A wide range of projects will be eligible to be included in the programme and it is up to the submitting institution to propose an imaginative and significant project idea which not only meets local needs and priorities for environmental education, plant conservation and sustainable development but which is also capable of acting as a model for similar projects elsewhere in India and internationally.

The Award may be used to cover items such as the following:

1. Construction and/ or refurbishing of suitable buildings for educational or plant conservation activities.
2. Hire of the education or conservation Staff (if required for a specific and stated project purpose)
3. Plant collection, labeling and interpretation.
4. Track/ trail interpretation.
5. Plant display and interpretation exhibitions.
6. Nursery & horticulture facilities (including the collection and establishment of native / endangered / medicinal plant collections and displays)

Funds will be provided to the successful project on the basis of 80% of the award on acceptance of the project and 20% on approval of a satisfactory final report submitted by the project leader on or near the completion of the project. The expected format for reports will be communicated to successful project applicants at a later stage. It is anticipated that these final reports will also include a full financial report on expenditures made as part of the project.

Acknowledgment of the project support (i.e. the HSBC “Investing in Nature” partnership) must be included in all outputs from all projects supported. Guidance on the use of relevant logos and the specific wording of acknowledgments is available on request.

Projects supported will be ones that clearly identify how the botanic garden will maintain the activities proposed or advances made in following years as a guarantee of continuity. Please work to make your project proposal concise and clear. Proposals should not be more than five pages in length.

Projects are expected to be of one to three years in duration and must have a clear starting and completion date. Project proposals must be submitted to:

Dr. P.Pushpangadan(attn. Dr. K.N.Nair)
Director & Investing in Nature India Coordinator
National Botanical Research Institute
Rana Pratap Marg, P.O Box No 436
Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA

In digital (Rich Text Format is preferable) and paper forms.

An important outcome of Investing in Nature India will be the creation of an Indian botanic gardens network. As a part of the establishment of this network, NBRI will be collecting and databasing information regarding each botanic garden.

This will not only provide contact details but also information about the activities of each botanic garden. By doing so, it will enable organizations interested in developing particular functions, to identify other organizations in India with a similar interest. In addition, it will greatly assist in the development of an Indian plant conservation programme and an overall National Action Plan for botanic gardens.

As much of the information to be collected relates directly to the BGCI's International Agenda for Botanic Gardens Conservation, it will also help individual gardens on report on their activities as a part of an international effort.

To register as a member of the Indian Botanic Gardens Network, fill in the attached proforma and return on the address printed on the enclosed proforma :