The Missing Link in India’s Biodiversity Revival: Philanthropic Capital

When a spider builds its web, it does not think of just one strand—it spins an entire network, each thread supporting the other. If one breaks, the whole web weakens. Nature works the same way—biodiversity is the web that holds life together, ensuring clean air, fertile soil, and resilient ecosystems. Yet, much like an unnoticed strand snapping in a web, the loss of species and ecosystems weakens the entire system, often before we realize the consequences. If we fail to support this intricate balance, we risk unraveling the very foundation of life itself

India’s biodiversity is in crisis. Over 90% of its biodiversity hotspots have been degraded, and 668,400 hectares of forest were lost between 2015 and 2020. In 2016, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India recorded massive coral bleaching of up to 83.6% across the Andaman Sea, with South Andaman witnessing the highest impact at 91.5%. Despite this, biodiversity remains grossly underfunded—only 0.1% of GDP goes toward conservation, with 90% of funding concentrated in just 10% of protected areas.

Philanthropy has a critical role to play—not just as a funder but as a force multiplier in conservation, community resilience, and policy advocacy.

Why biodiversity is not just an ‘environmental’ issue

Biodiversity is not an isolated environmental concern—it is the foundation of all life and human well-being. The SDG Wedding Cake model, developed by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, highlights that the biosphere (nature) underpins society and the economy. Without healthy ecosystems—clean water, fertile soil, climate stability—development goals become unachievable.

The SDGs Wedding Cake

Credit: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University 

In India, 63% of the economy depends on nature, with 275 million people directly reliant on forests and biodiversity for their livelihoods. Yet, deforestation, habitat loss, and climate change are pushing millions into poverty, food insecurity, and displacement.

Philanthropy seeking high-impact, long-term solutions must recognize biodiversity as a social and economic priority—not just an environmental one.

The problem with piecemeal conservation

Imagine a group of people trying to fix a sinking boat. One patches a hole in the side, another bails out water, a third person strengthens the mast, while someone else adds a fresh coat of paint. Each believes they are solving the problem, yet the boat continues to sink.

The collapse of India’s vulture population—down 99.9% between the mid-1990s and early 2000s due to the veterinary drug diclofenac—is a powerful reminder that piecemeal conservation fails in the face of ecosystem interdependence. With vultures gone, animal carcasses were left to rot—fueling a surge in feral dogs that fed on them, leading to more rabies deaths and public health crises. The loss also disrupted Parsi funerary rites, revealing how one species’ decline can ripple across ecosystems, health systems, and culture.

Biodiversity conservation funding in India often suffers from the same flaw.

• A project might plant trees, but without native species and ecosystem considerations, it can degrade biodiversity.

• Protecting a single species means little if its habitat and food chain are collapsing.

• Eco-tourism initiatives risk displacing Indigenous communities if not managed sustainably.

Biodiversity funding must move from fragmented efforts to holistic, ecosystem-based solutions.

A smarter way to fund biodiversity

Biodiversity loss is just as urgent as climate change—yet it remains significantly underfunded. The World Economic Forum reports that while India’s philanthropy sector is growing, only 0.5% of domestic funding goes to climate action, covering just 10% of national needs.

1. Habitat Conservation & Ecological Restoration: Investing in ecosystem-wide restoration is far more effective than isolated greening efforts. Conservation should focus on landscape-level interventions, ensuring that forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and mangroves are protected as interconnected systems rather than fragmented projects. Indigenous-led conservation must be prioritized, as local communities have long served as the original stewards of biodiversity. Scaling up nature-based solutions like agroforestry, carbon sequestration, and watershed management can further enhance ecosystem resilience. A successful example is the Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project, which has restored 27,000 hectares of cloud forest in Meghalaya, demonstrating how conservation can benefit both biodiversity and local livelihoods.

2. Research, Advocacy & Policy Strengthening: Philanthropy must bridge critical knowledge and governance gaps. Despite being a biodiversity hotspot, India still lacks comprehensive data on marine ecosystems, pollinators, and lesser-known species. Funding interdisciplinary research and policy advocacy can reinforce environmental laws and prevent their dilution. Strengthening India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) could help protect 30% of high-biodiversity areas by 2030.

3. Community Engagement & Capacity Building: Conservation cannot succeed without the participation of those who live alongside nature. Supporting community-driven conservation models, such as eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture, and non-timber forest products, ensures economic incentives for biodiversity protection. In Karnataka’s Bannerghatta National Park, local initiatives such as early warning systems for elephant movement, use of conservation dogs, and local education programs—have successfully reduced human-wildlife conflict by fostering coexistence and empowering residents as active participants in conservation. have successfully reduced human-wildlife conflict, proving that grassroots efforts can drive real impact.

Philanthropy: the vital link in India’s biodiversity revival

Despite India’s vast biodiversity, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of what’s being lost. As Dr. Kamaljit Singh Bawa, founder of ATREE, notes:

Loss of biodiversity is a major concern—but without robust monitoring systems, we don’t even know how much we’re losing. The real challenge lies in reconciling development with the need to maintain or enhance biodiversity

This underscores the urgent need for philanthropy to support baseline data collection, long-term monitoring, and research-driven policy reform.

Several philanthropists in India are driving biodiversity conservation through ecosystem restoration, regenerative agriculture, and marine conservation. Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies supports ATREE for habitat protection, while Raintree Foundation (Leena Dandekar) focuses on landscape restoration and community-led conservation. Dharmavana Nature Ark (Harish CP Yarlagadda) is preserving semi-arid forests, and Radha Goenka (RPG Foundation) is restoring one million trees and installing artificial reefs. Mirik Gogri (Spectrum Impact) funds climate resilience projects. However, there is still a long way to go.

By investing in ecosystems, research, and communities, philanthropists can strengthen climate resilience, support sustainable livelihoods, and secure India’s biodiversity for future generations. Philanthropy can be the missing link in India’s biodiversity revival—not just through capital, but through courage, conviction, and long-term commitment.

The question is not whether India can afford to fund biodiversity.

The question is—can we afford not to?

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To explore curated funding pathways, strategic partners, and a community of changemakers working to protect India’s biodiversity, connect with the authors Jhilmil Garg and Sara Jamal.