| Project Title:
Evidence-Based Conservation of Critically Endangered Guitarfish in Coastal India |
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| Project Brief:
The wide-nose and sharp-nose guitarfish are both Critically Endangered and extremely understudied rhino rays. They occupy shallow coastal waters, making them vulnerable to human activities and threats. Building on previous research, which identified important aggregation sites and potential nursery grounds of juvenile guitarfish in South Goa, this project will assess guitarfish abundance and identify their critical habitats across two states along India’s east and west coasts. The team will use walking transect surveys—developed during the earlier phases of their work—and adapt them to different conditions to develop a simple, low-cost method to monitor guitarfish. A long-term monitoring system, with local stakeholders, will be set up in Goa—the first of its kind in India—to continue monitoring guitarfish beyond this project’s duration. This will help understand population trends over time, especially in nursery grounds crucial for the species’ conservation. In Tamil Nadu, outreach programmes with relevant stakeholders, including education programmes in schools, will be implemented to increase awareness and build positive attitudes towards guitarfish and ocean conservation. Conservation interventions will be co-created with local communities, building on successful models from their previous work, to promote conservation and the live release of guitarfish caught as bycatch. |
Project objectives:
The project has the following objectives:
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Project Location:
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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.