CRE in Action
From Grassroots to Policy — Our Work Across India
CRE operates without external grants — sustained entirely by personal resources. Every initiative, training programme, and policy intervention is driven by conviction, not funding cycles.
Our Approach
How We Work
A five-step cycle that starts at the grassroots and ends with verified, measurable change.
Identify
Visit grassroots communities firsthand. Understand problems from the ground up — not from desks or reports.
Build Networks
Create confederations of NGOs, community organisations, and government bodies around shared goals.
Advocate
Write in national media, approach government authorities, file with tribunals. Make noise where it matters.
Train & Empower
Conduct training programmes, form SHGs, build capacity at the community level for lasting self-reliance.
Follow Through
Monitor implementation, maintain pressure, ensure outcomes. Change is measured, not assumed.
What We Do
Four Domains of Work
Advocacy & Policy
NGT Directives WonRegular columns in The Pioneer (10+ cities). Representations to NGT, ICFRE Society, Chief Ministers, and Governors.
- National Green Tribunal filings
- ICFRE Society engagement
- The Pioneer — 2–3 articles/month
- Jan Vikas Manch confederation
Capacity Building
150+ Women TrainedHands-on training in bamboo handicrafts, mushroom cultivation, organic farming, and forest-based livelihoods.
- Bamboo jewellery — 30 SHGs, Uttarakhand
- Bamboo handicrafts — 150+ women, Tripura
- Mushroom cultivation — ₹18L ONGC CSR
- Ganoderma fungus lab (2017)
Community Empowerment
235+ Artisans ConnectedDirect market access for tribal artisans, Forest Rights Act guidance, and Van Dhan Centre establishment.
- 235+ tribal artisans — direct markets
- Forest Rights Act implementation guidance
- Prerna SHG at FRI campus
- Van Dhan Centre proposal, Kundam
Research & Knowledge
200+ PublicationsClimate impact assessments, forest ecosystem studies, medicinal plants research, and agricultural reform analysis.
- Climate change impact assessment
- Forest hydrology research advocacy
- Medicinal plants conservation
- 200+ papers in national/international journals
Year by Year
Journey Since 2011
Thirteen years of field work, policy wins, and community impact — one milestone at a time.
2011
Foundation & Artisan Network
Created a group of 235 Tribal artisans from different parts of the country. In coordination with the Ladies Club of Forest Research Institute (FRI), established the Prerna Self-Help Group at FRI campus. During the International Poplar Convention, delegates from 35 countries purchased tribal handicraft items worth more than ₹6 lakh.
Mrs. Usha Bahuguna
Chairperson
International Workshop on Combating Climate Change in South Asia & East Africa
A landmark gathering of senior forestry professionals, policy makers, and environmentalists from across the globe — discussing concrete solutions beyond the UNFCCC framework, focusing on South-South cooperation and traditional knowledge.
Key Recommendations
Where We Work
Geographic Reach
10+
States
30+
Countries
5
Continents
Uttarakhand
Forest conservation, organic farming, SHG training, bamboo handicrafts
Madhya Pradesh
Tribal Forest Rights Act, Baiga community engagement, Van Dhan Centre
Tripura
Bamboo handicraft training, Van Mahotsav, tribal artisan empowerment
Uttar Pradesh
CRE headquarters, policy advocacy, media engagement
Jammu & Kashmir
President's nominee — Executive Council & University Court
Karnataka
Forest Rights Act 2006 fact-finding assessment
International Presence
Want to collaborate or support our work?
CRE welcomes partnerships across all domains — research, training, advocacy, and field work.