Prakriti Research Fellowship is a small grants programme initiated to support nature conservation research and action with a focus to create a direct tangible long-term impact on nature conservation in Aurangabad and beyond. The fellowship aims to provide seed money for strong on-ground work done by individuals, teams, and small NGOs in this field from various Industry partners. Prakriti Research Fellowship has been started by CARPE in collaboration with Grind Master Machines Pvt. Ltd. and CANPACK India Pvt. Ltd. to support nature conservation research and action in India. 2020 is the 3rd year of the fellowship.
PRAKRITI RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
Our Prakriti Fellows
Radhika Kothari
Project Title: Creating a Bio-cultural portfolio to inform long- term conservation action in eastern Ladakh.
Radhika Kothari has done her M.Phil in Conservation leadership.
Her project includes developing a detailed profile and map showcasing nature-culture (both tangible and intangible) overlaps including traditional migratory routes of nomads/pastoralists, wildlife movement, land-use, community governance mechanisms, natural resources/ecosystems and management practices etc.) for local planners and decision makers.
The project aims to investigate spatial overlaps between Changpa’s and Tsomoriri ecosystems in Changthang, Ladakh. Thereby, creating a map that showcases interdependencies, interactions or overlaps between nature and cultural systems that can be used for practical application to environmental planning and management. This project will create a nature-culture profile that is aimed at informing future natural and cultural heritage conservation planning and management in the region.
Read more about her project here
Dr. Pankaj Koparde –
Project title : Studying dragonflies and damselflies in Marathwada region and working on conservation of their habitats
Dr. Pankaj Koparde, an evolutionary biologist and Professor at MIT World Peace University, Pune. Dr. Koparde is . His work is crucial because these insects have inhabited the earth for over 300 million years surviving the challenges which even the dinosaurs couldn’t survive, and are facing an existential threat due to habitat loss today. Dr. Pankaj is an outstanding conservationist.
Read about his project here
Purabi Deshpande
Project title : Studying interactions between urban trees and birds
A PhD scholar at Helsinki University, Purabi is also a science writer bringing the scientific knowledge locked in terminologies to common people in conversational language. Purabi is studying the interactions between urban trees and birds which define the environment of our living spaces. Analysing this interplay between various tree species and birds will help strengthen the case for their conservation and facilitate informed afforestation.
Read more about her project here
Dr. Anukul Nath
Project title : Conservation of endangered Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus), also known as Assam Rabbit (Khagorikota pohu) in Manas World Heritage Site
Dr. Anukul Nath, Assistant Technical Officer at UNESCO C2C at Wildlife Institute of India. Dr. Nath is working on conservation of endangered Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus), also known as Assam Rabbit (Khagorikota pohu) in Manas World Heritage Site. An indicator species of the grassland ecosystem, Hispid hare is facing multiple threats like poaching and habitat loss today. Do watch this space to know more about the grassroots level work Dr. Anukul is doing for the conservation of the species!
Read more about his project here
Tushar Pawar
Project title : Community based conservation of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
A wildlife biologist and researcher, Tushar is also a conservation activist who worked on grassroots level in Melghat Tiger Reserve for over 5 years. Presently, he is working on community based conservation of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary under Prakriti Research Fellowship. The most trafficked animal in the world, Pangolin is under severe threat of poaching and anthropogenic pressure. This is our last chance to save the scaled beauty, else the extinction is forever.
Read more about his project here
Jui Pethe
Project title : Anjaneri Hills Conservative Reserve conservation work
Introducing another Prakriti Research Fellow, Mrs. Jui Pethe. She is an ecological researcher and a member of Anjaneri Conservation Reserve Management Committee. Through her community-based conservation approach, Jui has played a crucial role in getting Anjaneri Hills near Nashik, the status of a Conservative Reserve. Anjaneri is home to Ceropegia anjanerica, a plant species found nowhere else in the world. It is also an important habitat of other endangered flora and birds like the Long-Billed Vultures.
Read more about her project here
Dr. Aabid Mir
Project title: Lost for 50 years and found: Conserving the last survivors of Endemic and Critically Endangered Gentiana kurroo in Kashmir Himalaya
Location: UT of Jammu and Kashmir
A doctorate in plant diversity assessment, Dr. Aabid Mir is the President of the Community of Education, Research and Development Foundation which is working on a range of issues including environment conservation, women empowerment and social welfare in Kashmir.
Under the Prakriti Research Fellowship, Dr. Mir is working on conservation of Gentiana kurroo, a highly medicinal and Critically Endangered and Endemic plant species in Kashmir, Himalayas. The species was considered extinct for the past 50 years until it was recently rediscovered in a protected area. Indiscriminate exploitation and habitat destruction are leading to its extinction, let’s hope Dr. Aabid succeeds in saving it for the upcoming generations.
Read more about his project here.
Dr. Arshiya Bose
Project title: Conserving Keystone Species through Community Stewardship and Biodiversity Ambassadors in Coffee Landscapes in the Western Ghats
Project Location: Biligirirangan Hill, Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka
Dr. Bahar Baviskar
Project title: Capacity building of front line staff for conservation of threatened species by conducting wildlife investigation through forensic techniques.
Project location: Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), Maharashtra
Mr. Vishal Rasal
Project title: Assessment of utilization, economics and sustainability of Wild vegetables harvest in and around Mumbai.
Project location: Mumbai
Testimonials
Sameer Kelkar
Rushika Shirsat
Forest guards, Bansbari Range, Manas National Park, Barpeta Road, Assam
