| Project Name:
Protecting riparian habitats in Madhya Pradesh from destructive sand mining - India Sand Watch by Veditum |
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| Project Brief:
Sand is the second most extracted natural resource globally, following water. In India, over 700 million tonnes of river sand are extracted each year to meet the growing demand for construction materials. However, sand mining is largely unregulated and unsustainable, leading to significant environmental damage. The over-extraction of sand disrupts riverbeds, diverts water flow, destabilises riverbanks, and destroys crucial riparian habitats and migratory routes. The depletion of sandbanks further exacerbates the risk of erosion, floods, and other environmental impacts within the larger watershed. Despite the vital ecological and societal importance of rivers, most in India lack legal protection unless they fall within an established terrestrial Protected Area. The high economic value of sand, coupled with poor regulation, has led to widespread illegality, corruption, and violence in the sector, with little to no accessible data on mining activities. Current governance frameworks fail to account for the environmental consequences of sand extraction, treating rivers solely as exploitable resources. Additionally, the identification and allocation of mining zones disregard the ecological health, biodiversity, and the socio-cultural importance of rivers, which include local livelihoods, water security, and religious or recreational values. Local communities, often excluded from decision-making processes, are further disempowered by the lack of information, diminishing their ability to participate effectively in river conservation efforts. Veditum India Foundation aims to improve environmental governance, increase citizen participation, and strengthen protection of rivers from destructive mining practices. They want to improve availability and accessibility of open-data on sand mining, create accountability mechanisms, empower collective action, and also push for ecological sensitivity in the process of mineral identification and allotment. |
Project objectives:
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Highlights from the field:
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This flagship grant will primarily reach out to mid to large sized field work oriented organisations to create a two-way partnership for our common cause of conservation. This grant is directed towards the running costs of on-ground projects. The grant should enable the creation of a sustainable and replicable conservation model to address some of the key conservation issues in India.
This first of its kind initiative aims to secure and regenerate the overlooked and unaddressed habitats of the country that are in urgent need of conservation attention. These lesser-known habitats are home to an array of biodiversity, and serve as important connections between key wildlife landscapes and as havens for dispersal populations from the "celebrity" parks. Through the lesser-known habitats grant, we hope to secure and bring into the limelight these vital habitats.
In recent years, a great deal of attention has been given to the "glamour" species of the country such as tigers, leopards, elephants and rhinos. Unfortunately, several of our equally endangered species have not received the same level of conservation support. This unique grant aims to support conservationists working to secure a future for our lesser-known endangered species.
Across the country there are grassroots conservationists working dedicatedly, with little to no support, to protect our biodiversity. The work they do in their individual capacity has a huge positive impact on conservation in the country. This grant aims to recognize these conservation heroes and provide them a platform to expand their activities and garner further support for their work.
Successfully submitted applications and projects will be screened for eligibility, relevance of answers and authenticity of information. A team of experts, including sector specialists and external auditors, evaluate successful entries on the following parameters:
• Applicant Profile: Based on past performance and credentials, capacity to deliver, financial management, program management and other such criteria.
• Project Profile: Based on statement of need, clarity of objectives, measurability of impact, innovation, strategy and approaches, replicability, stakeholder participation, scalability and sustainability.
At the end of the First Level Screening and Shortlisting round 24 applications, 6 in each category, will move forward for Field Level Verification.
The Habitats Trust team will visit the proposed project locations to verify if details provided by the applicant are true to fact. Along with a Sub-Jury, The Habitats Trust team will shortlist twelve proposals, three in each category, move to the Jury Round. The work of all the applicants shortlisted for the Jury round will be published in The Habitats Trust Grants compendium, as a tribute to their efforts and achievements. Disseminated widely by HCL, this provides national and international visibility to the applicants.
The twelve shortlisted applicants, three in each category, will be invited to present their proposed projects in person to our Jury of eminent conservationists at the Jury Round. Recipients of The Habitats Trust Grants will be announced at a Felicitation Event the next day.