Local Volunteering Projects with the HSBC Climate Partnership in India
As part of Earthwatch India’s mandate of ‘involving’ maximum number of employees from across various departments of HSBC India and engaging them in environment conservation action, a series of one day long projects were initiated across six different cities. These are spread across the length and breadth of the country, where HSBC India has a strong regional presence and large staff numbers.
In association with its local partners, Earthwatch has initiated six day-long projects termed ‘Local volunteering Projects’ in the cities of Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune and Mumbai.
The employees from the local HSBC offices in these cities nominate themselves to participate in the projects being organised in their respective city. These projects involve employees in scientific research, where they get an opportunity to contribute research data on environmental parameters, (like assessing carbon stock in the community forest of Nathanoipally, doing soil and water quality analysis in East Kolkata Wetlands) or biodiversity assessment of the project region (like doing surveys on endemic Marsh Mongoose population at East Kolkata Wetlands or a survey on Black Buck population at Asola Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi).
All this work helps Earthwatch and our local partner in liaising with government agencies to put forward a strong case of conservation for that area and the species therein.
In a large country like India with huge population pressures on protected areas, any conservation project is incomplete without involving communities in the action. So Earthwatch has made great efforts to ensure that these HSBC volunteers also get an opportunity to interact with local communities at these project sites. In doing this they also share their business acumen with local residents, helping them build their entrepreneurial skills, be it tribal women running an embroidery enterprise near the community forest being assessed as part of the project at Hyderabad, or the fisherfolk deriving their livelihood from the East Kolkata Wetlands.
It is Earthwatch’s vision that this enriching day-long experience of working alongside scientists in the field on conservation projects and interacting with community will leave an indelible and inspiring impact on the minds of the HSBC volunteers. They will then be inspired to do their bit to conserve environment and their impact on it, by making small changes in their own lives and workplaces, be it starting carpools or segregating their waste. Every little effort not only counts, but also holds the potential to inspire many others to follow suit.
Local Volunteering Projects
Bangalore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kolkata
Mumbai
Pune