Explore India Responsibly With These Conservation Projects

Ecosphere focuses on Spiti region’s conservation and development through eco-travel prospects

Spiti is almost always on the bucket list of adventure seekers. But a surge of tourists over the last few decades has had a detrimental impact on the region. Ecosphere, a social enterprise founded by MUSE, an NGO, focuses on the region’s conservation and development through eco-travel prospects. They also run initiatives that add to sustainable livelihood generation in Spiti, allowing travellers to volunteer at one of their many collaborative initiatives and projects. You can run a café, help on a farm or even teach kids. Since 2002, Ecosphere has been working on sustainable efforts such as building greenhouses, providing access to water, education, healthcare, food and nutrition, reducing plastic pollution, and carbon reduction.

Care For Rescued Monkeys With The Primate Trust

The Primate Trust helps rescue and provide care to orphaned, injured and abused primates

There is more to Goa than sun, sand and alcohol. In the quieter part of the state, away from the hustle and bustle of tourist life, The Primate Trust in Mapusa helps rescue and provide care to orphaned, injured and abused primates, many of whom are captured and illegally kept as pets. Founded by Jo and John Hicks, the organisation allows you to volunteer for a month and learn more about langurs, bonnet and rhesus macaques. They also have an animal rescue centre that works with other animals. The accommodation, in their words, is ‘basic’ but the opportunity to gain insight into our country’s wildlife? Priceless. 

Help The Endangered Snow Leopard With Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust

SLC-IT aims to protect the endangered snow leopard

Snow leopards are highly threatened in India due to poaching for their pelt and body parts, amid other reasons and this big cat has seen its population dwindle in the last few decades. Co-founded by Rinchen Wangchuk, a Ladakhi mountaineer and conservationist, in 2003, Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT), an NGO working in the Trans-Himalayan regions of Ladakh and Spiti, aims to protect this beautiful and rare animal. Volunteers at SLC-IT collaborate with the organisation in its measures that encourage local people to become better stewards of the endangered snow leopards, their prey and habitats. The organisation also runs Himalayan Homestays that offer ecologically safe village experiences that provide an insight into the traditional ways of life in the high Himalayas. 

Learn About India’s Vernacular Architecture With Indi Architecture

Indi Architecture hopes to raise awareness and appreciation for Indigenous architecture

To develop and preserve traditional vernacular architectural knowledge and abilities, Indi Architecture, a social enterprise located in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, teaches about local culture and know-how that is kept safe by practising artisans. Through their workshops, homestays and travel experiences Indi Architecture, founded by Kimberley Moyle, hopes to raise awareness and appreciation for Indigenous architecture. This summer, you can partake in one of their curated itineraries and explore one of India’s many villages from the lens of architecture. You can also sign up for one of their many workshops, such as the Rajasthani Lime Plastering and Flooring Workshop.

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