Wildlife Trust of India

Infobox_Company | company_name = Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)
company_
company_type = Charitable Trust | Non Government Organisation (NGO)
foundation = 1998, New Delhi, INDIA
location = NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh INDIA
area_served = All India
key_people = Dr.M.K.Ranjitsinh, Mr.Ashok Kumar, Mr.Vivek Menon
industry = Nature Conservation | Wildlife Welfare
products = Rapid Action, Guardians of the Wild, Emergency Rescue, Habitat Protection
num_employees = "100+ (All India)"
homepage = [http://www.wti.org.in/ www.wti.org.in]

The Wildlife Trust of India, (WTI) is a non profit conservation organisation based in New Delhi, India. Its principal concerns are crisis management to prevent destruction of India's wildlife and the provision of quick, efficient aid to those areas that require it the most. In the longer term it hopes to achieve, through proactive reforms, an atmosphere conducive to conserving India's wildlife and its habitat.

WTI was formed in November 1998 in response to the rapidly deteriorating condition of wildlife in India. WTI is a registered charity in India (under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961).

Aims

* The mission of WTI is to conserve nature, especially endangered species and threatened habitats, in partnership with communities and governments
* Provide emergency assistance to protect endangered Indian wildlife species, with particular priority to the tiger, the elephant and the rhino.
* Catalyse action by the government and by people in general for conservation of wildlife and its habitat.
* Provide aid in terms of expertise, finance, equipment etc. to individuals to assist wildlife in times of crisis.
* Maintain and boost the morale of wildlife protection staff in the field by equipping them to discharge their responsibilities more effectively.
* Support research programmes, field action projects, and other activities that encourage proactive action for conservation of wildlife and wild habitats.
* Produce and disseminate public awareness material and communication strategies that will promote the main objectives of the Trust.
* Acquire and set aside land for wildlife conservation and assist in its management.

Approach

WTI is geared to act quickly with minimum bureaucracy, ensuring that assistance reaches the field, where it is needed the most, as soon as possible. This could be in the form of finance, equipment, infrastructure and expert personnel, or it could be in the form of support for training. Rehabilitation and re-introduction of wild species back into their habitat, acquiring land for wildlife, creating innovative communication packages, providing relief in cases of conflict etc., are also part of the approach to promoting conservation.

WTI functions through partnerships and coalitions. Regional partners provide geographical oversight, technical partners provide the expertise and skill that may be required in specific projects, and international partners help in fund raising and global positioning. The core team at WTI comprises biologists, conservationists, veterinarians, communication professionals and lawyers who pool their respective skills to a common end.

WTI programmes are supported, among others, by:
* Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India.
* Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
* State Forest & Wildlife Departments.
* International Fund for Animal Welfare
* David Shepherd Conservation Foundation , United Kingdom.
* United States Fish and Wildlife Service
* Tata Chemicals Ltd.
* Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd.
* The Serenity Trust
* Charities Aid Foundation
* Born Free Foundation
* Rufford Foundation
* Care for the Wild International
* World Society for the Protection of Animals
* Japan Wildlife Conservation Society
* National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
* British High Commission, New Delhi
* National Mineral Development Corporation

WTI Programmes

Wild Aid

The Wild Aid Programme of the WTI is a multi-disciplinary integrated approach for wildlife conservation. It is conceptualized as an outreach management skill unit to address all critical conservation needs and emergencies in the country through short and medium term actions.

To realize these goals, effectively and competently and at a shortest notice the Wild Aid Programme is works with four thematic divisions:
* Rapid Action Project (RAP)
* Executive Director’s Discretionary Grants (EDDG)
* Equipment Bank (EB)

Wild Rescue

The Wild Rescue Programme is conceptualized as a rehabilitation and veterinary skills unit of the conservation department of WTI. Its primary objectives are to rescue, rehabilitate and release distressed and diseased wild animals, by providing them appropriate health care and veterinary services.

To accomplish these goals and aims, the following three thematic divisions were incorporated in the wild rescue program:
* Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (ER)
* Captive Wildlife Welfare (CWW)
* Wildlife Veterinary Service (WVS)

Wild Lands

The Wild Lands Programme is conceptualized as a habitat ecology and realty skill unit of WTI.

Its main objective is tocreate a buffer zone to the Protected Area Network of the country by identifying, prioritizing, securing and managing privately owned wild lands of critical importance. Restoration of wildlife habitats of the existing protected areas in the country for long term conservation of threatened wild species are its other priority areas.

For the purpose of securing these goals and aims the following three thematic divisions are incorporated in the Wild Lands Programme:
* Habitat Recovery (HR)
* Habitat Securing (HS)
* Land Use Planning (LUP)

Wild Species

The Wild Species programme is conceptualized as a species and behavioral ecology skill unit of WTI .

The main objective of this program is to initiate long term projects that mitigate human-wildlife conflict and help recovery of populations of species in India defined as threatened by IUCN. It also conducts essential conservation surveys that generate information on the species and their habitats.

To fulfill these aims and objectives the wild species programme has incorporated the following thematic divisions:
* Species Recovery (SR)
* Conflict Mitigation (CM)
* Conservation Surveys (CS)

Wild Enforcement & Law

The Wild Enforcement and Law Programme is conceptualized as an enforcement and legal skill unit of WTI.

Its main objectives are to curb wildlife crime by anti-poaching and anti-illegal trade activities and litigation, to ensure that national and international policies affecting wildlife and its habitats are in consonance with their survival needs.

In order to fulfill these aims and objectives the following five thematic divisions were incorporated in the Wild Enforcement and Law programme:
* Legal Support (LS)
* Policy Advocacy (PA)
* Trade Control (TC)
* Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring Division (WEM)
* Guardians of the Wild or Van Rakshak Project (VRP)

Awareness for Conservation

The Awareness for Conservation programme is conceptualized as a campaigns, education and public awareness skill unit of the Conservation Department of WTI.

Its main objectives are to create mass public awareness and support for nature conservation activities through targeted campaigns and formal and non-formal education.

It is envisioned to meet these goals and aims through the following two thematic divisions:
* Campaigns
* Education

Communities for Conservation

The Communities for Conservation Programme is conceptualized as a social sciences skill unit of WTI.

Its main objectives are to build partnerships with local and traditional communities for effective biodiversity conservation.

In order to achieve these goals and objectives the following thematic divisions were incorporated in the communities for conservation programme:
* Community Based Conservation (CBC)
* Alternate Livelihoods ( AL )

NEWS Stories

* [http://www.wildlifetrustofindia.org Latest NEWS]
* [http://www.wildlifetrustofindia.org/news-archives NEWS Archives]

ee also

* Indian natural history
* Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
* Sanctuary Asia
* Wildlife of India
* Protected areas of India
* Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
* Zoo Outreach Organisation

Official website

* [http://www.wildlifetrustofindia.org Wildlife Trust of India - Official Website]