Call for
India: WCT-Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Endangered Species Grants Programme 2025
Application Deadline:
10 August 2025
About Organisation
The Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) is a dedicated organisation working to secure India’s natural heritage by supporting on-ground conservation efforts and scientific research. With a strong focus on safeguarding endangered species and critical habitats, WCT collaborates with various stakeholders including forest departments, local communities, researchers, and grassroots conservationists. The Trust is committed to promoting sustainable biodiversity protection through targeted action, capacity building, and funding support.
WCT’s mission lies in empowering conservation professionals and communities to achieve real-world outcomes that address the challenges of species extinction, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss. Through its initiatives, WCT strengthens conservation leadership and fosters a deeper understanding of ecological systems. The WCT-Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Endangered Species (WCT-BEES) Grants Programme is a key part of its strategy to ensure that both scientific knowledge and grassroots efforts translate into tangible environmental impact. By supporting initiatives rooted in the Indian context, WCT aims to create sustainable models of conservation that are replicable, impactful, and community-centered.
Through the BEES Grants, WCT not only provides financial aid but also recognizes and uplifts the efforts of individuals and organisations working relentlessly for India’s biodiversity, with a firm belief that conservation must be inclusive, scientific, and action-oriented.
About the Grant
The WCT-Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Endangered Species (WCT-BEES) Grants Programme is designed to promote biodiversity conservation and species protection efforts across India. This initiative provides small grants to researchers and grassroots conservationists actively involved in protecting high-biodiversity landscapes and endangered species. The programme emphasizes projects with a strong on-ground conservation focus that generate measurable, real-world environmental outcomes.
There are two categories of grants available: the Wildlife Research Small Grant, which supports academic and field research on endangered species or critical habitats, and the Grassroots Conservation Small Grant, which funds direct conservation action by individuals or organisations.
Applicants must propose projects strictly based in India with a maximum duration of 10 months. Priority is given to proposals that incorporate social elements such as environmental education, community awareness, and livelihood-based conservation efforts. The programme does not fund infrastructure development, high-end equipment, litigation, or travel for seminars and conferences.
Grants range between ₹3,50,000 and ₹4,00,000 per project. Most of the funds should be allocated toward fieldwork and core conservation activities. The WCT-BEES grant seeks to strengthen India’s conservation ecosystem by enabling impactful initiatives that blend ecological science with community engagement.
Who can Apply?
The WCT-BEES Grants Programme is open exclusively to Indian citizens and registered Indian organisations working on biodiversity conservation within the country. Individuals and organisations may apply under one of the two grant categories: Wildlife Research Small Grant or Grassroots Conservation Small Grant. However, each applicant—whether individual or organisational—can submit only one proposal.
Individual applicants must hold at least a graduate degree from a recognized university in a relevant field. For organisational applications, the team leader must also meet this educational requirement. Proposals from master’s students working on dissertation projects that align with the grant’s conservation priorities are also welcome.
The grant is designed for projects that are based strictly in India and must focus on endangered species, high-biodiversity habitats, or involve measurable conservation action. Projects may also include social impact components such as environmental education, sustainable livelihoods, or community engagement initiatives.
Grants will not support laboratory-based research, purchase of expensive items like cameras or vehicles, infrastructure development, travel to conferences, or litigation-related costs.
Applicants must demonstrate a clear conservation goal, measurable objectives, and a project timeline not exceeding 10 months. Preference will be given to initiatives that integrate local community involvement and generate meaningful conservation outcomes.
How to Apply?
Eligible individuals and organisations should prepare a comprehensive project proposal detailing objectives, methodology, timelines, expected conservation impact, and budget. Only one proposal may be submitted per applicant. Proposals should strictly align with the program’s focus areas and demonstrate field-based conservation commitment. Ensure all documents meet the required criteria before submission. Applications should be submitted through the official application channel designated by the grant administrators before the deadline.
Application Deadline
All proposals for the WCT-BEES Grants Programme must be submitted on or before 10 August 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted or considered for evaluation.
Last Date to Apply
The final date for submitting proposals under the WCT-BEES Grants Programme is 10-August-2025. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid last-minute issues.
Grant Amount
Successful applicants will receive grant funding between ₹3,50,000 and ₹4,00,000, intended primarily for field-based conservation work, research activities, and on-ground implementation of biodiversity-focused projects.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
