(Mumbai-Maharashtra)

The Bombay Natural History Society was founded in 1883 for the purpose of exchanging notes and observations on natural history and exhibiting interesting specimens. Today it is the largest non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the subcontinent engaged in the conservation of nature and natural resources, education and research in natural history, with members in over 30 countries. The Society's guiding principle has always been that conservation must be based on scientific research-a tradition exemplified by its late president, Dr. Salim Ali.

Research and Environment Protection
Today the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has acquired an unique national role and international prestige. During the past few decades the BNHS has shifted its emphasis from the documentation of India’s natural resources to providing the scientific basis for sound conservation programmes. Much of the credit also goes to the collaborators, both national and international, who have shown confidence in the BNHS to fund its endeavours. The Society’s guiding principle has always been that conservation must be based on scientific research - a tradition exemplified by its late President, Dr. Sálim Ali. The research programmes over the past decades have helped Indian wildlife biology make the transition from exploration, big game and natural history to rigorous field biology to conservation and restoration ecology studies using modern methods of data collection and analysis. BNHS’s scientists have been working in the protected and other sensitive natural areas with biodiversity and conservation potential of national and international significance. The main focus of the environmental research activities is to try to find out the solution by which man can share natural resources sustainably. These studies have provided crucial data for management and conservation of India’s rich biodiversity. The research contributes mainly to identify, monitor and mitigate the adverse impact of unplanned nonsustainable developmental processes on our natural environment.

This is being achieved by conducting research on indicator species of plants and mammals in sensitive natural habitats the country over. The studies on carrying capacity of the protected and non-protected areas have indicated crucial changes due to localised nonsustainable exploitation of the natural resources. It has been realised that healthy environment can play a crucial role in the long term sustainable development of the region resulting in the upliftment of the local populations. The present and future BNHS research projects are designed to mitigate the adverse impact of developmental projects on the ecosensitive areas as well as restoration of degraded environment. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has recognised BNHS as the Regional Nodal agency to co-ordinate the network of wildlife research in the Western Region of India, comprising the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan and Gujarat. BNHS strongly believes in the sustainable development in harmony with nature for the better living conditions of the masses. We feel this could only be achieved through unwasteful utilization of the natural resources, ecofriendly industries, long-term planned development and coexistence in nature which needs to be ensured for better future of the coming generations. We, at the BNHS, are of the opinion that every person and institution should take up the cause of nature conservation in their own capacity. Every such action will have short term and long term positive effect resulting in conserving natural resources for sustainable use.

1. Mammal Survey of India (1911-1914) during which more than 50,000 mammal specimens were collected from throughout the Indian subcontinent. This contributed greatly to the progress of Indian systematic mammalogy.

2. Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats (1929-30) during which invaluable bird specimens from this region were collected.

3. As early as 1933, presentation of a paper by S H Prater (Society’s Curator) on the “Problem of Wildlife Protection in India” during the Society’s Golden Jubilee meeting.

4. Ornithological Surveys which formed the basis of standard treatises on Indian ornithology by Sálim Ali and Dillon Ripley : Hyderabad (1931-1932), Travancore and Cochin (1933), Mysore (1939-1940), Central India (1938), Gujarat (1944-1948), Orissa (1948-1949), Berar (1951), Sikkim (1952-1953), Bhutan (1966-1968), Goa (1972), Arunachal Pradesh (1979-1982), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1964, 1966).

5. Studies of Bird Migration (1959-1972) in collaboration with WHO, Virus Research Centre at Pune, Smithsonian Institution and USFWS.

6. Gir Project : A multidisciplinary study (1970-72), in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution and Yale University, Forest Department and Government of Gujarat.

7. Ecological Studies at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur (1980-91), the first major multidisciplinary study of a wetland ecosystem in India in collaboration with the USFWS.

8. Ecological Studies at Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu (1987-1990) - the first major multidisciplinary study of a coastline ecosystem in India in collaboration with the USFWS.

9. Ecology of the Indian Elephant (1987-1994) in collaboration with the USFWS. The BNHS has pioneered long term studies of the Indian Elephant in South and Central India.

10. Ecology of Endangered Bird Species (1981-1989) such as the Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican and Bengal Florican in collaboration with the USFWS.

11. Rediscovery of Endangered Species such as the Jerdon’s Courser in Sri Lankamalleshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh in 1986, and Sálim Ali’s fruit bat Latidens sálimalii in the High Wavy Mountains of Tamil Nadu in 1993 in collaboration with the USFWS  and Harrison Zoological Museum respectively.

12. Ecology of Indian Grasslands (1990-1997) a major multi-disciplinary project on desert, terai and Deccan grasslands in collaboration with USFWS and Aligarh Muslim University.

13. Ecology of Raptors with special emphasis on endangered species (1990-93) in collaboration with the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

14. Ecology of the Indian Giant Squirrel (1992-1997) in collaboration with the U S Fish & Wildlife Service, Wildlife Institute of India and the University of Miami, Florida.

15. Ecology and Ontogeny of the Amphibians of Western India (1963-1965).

16. Ecology and Systematics of the Bats of India (1991-1994)

17. Ecology of the Butterfly species of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (1990-93).

18. Development of Practical Methodologies to reduce Bird Hazards to Aircraft in collaboration with Aeronautics Research and Development Board (ARDB), Govt. of India. Thirty civil/defence airports were monitored throughout India. (1980 - on-going)

19. Birds of Sriharikota Island, sponsored by Indian Space Research Organization, Bangalore (1993-94)

20. Study of Endangered Turtles of Pondicherry, sponsored by Pondicherry Government (1992).

21. Status of Wetlands in India, sponsored by UNDP (1992).

22. Status survey of Jerdon’s Courser, sponsored by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India (1994-95).

23. Study of Roosting Harriers in Gujarat, sponsored by the Hawk & Owl Trust, UK. (1992).

24. Establishment of an EIA Cell in 1993 to coordinate applied research studies in ecologically sensitive areas. (Ongoing).

25. Conservation Education Project, funded by ODA to study socio-ecological problems in and around National Parks and to sensitize and educate local populations to ecological problems and sustainable development. Establishment of the Conservation Education Centre at Goregaon, Mumbai.

26. Capacity - 21 Project funded by Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research, Government of India.

27. Hill Stream Fishes of the Western Ghats Project funded by USFWS 

28. Bird Hazard Research Cell funded by Ministry of Defence, ARDB, Government of India.     

29. Development of Electrophoretic Technique funded by Ministry of Defence, ARDB, Government of India. 

30. Chilka Lake Project funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

31. Survey of Coastal Areas of Mumbai funded by Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

32. Ecology and Behaviour of the Forest Owlet funded by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington.

33. Siberian Crane Project funded by Forest Department, Rajasthan and Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

34. Studies on carnivores of Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

35. Birds of Prey Project: Winter Ecology of Raptors funded by USFWS.

36. Birds of Prey Project: Effect of Environmental Contamination Project funded by USFWS.

37. Birds of Prey Project: Ecology of some rare raptors funded by USFWS.

38. Bird Banders Training Programme funded by USFWS.

39. Status and Ecology of endangered Hispid Hare in Jaldapara Sanctuary, West Bengal, funded by Wildlife Consevation Society, USA.

40. Survey of Marine Turtles in Maharashtra and Goa in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India funded by  Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.                

41. Education and awareness programme for conservation of the Great Indian Bustard. funded by  Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.               

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