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Bombay Natural History Society
Mission : “Conservation of Nature, primarily Biological Diversity, through Action based on Research, Education and Public Awareness”.
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) – a membership-driven organization - has been promoting the cause of a natural India for the past 127 years since 1883. It was started by 8 Mumbai citizens, of which two were Indians. The Society's guiding principle has always been that conservation must be based on scientific research - a tradition exemplified by its former president, late Dr Sálim Ali. Designated as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by Department of Science & Technology, Government of India
Research and Conservation Projects
- Identifying, monitoring and mitigating the adverse impact of unplanned non-sustainable developmental on natural environment
- Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres (VCBCs) in Pinjore (Haryana), Rajabhatkhawa (West Bengal) and Rani (Assam)
- Restoration of Point Calimere (Vedaranyam Swamp) eco-system and Migratory Birds Study Centre (Tamil Nadu)
- Migratory birds tracking in Odisha and Uttar Pradesh
- Caecilian Project in Maharashtra
- Study of Great Indian Bustard and grassland habitat
- Study of House Sparrow and other small birds
- Study of Jerdon’s Courser (Andhra Pradesh)
- Project Elephant (Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka)
- Identifying Important Bird Areas (IBA)
- ENVIS (Environmental Information System) Centre to study Avian Ecology and Inland Wetlands
- Surveying, networking, creating awareness and implementing conservation projects (including Ecological Benchmarking) in association with corporates, government and other NGOs
- Study of Giant Clams (Lakshadweep)
- Eco-restoration of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
- Satpuda Landscape Tiger Program (Nagpur, Maharashtra)
- Project Mangrove in Maharashtra and Gujarat
Membership
- Various categories of memberships such Annual, Life, Individual, Student, Family, Overseas, Institutional and Corporate
- Members get discounts in nature trails, publications and souvenir products; can participate in nature camps; can vote to elect the Executive Committee and can avail of the extensive library and natural history collection
- Opportunity to connect with nature and develop an eco-friendly lifestyle
Nature Trails, Nature Camps and other events
- Regular Nature Camps covering a wide variety of habitats in India from the snowy Himalayas to the rain swept forests and deserts
- The objective is to connect people to nature conservation, advocate eco-tourism and encourage local participation
- Weekend Nature Trails to destinations around big cities such as Mumbai and Delhi
- Lectures and presentations on different national parks, sanctuaries, wildlife and conservation
- Unique events such as Flamingo Festival
Education and Public Awareness
- Conservation Education Centres (CECs) in Mumbai and Delhi
- Training sessions, Workshops, Nature Trails and Customized Programs for adults, children, families and corporates to create awareness about conservation
- Entertaining theme-based programs such as Brunch with Birds, Masti with Mammals and Breakfast with Butterflies
- Learn about nature and wildlife in an entertaining manner, complete with indoor and outdoor activities.
Natural History Collection
- A unique natural history collection with over 1,20,000 specimens
- This includes nearly 18,500 mammals, 29,000 birds, 5,400 bird eggs, 8,500 amphibians and reptiles and 50,000 insects
- Collection dates back over 100 years, covering entire South Asia, including Afghanistan and Myanmar
- Open to students, researchers and nature lovers with prior appointment
Library
- One of the oldest and largest on library on Natural History in India
- Coverer topics such as Wildlife, Ecology, Zoology, Botany, Conservation and Sustainable Development
- An antique and unique collection of old books, rare lithographs, photo negatives and coloured transparencies of eminent naturalists
- Library collection includes 22,000 books, 5,000 journal volumes, 150 thesis, 1,400 reports and subscriptions to over 150 scientific journals
Publications and Souvenir Products
- Periodicals such as Hornbill, BNHS Journal, Buceros and Mistnet
- Published nearly 50 books and half a dozen CDs on nature related topics
- Souvenir products such as calendars, greeting cards, diaries, mugs, plates, t-shirts and artificial sparrow nests to support conservation
- Twitter clocks and Soft toys of wildlife
- Eco-friendly colours and clothes
Collaborations, MoUs and Partnerships
- Scientific research in collaboration with international and national institutions such as US Fish and Wildlife Service, Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB), Zoological Society of London, Wildlife Institute of India and University of Pune
- Indian partner of BirdLife International
- Affiliated to University of Mumbai as a post graduate department
Associating with Corporates
BNHS associates with corporates who share a vision for conservation such as Tata Group, ICICI Bank, Godrej Group, DSP Merrill Lynch, Citi Group, State Bank of India and Bharat Petroleum to name a few
Associating with the Government
- Close association with the State and Central Governments since independence
- Hornbill House headquarters set up with support from Government of India
- Conservation Education Centre in Mumbai set up with support from Government of Maharashtra
- Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres set up with support from Governments of Haryana, West Bengal and Assam
- Jerdon’s Courser project undertaken with support from Government of Andhra Pradesh
- Working on several other projects with support from various state governments
- Central and Maharashtra State Governments are represented on the Executive Committee
Awards
- 1958: Dr Sálim Ali – former BNHS president – awarded Padma Bhushan by Government of India
- 1976: Dr Sálim Ali – former BNHS president – awarded Padma Vibhushan by Government of India
- 1987: Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar to BNHS for outstanding achievement in the field of nature conservation (BNHS was the first recipient of this award)
- 1990: Global 500 Award to BNHS by UNEP for its environmental achievement
- 1997: Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar to Mr J C Daniel – former director of BNHS
- 2003: Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Conservation Award (Institution Category) to BNHS
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