategies promoted by World Wide Fund for Nature and Conservation International. The organization runs thematic programs in biodiversity informatics and freshwater conservation linked to riverine systems such as the Godavari and Cauvery basins.

Conservation and Field Projects

Field projects include landscape-scale conservation in the Western Ghats, habitat restoration in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, and community-based programs in areas adjacent to Bandipur National Park, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kudremukh National Park. Species-specific initiatives address human–wildlife conflict mitigation for Panthera pardus and corridor restoration for Elephas maximus across corridors connecting Periyar Tiger Reserve and other reserves. Freshwater projects involve studies on fish assemblages in the Ganges tributaries and wetland conservation in the Chilika Lake and Kolleru Lake contexts. Collaborative conservation planning has engaged with agencies behind schemes like the Project Tiger network and international conservation efforts coordinated by BirdLife International and the Global Environment Facility.

Education and Capacity Building

Capacity building involves training programs for practitioners from institutions such as Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and state forest departments, alongside international exchanges with researchers from Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and Australian National University. Workshops and certificate courses cover topics including conservation genetics, species monitoring used by groups like Zoological Survey of India, and data science techniques applied in partnerships with National Centre for Biological Sciences and Centre for Ecological Sciences (IISc). The organization supports fellowships and mentorships that have linked emerging scientists to networks such as the Society for Conservation Biology and the Ecological Society of America.

Publications and Data Resources

The organization produces peer-reviewed studies published in journals such as Nature, Science, Conservation Biology, and Biological Conservation, and contributes to regional assessments used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and national biodiversity reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It curates databases and open-access resources in biodiversity informatics interoperable with platforms like Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the Catalogue of Life, and maintains long-term monitoring datasets used by researchers from University of Edinburgh and University of Oxford. Outreach outputs include technical reports for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (India) and policy briefs cited in reviews by the United Nations Development Programme.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships have involved multilateral donors such as the World Bank, philanthropic foundations including the Wellcome Trust and Ford Foundation, and research councils like the Department of Biotechnology (India) and Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). Collaborative research has been conducted with academic partners including University of Cambridge, Princeton University, Monash University, University of Queensland, and regional institutions such as Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Pondicherry University. The organization engages in international networks including IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature specialist groups, and regional consortia addressing transboundary conservation in South Asia and the Indian Ocean basin.

Category:Conservation organizations based in India