Kalpavriksh is one of India’s leading environmental action groups, working since 1979 to promote ecological sustainability, social justice and democratic governance. We combine grassroots action, research, policy advocacy, environmental education and collaborative learning to address some of the most pressing environmental and development challenges.

Our work focuses on  biodiversity conservation, community governance of natural resources, climate justice, sustainable livelihoods, education, and alternatives to conventional models of development. Over the past four decades, Kalpavriksh has contributed significantly to environmental policy and practice in India. It has played an important role in strengthening biodiversity conservation through support for Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) and Territories of Life, documenting, promoting and, advocating for stronger recognition of community rights within national and international policy processes. We have also been actively engaged in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including drafting India’s National Biodiversity and Action Plan (NBSAP) in 2000-03, India’s Forest Rights Act and protected area governance.

Kalpavriksh places strong emphasis on knowledge generation and dissemination through research publications, policy briefs, educational resources, workshops and capacity-building programmes. It works in partnership with community organizations, civil society networks, academic institutions and government agencies across India and globally. The organization is a founding member or active participant in national and international networks, including the Consortium of Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCA Consortium), Global Tapestry of Alternatives (GTA) contributing to global dialogues on equitable conservation and radical alternatives to development which is rooted in capitalist, patriarchal, racist, statist, and anthropocentric forces.