Happy new year!
We are excited to share some updates from NCF
About NCF
NCF established in 1996 as a public charitable trust, is committed to the preservation of India’s rich wildlife heritage through ground- breaking research and innovative conservation approaches. We work in diverse ecosystems, ranging from coral reefs to the high Himalayas, where we meticulously study threatened species such as snow leopards and elephants, alongside lesser-known fauna and ecosystems, and build conservation partnerships with all relevant rights holders and other partners, including indigenous peoples and local communities, schools, corporations, and the government. Synthesising insights from wildlife ecology, social sciences, and stakeholder knowledge, we co-create locally appropriate and socially responsible strategies balancing wildlife conservation while sustaining people’s well-being and livelihoods. Watch an introduction to our work here- Nature Conservation Foundation.
We had an eventful 2024-25 with many new developments, publications, research projects, and continued conservation action and engagement. These are detailed in our 2024-25 annual report, which you can find here: Annual Report 2024-25 .
Updates from NCF
Khayal: A Lakshadweep Outreach and Community Engagement Initiative
Khayal is a communication and outreach initiative organised by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) under its Oceans and Coasts Program. The Oceans and Coasts Program has been working continuously in the Lakshadweep Archipelago for over two decades. Khayal was conceptualised as a platform to initiate conversations with local communities, using visual storytelling as an entry point for dialogue, reflection, and collective thinking about nature and sustainability.
As part of this effort, NCF has produced two documentaries- Choora and Onnaam Fira. Choora, which was released in 2024, documents the traditional pole-and-line tuna fishing practices of Lakshadweep, highlighting the skill, patience, and cultural significance of this sustainable fishing method. You can watch Chhora here:
Choora | A Lakshadweep Ways Of Life Documentary | By Nature Conservation Foundation
Onnaam Fira focuses on life in Lakshadweep during the holy month of Ramzan, capturing how daily routines, food practices, and fishing activities change during this period. Both films are rooted in local experiences and were created to reflect the ecological and cultural rhythms of island life. Onnam Fira is yet to be released through YouTube.
For the past few weeks, our oceans and coasts team has been engaged in conducting travelling festivals in the inhabited islands of Lakshadweep where the documentaries are screened and open discussions are held. As we continue to engage in conversations across the islands, we envision Khayal as the starting point of discussions on climate change and ways of life in Lakshadweep.
Courses in Conservation Leadership
NCF initiated courses in Conservation Leadership under the School of Science and Conservation in 2019. These courses are meant for conservation practitioners and span essential conservation skills including project planning, fund raising, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, effective stakeholder engagement, and effective communication.
Our highly appreciated course, Exploring the Social and Historical Dimensions of Conservation was held in September, led by M.D. Madhusudan, Rohan Arthur and Suri Venkatachalam. Attended by 22 participants, the course sparked exciting dialogues around distinct epochs of conservation. This 5-day workshop assisted the participants with developing a broad flavor for and critical appreciation of the complex social and historical dimensions of conservation.
We launched an exciting Conservation Law course in August 2025, attended by 21 participants. Taught in English, Malayalam, and Hindi, the course demystified complex legal language in conservation legislation and policy to enable the participants to engage critically with environmental law at the national level. We have more conservation leadership courses scheduled in the coming months with experienced faculty and diverse practitioners coming from all over the country.
Read more about our work on the NCF website (Nature Conservation Foundation ) and keep updated with upcoming events through our social media handles: NCF-Facebook, NCF-Instagram.
Have a great year ahead!