Nature Mates india

What Nature Mates india does

Nature Mates India (legal entity: Nature Mates-Nature Club) is a Kolkata-based nonprofit conservation NGO operating across four Indian landscapes: Sundarbans, Central Indian Landscape, North Bengal, and South Bengal. Founded and led by Arjan Basu Roy, who has worked with the West Bengal Forest Department since 2005, the organization runs an integrated portfolio of wildlife conservation, biodiversity research, ecological restoration, wildlife rescue (24/7), species-specific projects (Hornbill Project, Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation, Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project), and community services (medical camps, Amphan disaster relief, alternative livelihood programs). Nature Mates operates with a small core staff of 14 employees supplemented by a large volunteer base that constitutes 72% of its workforce, and it holds first-mover assets including the first mangrove butterfly garden in Sundarbans and first verified navigation maps of southern Indian Sundarbans.

The organization generates revenue through three primary streams: membership fees structured as Annual (Rs 1,000), Student (Rs 500), and Life (Rs 15,000); tax-deductible donations accepted under Section 80G (domestic) and FCRA (foreign contributions), which can be earmarked for specific causes such as Rescue, Amphan Relief, or Tree Restoration; and one-time sales of publications and field guides via an online shop at shop.naturemates.org. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on volunteer recruitment, project-specific internships, and content marketing through its website and the Lobtulia children's nature magazine.

Nature Mates' partner ecosystem spans the West Bengal Forest Department and HIDCO at the government level, premier research institutes (NCBS, NCF, Cambridge University), major international conservation organizations (WWF, WTI, TNC, Earthwatch), data platforms (GBIF), healthcare providers (Tata Medical Center), and a CSR engagement platform (Goodera). Distribution is delivered through direct website engagement, e-commerce, and on-ground field programs across its operational landscapes. The organization has accumulated a content library covering birds, butterflies, mangroves, and mammals of various Indian regions, a research library, and youth publishing via Lobtulia. Disclosed operating metrics include a 78% project completion rate, 80% trees restored, and 95% donor retention. No external funding rounds, revenue figures, or institutional investment are disclosed.

Name

Nature Mates india

Legal name

Nature Mates-Nature Club

Website

https://naturematesindia.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nature Mates India is a Kolkata-based nonprofit conservation NGO that conducts wildlife research, ecological restoration, and community conservation across Sundarbans, Central Indian Landscape, North Bengal, and South Bengal, funded by memberships, donations, and publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation & Research Lodges (Citizen Science, Field Stations with Guests) (THAAAHAJ)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Biodiversity research
• Ecological restoration
• Community conservation
• Nature education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The organization generates revenue through annual, student, and life membership fees. Annual General membership costs Rs 1000, Student membership costs Rs 500, and Life membership costs Rs 15000.
2. Donations: Nature Mates accepts donations under Section 80(G) for tax benefits and FCRA donations for foreign contributions. Donations can be directed to specific causes like Rescue, Amphan Relief, or Tree Restoration.
3. Publications and Shop: The organization sells books and educational materials including pictorial guides on butterflies, birds, mangroves, and mammals of various Indian regions through their online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nature Mates India is a non-profit nature club that conducts wildlife conservation, ecological restoration, biodiversity research, and wildlife rescue operations across multiple Indian landscapes. It monetizes its mission through individual and student memberships, life memberships, donations, and the sale of conservation books and the Lobtulia Magazine, while delivering hands-on conservation services to government bodies, communities, and nature enthusiasts.

Product overview

Nature Mates India operates as a conservation NGO with a diverse portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified tech platform. The core offerings include wildlife rescue and emergency response services, long-term conservation projects (Hornbill Project, HECM, Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project), and ecological restoration initiatives. Educational products include the Lobtulia children's nature magazine and published field guides on regional biodiversity. Engagement programs encompass nature guide training, volunteering opportunities, and awareness campaigns. The organization manages multiple landscape-specific initiatives across Sundarbans, Central Indian Landscape, North Bengal, and South Bengal regions, with supplementary services including medical camps, alternative livelihood programs, and a research library. These programs collectively serve conservation goals through direct action, education, and community empowerment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership Annual subscription offered at Rs 1,000 that gives individual nature enthusiasts access to Nature Mates India's conservation community, programs, and publications.
• Student Membership Annual subscription offered at Rs 500 for students, providing an affordable entry point into Nature Mates India's conservation network and learning resources.
• Life Membership Lifetime subscription priced at Rs 15,000 for individuals seeking long-term affiliation with Nature Mates India and ongoing access to its programs and publications.
• Lobtulia Magazine Nature Mates India's recurring conservation publication, distributed to members and buyers and featuring wildlife, ecology, and field updates from the organization's landscapes.
• Conservation Books and Publications Catalog of authored conservation books and related printed materials produced by Nature Mates India and sold through its online shop to members and the general public.
• Volunteer Program Field-based volunteer placements that allow individuals to participate in wildlife conservation, ecological restoration, and research activities across Nature Mates India's operational landscapes.
• Internship Program Structured internships that place students and early-career professionals into Nature Mates India's conservation, research, and community programs for hands-on learning.
• Nature Guide Training Nature guide training program that equips local participants with the skills needed to work as conservation guides in and around Nature Mates India's operational landscapes.
• Trainings and Workshops Conservation-themed trainings and workshops delivered to members, students, and community participants, covering topics such as biodiversity, ecological awareness, and field methods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78% project completion rate across all conservation initiatives
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• West Bengal Forest DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature Mates has worked extensively with the West Bengal Forest Department on various conservation projects including Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project, tiger census, and butterfly garden development. The organization operates under the Directorate of Forest Department, Govt of West Bengal.
• NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as associate partner, NCBS is a premier research institute in biodiversity studies that collaborates with Nature Mates on conservation research initiatives.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate partner in conservation ecosystem, WWF collaborates on broader wildlife conservation initiatives with Nature Mates.
• WTI (Wildlife Trust of India)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate partner focused on wildlife conservation and welfare activities.
• TNC (The Nature Conservancy)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organization listed as associate partner, contributing to Nature Mates' conservation network.
• EarthwatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental research organization listed as associate partner for research collaborations.
• Cambridge UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution listed as associate partner for research collaboration.
• HIDCO (Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWest Bengal government entity partnered for development projects including butterfly garden creation in New Town.
• NCF (Nature Conservation Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian conservation organization partnered for biodiversity conservation initiatives.
• GooderaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate social responsibility platform listed as associate partner for volunteer and donation engagement.
• The Habitat TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization partnered for habitat and wildlife protection initiatives.
• Tata Medical CenterminorOthersHealthcare provider partnered for medical camp initiatives in conservation areas.
• Surendranath CollegeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAcademic institution partnered for student engagement and research collaboration.
• VFAES (West Bengal Forest Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoice for Asian Elephants Society partnered for elephant conservation in North Bengal.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Earthwatch Institute: International citizen-science and research-engagement organization listed as a Nature Mates partner. Comparable as an enabler of volunteer-driven field research but operates more as an enabling platform than a direct conservation operator.

Direct peers

• Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF): Indian conservation NGO combining scientific research, community engagement, and landscape-level restoration — structurally similar to Nature Mates across landscapes like the Western Ghats and Northeast India. Listed as a core strategic partner, indicating comparable programmatic overlap.
• Wildlife Conservation Trust: Indian NGO focused on protected-area management, community engagement, and wildlife research. Overlaps with Nature Mates in target landscapes, donor base, and field-volunteer engagement model.
• Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS): India-based conservation organization focused on research, training, and human-wildlife coexistence. Comparable to Nature Mates in its academic affiliations, citizen-science orientation, and dependence on donor and grant funding for wildlife programs.
• Wildlife Trust of India (WTI): India-focused wildlife conservation NGO operating across species recovery, habitat protection, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Listed as a core strategic partner of Nature Mates; directly comparable in mission, programmatic portfolio, and reliance on donations and grants.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy India: Global conservation organization with India operations focused on large-scale landscape and water-security work. Comparable in conservation mission but operates at significantly larger scale and budget than Nature Mates.
• WWF India: Larger, well-funded Indian arm of WWF with broad species and habitat programs. Competes with Nature Mates for CSR funding and donor mindshare while operating overlapping programs in tiger and habitat conservation; listed as a strategic partner.
• Greenpeace India: Large advocacy and field-operations environmental NGO in India. Comparable as a fundraising and member-engagement organization but operates primarily in advocacy rather than Nature Mates' field-conservation niche.

Emerging players

• Voice for Asian Elephants Society (VFAES): Specialist NGO focused on Asian elephant conservation, including human-elephant conflict mitigation — overlapping directly with Nature Mates' HECM program in North Bengal. Listed as a strategic partner, indicating programmatic integration.
• The Habitat Trust: India-focused conservation funder and program operator supporting habitat and species protection. Comparable in scale and grant-making role to Nature Mates' donor/funder ecosystem and listed as a strategic partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nature-mates-india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nature Mates india