THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026

The THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026 is a significant funding initiative from The Habitats Trust, dedicated to enhancing biodiversity conservation efforts across India. This grant specifically aims to bolster organisations that are actively engaged in safeguarding lesser-known species, taxa with limited data, and habitats that are either overlooked or facing threats.

The funding is structured to be disbursed over a three-year period. This extended duration allows recipient organisations to conceptualise and execute comprehensive, science-driven, and long-term conservation programmes, moving beyond short-term interventions. Projects supported through this grant are expected to integrate various aspects, including ecological research, active habitat protection, and meaningful community engagement, to ensure the creation of sustainable and scalable conservation impacts.

For the 2026 funding cycle, The Habitats Trust plans to award grants to two carefully selected organisations. The programme places a strong emphasis on projects that align with India's national biodiversity priorities. It also prioritises initiatives that can demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes, employ robust methodologies, and possess the potential for extensive, long-lasting conservation impact throughout the country.

• Funding of up to ₹1 Crore available.
• Supports Indian conservation non-profit organisations.
• Focus on lesser-known species and critical habitats.
• Grant awarded over a three-year period.
• Requires minimum three years of functional existence and ₹30 lakhs average annual expenditure.
• Application deadline: February 11, 2026.

The THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats is exclusively available to organisations actively involved in conservation work within India.

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a registered not-for-profit entity.
• Have a minimum of three years of functional existence.
• Possess a valid FCRA or CSR-1 certificate.
• Demonstrate an average annual expenditure of at least ₹30 lakhs.

THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026 is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026 closed on 11 Feb 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

Recipients of the THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026 can receive funding of up to ₹1 Crore. This grant is designed to support conservation programmes over a three-year period, enabling long-term project implementation.

THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026 is offered by The Habitats Trust, a non-profit foundation. It is delivered directly by The Habitats Trust as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

The selection process for the THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats involves several distinct stages to ensure thorough evaluation and due diligence:

• Application Submission and Initial Screening: Organisations must submit their applications via The Habitats Trust Grants online portal. These submissions are first reviewed by external auditors to confirm eligibility and completeness.
• Sub-Jury Evaluation: Applications that pass the initial screening are then assessed by a Sub-Jury. This panel comprises experts and specialists from the conservation sector who evaluate proposals against predefined parameters.
• Field-Level Evaluation and Site Verification: Shortlisted applicants proceed to a field-level evaluation. The Sub-Jury and the THT team conduct site visits and verifications to assess the ground reality of the proposed projects.
• Finalist Selection and Due Diligence: After in-depth due diligence, finalists are chosen. These organisations are then invited to present their conservation projects to the main Jury.
• Jury's Final Decision: The Jury makes the ultimate selection of grant recipients, basing their decision on the comprehensive evaluations and the presentations made by the finalists.
• Onboarding and Fund Disbursement: Selected organisations complete all necessary onboarding formalities before the grant funds are disbursed.

Before you apply to THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

THT Conservation Grant for Critical Habitats 2026 is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹1Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.