ATREE, Bangalore
ATREE was established in 1996 in Bangalore, India, to bring together researchers to do
interdisciplinary, applied work to achieve three goals: a) conserve biological diversity
and promote sustainable development, b) improve institutional and policy framework for
protection of the environment, and c) strengthen the capacity of government and non-government
organizations to use the best knowledge and data to solve environmental problems. Although
ATREE was founded in 1991, the core team of ATREE had been working together since 1992 on
biodiversity conservation and in policy analysis and implementation in the Western Ghats
and the Eastern Himalayas, two global hotspots of biological diversity in South Asia.
ATREE was established because it was felt that India needed a new type of institution to do
applied research on the environment. The institution had to have a long-term commitment to
the environment, the ability to bring fresh perspectives to meet contemporary environmental
challenges and the flexibility to apply new knowledge and techniques to confront those
challenges. Equally important, the institution was seen as a training ground in applied
conservation and policy work for young professionals who would eventually become tomorrow’s leaders.
ATREE activities include (i) basic and applied research on conservation, (ii) policy analysis
and implementation, (iii) work with local communities to promote conservation as a major tool
to improve their livelihoods, (iv) collaboration with researchers within and outside India in
many fields in the natural and in the social sciences, (v) provision of information to government
officials, (vi) education programs for students, teachers and other professionals, (vii)
scholarship and grant support to individuals and organizations advancing conservation and
sustainable development, (viii) awareness and information dissemination, and (ix) nurturing
of young professionals to develop India's social and human capital.
Besides its head office in Bangalore, ATREE has its branch offices in Delhi, Bagdogra and Guwahati
and several research field sites.
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