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Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Overview

The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) is a non-profit research institution based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It conducts interdisciplinary research and outreach in environmental and developmental issues, with a focus on biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, ecology, and natural resource governance in South Asia.

Key facts

Name Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
Abbreviation ATREE
Type Non-profit research organisation
Headquarters Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Focus areas Ecology, environment, biodiversity, conservation, sustainability
Country India

Background

ATREE was established as a research organisation dedicated to generating rigorous interdisciplinary knowledge to inform policy and practice on environmental issues. The institution combines the natural and social sciences to address questions related to land use, water, forests, wetlands, urban ecology, and the livelihoods of communities dependent on natural resources.

Research and activities

The trust undertakes long-term ecological research, biodiversity assessments, and policy-oriented studies. Its work spans several landscapes in India, including the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalaya, coastal and marine systems, and arid regions. Activities typically include:

  • Field-based ecological and biodiversity research.
  • Studies on conservation policy, environmental governance, and human–wildlife interactions.
  • Work on water resources, wetlands, and urban environmental sustainability.
  • Engagement with local communities through outreach and capacity building.
  • Doctoral and postdoctoral training in conservation science and sustainability studies.

Academic programmes

ATREE runs an academy that offers a doctoral programme in conservation science and sustainability studies, training researchers who go on to work in academic institutions, government agencies, and conservation organisations across South Asia.

Significance

As one of India's prominent environmental research organisations, ATREE contributes to scientific understanding of ecosystems and to evidence-based policy on biodiversity and sustainability. Its interdisciplinary approach has helped position it as a bridge between academic research, civil society, and government decision-making on environmental matters.

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