BNHS sets sights on corporates for funds

MUMBAI: In a bid to boost its finances and reach a wider audience, the Bombay Natural History Society—one of India’s oldest conservation groups—is now seeking to tap big corporate funding.
This week’s two-day seminar, organised to celebrate the centennial issue of the BNHS Journal, marks the beginning of such a move, as the entire programme is being funded by four corporates—long-time supporters Tatas and Godrej, as well as HSBC and DSP Merill Lynch.“This is just the beginning,’’ says BNHS president B.G. Deshmukh. “We want to use this programme to reach out to a wider public audience, particularly the corporate sector.’’
Mr Deshmukh is eventually hoping to put together a Rs 20 crore corpus fund from the contribution of various corporates for “carrying out research and conservation and awareness activities’’.
Until now, the 117-year-old institution has been largely depending on membership fees, donations and government grants to run its offices and research projects.
However, government funding has been dwindling. “State and central funding for non-governmental organisations has declined for several reasons, partly because governments are bankrupt and interest in the social sector is declining,’’ says Debi Goenka, BNHS treasurer. Government dependence also means that research is shaped by what the ministry of environment is willing to support.
Already the BNHS has tied up with British Gas for a three-year nature education centre at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and it is hoping that several other initiatives—including a study on the leopard attacks in Mumbai —will also get corporate backing.
Isn’t funding from India Inc fraught with its own dangers? “Obviously, we won’t take money from corporates who are damaging the environment,’’ says Mr Deshmukh. Adds Mr Goenka, “When we take money from the government it doesn’t mean we’ve been bought. Similarly,we will ensure there are no strings attached to corporate funding.’’ He suggests that a “shopping list or menu’’ of projects will be offered and corporates can choose which one they want to support.
The BNHS is also seeking to widen its audience and increase its clout beyond die-hard nature lovers to the larger public. “We want to get the younger generation involved —schools and colleges —by having more awareness projects, nature trips, brochures,’’ says Mr Deshmukh, noting that a proposed project on the links between forest cover and water will involve both scientific research and public awareness.
With awareness about environmental issues on the rise, corporates looking to earn some brownie points are likely to be interested.
“A lot of CEOs are interested in wildlife, many of them visit sanctuaries and even send employees there,’’ says Hemendra Kothari, head of DSP Merill Lynch. “It’s time for the business community to come forward and support excellent work in this field, such as the BNHS is doing.’’
A voluntary, non-profit, scientific organisation, the BNHS has a tradition of respected research in natural history and wildlife conservation.
Past presidents include legendary ornithologist Salim Ali, and the institution has been a training ground for many scientists.