Tata Steel Foundation and Kotak Mahindra Bank Host State-Level Programme on Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, August 29, 2025: Tata Steel Foundation (TSF), in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, hosted a state-level programme on “Community-based Biodiversity Conservation” in Bhubaneswar, bringing together experts and stakeholders to boost grassroots participation in protecting Odisha’s rich biodiversity.

Opening the event, Sourav Roy, CEO, Tata Steel Foundation, underscored the need for collective responsibility in preserving ecosystems. A symbolic plant-watering ceremony by dignitaries marked the shared commitment to ecological balance.

The inaugural session featured Sudhanshu Khora, IFS, Chief Executive, Regional Plant Resource Centre as Chief Guest, Dr Ambika Prasad Nanda, Development Professional and Environmentalist as Guest of Honour, and Jaison Thomas, Head – Natural Capital & Business Integration Sustainability, Tata Steel as Special Guest. All three emphasised the role of communities in driving sustainable conservation.

Technical sessions covered a wide range of issues, including tribal and agro-biodiversity, the People’s Biodiversity Register, elephant conservation under the Gaja Sanrakshana project, and community-based conservation models. Speakers included Dr Kartik Charan Lenka (MS Swaminathan Research Foundation), Dr Satyaranjan Behera (Odisha Biodiversity Board), Ranjit Pattnaik (SNEHA), and Dr Gayatri Devi (Grow with Nature).

Highlighting community-driven conservation, Dr Subrat Debata presented Tata Steel Foundation’s work on protecting the Olive Ridley Turtle, Blackbuck, and Indian Peafowl through habitat restoration, wildlife protection, and local participation.

The programme concluded with a call for stronger collaborations between communities, experts, and institutions to ensure sustainable ecological practices across Odisha.