Gujarat Ecology Society

What Gujarat Ecology Society does

Gujarat Ecology Society (GES) is a research-based non-profit organization founded in January 1995 in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, and registered under the Society and Trust Act. It conducts field-based ecological research, biodiversity conservation, and environmental education across Gujarat's diverse ecosystems, including forests, deserts, grasslands, coral reefs, mangroves, wetlands, riverine systems, and urban environments. GES's core technical capability centers on a multidisciplinary ecological database built over 30 years and GIS/remote sensing tools used for spatial and temporal monitoring. The organization has completed 118 projects, published 150 reports, 120 peer-reviewed research articles, and three books, including pioneering underwater videography of corals in Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh.

GES is recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Ministry of Science and Technology, holds membership in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is registered under CSR (CSR00013950). Its service portfolio includes ecological restoration, coastal and marine ecosystem studies, terrestrial ecosystem research, dynamic ecosystem monitoring, community capacity building, and the Hasmukh Shah Memorial Awards for Ecological Studies. The organization also disseminates knowledge through a monthly webinar series and a monthly newsletter called 'Harit Patra'.

The organization generates no commercial revenue; it operates on a grant-funded model with funding from Indian state and central government departments (Gujarat Ecology Commission, Gujarat State Biodiversity Board, Gujarat State Forest Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences, MoEFCC, DST), corporate CSR sponsors (Adani Ports, Neogen Chemicals, BALCO, Apollo Tyres Foundation, GMDC), and international/multilateral organizations (World Bank, UNEP-GEF, IUCN, GIZ). It is governed by a Chairman (Samir Parikh), Executive Secretary (Dr. Deepa J Gavali), and Acting Director (Dr. Jayendra Lakhmapurkar), with a core team of under 10 staff and a broader network of member scientists and specialists.

Name

Gujarat Ecology Society

Legal name

Gujarat Ecology Society

Website

https://gesindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gujarat Ecology Society is a Vadodara-based non-profit founded in 1995 that conducts field-based ecological research, biodiversity conservation, and environmental education across Gujarat's diverse ecosystems, funded by government grants, corporate CSR, and international organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research & Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYIMAMAAAJ

Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Forestry & Logging

Keywords

• Ecological research services
• Biodiversity conservation
• Environmental impact assessment
• Ecosystem restoration services
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Vadodara

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Projects: Majority of projects funded by state and central government departments, including Gujarat Ecology Commission, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, Gujarat State Biodiversity Board, and Gujarat State Forest Department.
2. Corporate Sector Projects: Projects supported by corporate sector CSR funding, including companies such as Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, Neogen Chemicals Ltd., BALCO, Apollo Tyres Foundation, and others.
3. International and Multilateral Funding: Projects funded by international organizations including IUCN, UNEP-GEF, World Bank, and others for biodiversity conservation and environmental management programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gujarat Ecology Society is a research-based non-profit that delivers field-based ecological research, biodiversity assessments, environmental monitoring, and ecosystem restoration services across Gujarat's diverse ecosystems. It also runs environmental education programs including the Hasmukh Shah Memorial Awards, monthly ecology webinars, the Harit Patra newsletter, and community strengthening initiatives. Projects are funded by state and central government departments, corporate CSR, and international/multilateral organizations.

Product overview

Gujarat Ecology Society (GES) is a research-based nonprofit organization founded in 1995 that does not offer a commercial product in the traditional sense. Rather, it provides a portfolio of ecological research, conservation, and education services including the Hasmukh Shah Memorial Awards (national ecology awards), Monthly Webinar Series, Harit Patra Newsletter, and various research publications. GES conducts field-based ecological research across diverse ecosystems including forests, deserts, grasslands, corals, mangroves, wetlands, and urban environments. The organization offers specialized research services in coastal and marine ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems, dynamic ecosystem monitoring, ecological restoration, and community strengthening programs. GES maintains a multidisciplinary ecological database and has completed 118 projects with funding from government departments and corporate sectors, publishing 150 reports and 120 peer-reviewed research articles along with three books.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ecological Restoration Services Field-based ecological restoration services covering forest landscape restoration, grassland restoration at sites like Lakhpat, mine dump restoration (e.g., GMDC Panandhro Lignite Mine), and mangrove/inland mangrove conservation. Delivered for government, corporate CSR, and international partners (IUCN, GIZ, TERI, BAIF).
• Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Studies Research on Gujarat's coastal and marine ecosystems including coral reef monitoring (Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh), mangrove assessment, water quality monitoring, sediment transport studies, and environmental impact assessments for coastal development projects. Commissioned by MoES, Reliance Industries, L&T Port, Gujarat Maritime Board, and others.
• Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Research on terrestrial ecosystems including forest ecology, biodiversity assessment, wildlife surveys, smooth-coated otter conservation, houbara bustard ecology, sociable lapwing tracking, and conservation planning for protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat.
• Dynamic Ecosystem Monitoring Environmental monitoring and assessment of dynamic ecosystems including climate change impact studies, industrial pollution impact assessment (Gulf of Kachchh, South Gujarat, Narmada Estuary), and wetland degradation studies in and around Vadodara city.
• Community Strengthening Programs Community empowerment initiatives including Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) formation, People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) preparation, medicinal plant value addition training, herbal home garden programs, livelihood enhancement for women self-help groups, and graduate/postgraduate dissertation support. Implemented across 25+ villages and 300+ gram panchayats in Vadodara district.
• Hasmukh Shah Memorial Awards for Ecological Studies Annual national ecology awards recognizing excellence in ecological research, biodiversity conservation, environmental leadership, and sustainable innovation. Awards are given in two categories (Researchers under 40; Practitioners above 40), each carrying INR 2,00,000 prize, with a jury including IUCN, GUIDE, and academic leaders.
• Monthly Ecology Webinar Series Monthly environmental webinar series celebrating international environmental days (World Environment Day, International Day for Biological Diversity, Earth Day), featuring experts from IUCN, academia, wildlife research, and conservation practice. Open to students, researchers, practitioners, and citizens for environmental education and public awareness.
• Hasmukh Shah Memorial Lecture Series Annual lecture series honoring founder Shri Hasmukh Shah, featuring distinguished speakers on ecology and environmental topics. The 4th lecture featured Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik, celebrated author and mythologist, and is held in Vadodara, Gujarat.
• Harit Patra Monthly Newsletter Monthly newsletter 'Harit Patra' covering ecological research, conservation updates, and environmental news, distributed to readers across India for knowledge dissemination and community engagement.
• Revisiting Ecology of Gujarat Coast (4-Volume Book Set) Comprehensive four-volume book documenting environmental aspects of Gujarat's 1,600 km coastline: Gulf of Kachchh, Saurashtra coast, Gulf of Khambhat, and South Gujarat. Based on benchmark coastal surveys conducted from 1996-1999.

Quantifiable outcome

• 118 projects completed in 30 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES is a member of IUCN and collaborates on initiatives including Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in Gujarat under IUCN India programs. GES participated in IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi. The partnership supports India's national biodiversity goals under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES was facilitated by the Gujarat Ecology Commission at its founding in 1995. GEC sponsors numerous GES projects including ecological profiling of talukas, State of Environment reports, river studies, and coastal assessments. GES has been a long-standing technical partner for GEC initiatives.
• Gujarat State Biodiversity Board (GSBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES acts as Technical Service Group for Vadodara District in formation and training of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) under the Biodiversity Act 2000. GES assists in preparing People's Biodiversity Registers (PBR) for gram panchayats.
• Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES collaborates with GUIDE (Bhuj) on coastal and marine ecosystem studies, including ecological profiling of Gulf of Kachchh talukas and mangrove conservation. GUIDE Director Dr. Vijay Kumar serves on GES's Hasmukh Shah Memorial Awards Jury.
• GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES partners with GIZ as part of the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) initiative in selected landscapes for the State of Gujarat.
• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES partners with TERI as part of the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) initiative in selected landscapes for the State of Gujarat.
• BAIF Development Research FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES partners with BAIF as part of the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) initiative in selected landscapes for the State of Gujarat.
• Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES collaborated with WTI on mitigation of illegal hunting and poaching of Smooth-coated Otter in Bharuch District, Gujarat. WTI sponsored the conservation project.
• Adani Ports and SEZ LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES conducted a grassland restoration project at Lakhpat in Kachchh, aiming to develop an Indigenous and Community Conserved Area (ICCA) and conserve endemic species and inland mangroves at Guneri.
• Neogen Chemicals Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES implemented a CSR-funded plantation project in the wastelands of Nadida Village sponsored by Neogen Chemicals Ltd.
• Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES undertook ecological restoration of mine dumps at Panandhro Lignite Mine (2015-2017), restoring approximately 4 hectares of barren area. Also involved in eco-restoration of GMDC mining sites (1995-97).
• SayTrees Environmental TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES collaborated with SayTrees (Karnataka) on ecological restoration of Lake Mohan in Jhagadiya.
• Bharat Aluminum Company Ltd. (BALCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES conducted biodiversity assessment and developed a biodiversity management plan for Korba, Mainpat, and Kanwardha mining sites. Evaluated local livelihood dependency on forests and suggested conservation strategies.
• Apollo Tyres FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES studied ecological status of Alwa and Linda Ponds funded by Apollo Tyres Foundation, including social response and impact of land-use changes on hydrology.
• United Way of BarodacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES partnered with United Way of Baroda on conservation of wetlands in and around Vadodara City (2006-2007) and Harni Wetlands, Vadodara (2002-03), including awareness programs for wetland conservation.
• Navrachana UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES served as Knowledge Hub Partner for the International Conference on Resilience (ICR-2026) hosted by Navrachana University on 9th and 10th January 2026, contributing to knowledge exchange and sustainability discourse.
• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES attended IUCN WCC 2025 session alongside ZSI Director Dr. Dhriti Banerjee and other leading biodiversity institutions. Collaboration supports India's National Red List Assessment initiative.
• Botanical Survey of India (BSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES attended IUCN WCC 2025 session alongside BSI Director Dr. Kanad Das. Collaboration supports India's National Red List Assessment initiative and national biodiversity goals.
• Sahjeevan TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES collaborated with Sahjeevan Trust (Bhuj) on Houbara Bustard ecology study in Banni Grassland. Sahjeevan Trust President Mr. Sandeep Virmani attended IUCN WCC 2025 session alongside GES.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS): One of India's oldest conservation NGOs, conducting field research, biodiversity surveys, and conservation work. BNHS is a comparable peer in terms of research output, IUCN membership, and member/donor-driven non-profit model.
• Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE): A major India-based non-profit research organization conducting ecological and biodiversity research across diverse ecosystems. ATREE is a direct functional peer in scope, funding mix, and academic-grade output.
• Foundation for Ecological Security (FES): An Indian NGO focused on ecological restoration and community-based natural resource management, with a similar combination of fieldwork, government partnerships, and grassroots community engagement as GES.
• Wildlife Trust of India: India's leading wildlife conservation NGO, with which GES has a documented partnership on otter conservation. WTI operates as a similar non-profit project-based research/conservation organization reliant on government, corporate, and multilateral funding.

Broad incumbents

• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI): A much larger Indian environmental research institution with whom GES partners on Forest Landscape Restoration. TERI is a broader incumbent that overlaps with GES on ecology, biodiversity, and sustainability research.
• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE): A prominent Indian environmental NGO working on research, advocacy, and publications across environmental and ecological topics. CSE is a broader but comparable organization in mission and government engagement.
• Wildlife Conservation Society - India: The India program of a global conservation NGO, operating similar field-based conservation projects. Comparable in using GIS/remote sensing, IUCN-aligned programming, and government co-funding models.

Emerging players

• Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS): An India-based non-profit focused on wildlife research and conservation, with comparable academic and applied research output. Smaller in scope than GES but a strong peer in research-driven conservation.

Regional players

• Society for Conservation of Nature & Environment (SCONE): A smaller Indian NGO focused on conservation and environmental awareness. While regional and smaller, it is similar in operating model as a project-funded, community-engaged environmental research/education NGO.

Others

• IUCN India: A partner and framework-setter rather than direct competitor. IUCN India provides the policy umbrella and funding channels within which GES operates, and is comparable in mission alignment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1v22z3hGigzGXrKLdHK1_A
• Facebookfacebook.com/gujecologysoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gujarat-ecology-society-india
• Xx.com/EcologyGujSoc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Gujarat Ecology Society