ABOUT US
The Vindhyan Ecology and Natural History Foundation (VENHF) is a public charitable trust registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, on 12 January 2012 (Registration No. IV/4/12) in Mirzapur District, Uttar Pradesh. The Foundation is dedicated to the protection and conservation of the natural environment, with a particular focus on the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the Vindhyan landscape.
VENHF was founded by Debadityo Sinha along with trustees Shiv Kumar Upadhyaya and Ajai Swamee. Originally started as a campaign in 2010 called 'Vindhya Bachao', the initiative was born out of a recognition that the Vindhyan ecosystem, despite the rich biodiversity heritage it hosts, has been greatly ignored by the scientific community, policymakers, and the public alike. Several wildlife areas in the region had already been lost due to the lack of scientific attention, research, and public awareness. Species had gone extinct without knowledge of their existence, and places of natural importance were left undocumented. It was soon realised that without giving the effort an institutional form, it would be difficult to sustain conservation work in the region, and the Trust was registered in January 2012.
VISION
A future where the ecological integrity of the Vindhyan landscape is secured through rigorous science, active advocacy, and community stewardship.
MISSION
To protect and restore the natural heritage of the Vindhyan landscape through science-driven conservation, policy intervention, and community participation.
OBJECTIVES
Environment Conservation
The conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of the natural environment, with major emphasis on areas within and in the periphery of the Vindhyan range of India. This includes the carrying on of research about the natural environment, the provision of environmental education through lectures, courses, seminars, and training programmes, and the acquisition and restoration of environmentally sensitive lands.
Community Engagement
The provision of community services, including educational support, agricultural guidance, vocational training, and scholarships, as well as making resources available for public benefit through libraries, institutes, and public discourse to benefit and strengthen local communities.
Public Utility
Other objects of general public utility incidental to the above, including those that support the broader goals of environmental and social well-being.
OUR WORK
Over the years, VENHF has established itself as a credible scientific and conservation institution, undertaking rigorous ecological research, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. The Foundation has actively collaborated with government departments, academic institutions, and non-profit organisations on forest and wildlife conservation, including mitigation of human-wildlife conflict and protection of threatened habitats.
VENHF members comprise qualified researchers and practitioners with demonstrated expertise in ecology, conservation science, and environmental law. They have made substantive contributions to conservation, including pioneering work in forest fire prediction using remote sensing and GIS, systematic monitoring of forests and wildlife habitats through on-ground and camera trap surveys, and policy interventions at the state and national level. The Foundation and its members have collectively authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications in reputed international scientific journals.
VENHF's research, advocacy, and the enormous popularity of the Vindhya Bachao campaign have profoundly changed the conservation perspective in the Mirzapur region, creating a generation of environment-conscious citizens who understand how the excessive exploitation of natural resources affects forests, rivers, climate, food, and public health. Today, VENHF has expanded its programmes to focus on geospatial research, climate mitigation, and reducing the environmental impact of industrial activities to promote sustainable development.
RECOGNITION
The Foundation and its members have received multiple recognitions for their contributions to conservation, including the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award (2019) for wildlife conservation work in Mirzapur, and the National e-Governance Award by the Government of India (2020) for the development of technology-driven solutions in forest fire prevention.
All members of VENHF are voluntarily associated with the Foundation. The Foundation's operations are sustained through the personal resources of its trustees and members, and through the support of individual donors.
See also: Research Publications | Original Reports | Awards & Recognitions
