Environmental sustainability

Our initiatives in FY25 

Sustainable waste management in Wandoor, South Andamans 

Our two-year long initiative in partnership with NGO partner is aimed at making tourism in Wandoor more sustainable by strengthening waste management systems and involving the community directly. This year, our focus is on the youth ambassador programme to influence behavioural change, facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations for better planning and coordination, and support the gram panchayat in improving garbage collection and baling efficiency. These efforts will create a model for ecologically responsible tourism that benefits both the local economy and fragile island ecosystems. 

Carbon positive landscapes in Ramgarh

In collaboration with an NGO partner, we adopted a circular economy approach to help create carbon-neutral families in Ramgarh, Jharkhand. Our initiative introduced solutions led by the community, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and generating diversified incomes by building infrastructure for alternative livelihoods. 

This year, we have a long-term vision to make the Tyma watershed a climate-positive landscape by 2030. This will help local communities combine ecological restoration with sustainable farming and livelihood practices. The initiative seeks to balance environmental regeneration with community prosperity, ensuring that local households can thrive while preserving the watershed’s natural resources. 

Green livelihoods and ecological restoration of Kanha Tiger Reverse, Madhya Pradesh 

With NGO partner, we launched an integrated programme for green livelihoods and ecological restoration in the Kanha tiger landscape. In its second year, a new stop dam with a storage capacity of 1,800 cubic metres now enables 30 households to harvest two crops annually while also providing water for cattle from nearby villages. Alongside this, families have benefited from honey production and received fodder support in the form of Napier grass, and forest staff have been equipped with fire safety training and protective gear. These combined interventions are protecting biodiversity, enhancing resilience, and supporting sustainable community livelihoods. 

Sustainable water security and livelihood opportunities for farmers in Dharashiv, Maharashtra 

In Golegaon village, our initiative with NGO partner is creating sustainable water security and livelihood opportunities for farmers. The project restores two water structures with 24.15 million litres of water storage, raises awareness about water conservation, and supports women through training in dairy product making. Farmers have also been provided fodder crops to increase milk production, ensuring that improved water management directly translates into stronger incomes and resilient households. 

Building a water secure community in Odisha 

With NGO partner, we worked towards water secure gram panchayats by building village-level capacities with a focus on women’s leadership. The initiative enhanced access to water for both domestic and livelihood purposes, while also strengthening systems for sanitation and hygiene. Beyond immediate needs, the programme created a base for sustained income generation from both farm and non-farm activities, and established support networks for migrants and dependents, ensuring that communities grow stronger and more self-reliant over time. 

Expanding green cover across urban Tamil Nadu 

With an NGO partner, our initiative focused on expanding green cover across urban Tamil Nadu through the creation of dense forests using the Miyawaki method. 5,000 saplings have been planted across three locations, while five existing plantations are being maintained. The project is designed to reduce the carbon footprint, increase biodiversity, and instil environmental consciousness among young people, with students actively engaged as green ambassadors in their schools and neighbourhoods. 

Rejuvenating natural water resources in the Jaunsar-Bawar region of Chakrata, Uttarakhand 

With an NGO partner, our programme blended traditional conservation methods with scientific practices to revive springs and water sources that have long sustained local communities. This work, in addition to restoring ecological balance, also secures reliable access to water for households across the region. 

Promoting resilience in tribal communities of Labhpur block of Birbhum, West Bengal 

Our initiative with an NGO partner focused on promoting resilience in tribal communities of Labhpur block by encouraging nutri-garden farming. The project involved 500 farmers across 19 villages and directly supported the food and livelihood security of more than 2,000 people. By embedding nutrition gardens into household farming, the initiative strengthened dietary diversity, ensuring year-round access to food, and building a model of self-sufficiency that can be replicated in other vulnerable communities.

Revitalising coastal ecosystems, Mumbai, FY22 -23

Over 25% of Mumbai’s sewage flows untreated into the sea, threatening both the ocean and human habitats. This marine pollution and littering by humans endangers the life of marine animals. PwCIF supported NGO partner Afroz Shah Foundation in cleaning 9 km of beach coastline (creek/intertidal zone) by boat, from the northern end of Versova Beach to Malad (West). The project facilitated the cleaning of creeks and inaccessible mangrove patches submerged under water.

Improving waste management and increasing the sustainability of tourism operations in Wandoor, South Andaman, FY22-23 Beneficiaries reached: 366

PwCIF supported NGO partner Dakshin in sensitising different stakeholder groups on the need to improve current waste management systems, while improving waste management systems on the beaches of Wandoor, Andamans. Cycles, cut-resistant safety gloves, raincoats were distributed among sanitary workers to enable safe and efficient garbage collection. A capacity-building workshop was organised for the technicians and electricians in Wandoor Panchayat to enable them to deal with technical challenges arising in operating the e-cart meant for garbage collection.

The intervention aims at reducing the environmental impact of human activity and tourism-dependent businesses in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and improving women’s livelihoods.

Conserving forests under community custodianship, Arunachal Pradesh, FY22-23

PwCIF supported NGO partner World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature India in forest-conservation efforts for ecological and livelihood security in the western landscape of Arunachal Pradesh. The project involved forming community-conserved areas (CCAs) — namely, Chug, Lish and Nyukmadung — introducing alternative livelihood opportunities, safeguarding habitats of near-extinct wildlife and preserving agricultural produce by reducing human-animal conflict. The project covered 332 sq. km of forest area spread over Chug, Lish and Nyukmadung. For each CCA, a management committee was formed, registered and strengthened. CCA management plans were developed. This was followed by livelihood augmentation, including promotion of organic vegetable cultivation (i.e.legume and mushroom cultivation), seed distribution, development of local agro-enterprise, setting up of agro storage facilities at project villages, setting up of solar power fences, and training of women in handicrafts. During the intervention, Mon Harvest was created and used as a platform for women farmers to market their produce.

Building ice stupas and encouraging afforestation – the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), FY21-22

PwCIF is working in the arid mountains of Ladakh to prevent soil erosion and mitigate flash floods using an extensive, two-pronged approach. We have started a large-scale sapling plantation project in the valley and are working with our local partner to provide water to households through ice stupas. Communities connected to the source of these artificial glaciers will have access to uninterrupted water supply when they start melting in the warmer months.

Rainwater harvesting and solid waste management in Yadgir, Karnataka