Knowledge Centre

Climate change is a reality we are well aware of and witnessing it firsthand. The effects of climate change have become more pronounced in recent years, bringing us to this juncture of global urgency. While it is indeed a global issue, its manifestations vary for every region and landscape.

Our mission to build climate resilience is based on the ideology that every landscape is unique and what makes it so, is the interaction between the living and non-life forms of the ecosystem. We recently completed 6 years of Raintree Foundation and the results of our landmark project in Velhe, Maharashtra has validated our landscape model and solidified our approach towards Climate Action.

In 2018, we chose the Western Ghats of India to begin our Climate Action journey. The forests of the Western Ghats include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests in the world and are home to at least 325 globally threatened species listed on the IUCN Red List. Given their significant geological, cultural, and aesthetic values, conserving the Western Ghats is crucial. However, over the past few decades, climate change and biodiversity loss have made this region critically vulnerable, presenting an urgent need for preservation and mitigation. 

We have adopted a three-dimensional approach: restoring the indigenous nature of ecosystems, conserving critical resources, and building custodianship; resilience for tomorrow. In this endeavour, we aim to establish and maintain the balance between ecological conversation and economic prosperity. Our integrated programs are designed to cover all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We believe that climate action interventions need to match the complexities and interconnectedness of the various elements of the ecosystem. Achieving a harmonious balance is crucial for sustainable climate action.

The magnitude of impact required to build climate resilience calls for collaboration and collective action. It requires investment and efforts not only in current interventions but also in strategies that will determine the future of our planet and generations to come. Climate change is not just an issue of today; it is a compounding effect of years of neglect and detrimental actions. This can be addressed only with consistent, targeted and dedicated efforts fuelled by patience and perseverance.

Together, we can champion the pursuit of “One Planet, One Earth.”

Leena Dandekar
Chairperson and Founder, Raintree Foundation