The Mumbai Natural History Society, Mumbai, diligently nurtures precious nature and its resources. This is probably the largest non-governmental organization, i.e. NGO in India, bent upon sustaining the enthusiasm and activities, favoring nature conservation. During its journey of 120 years, it has concentrated all its attention on the preservation of the nature and its abundance. Even the maintenance of the natural environment and ecological balance, fall within their do not get depleted . Natural reserves should be kept in store for gifting the future generation, prosperous and healthy life. The green Governance programme is aiming at the attainment of the continuation of greenery around. Furthermore, the programme, includes, a vision of the future, pouncing upon particular policies and decisions and their proper application.

It was decided that the conservation projects should be founded on intensive scientific research. In fact this condition was converted into a norm by the Society`s late president, Dr. Sálim Ali.

The sites of conservation-programmes , primarily happen to be Western Ghats, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, North-east India, Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Central India and Satpura mountain range.

The main conservation-steps , upon which the Mumbai Society for Natural History, has embarked are as follows:
Mumbai Natural History Society, is engaged in research on biodiversity, for planned large dams, sprouting up in north-east India and Central India. The Society has done ecological evaluation of large dams, belonging to Rangnadi and Lower Subansiri Dam in Arunachal Pradesh, Upper Tapi in Maharashtra.

The Conservation Department of the Mumbai Natural History Society, Mumbai , was the first to expose the toxic effect of poisoning coral reef on sea turtles in Gulf of Kutch of the state of Gujarat . They hold the increasing habit of catching fish in the Gulf of Kutch, as one of the prime causes.

The Department is equally vocal about how the Human River Project is ecologically affecting the tiger corridor in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra . Another significant initiative on the part of the Conservation Department, is the championing of invaluable wildlife in India.

The energetic members, determined to accomplish in their mission, remain connected as the e-echelon, namely, defendingwildindia@yahoogroups.com. Indeed, all are committed towards collaborative tasks. Thus, the members, attached with more than 300 NGOs and individuals across the country, show the success that collective effort can yield. Local enterprise is operated through this channel-system. These members also arrange for important pro-conservation lectures.

The Legal section of the Conservation Department gets involved in Public Interest Litigation. For instance, it defended the Onge Tribe in Andaman. Mumbai Natural History Society, Mumbai, appealed for justice for the case that was filed in Honourable Supreme Court.

The Protected Areas Conservation Department aids the forest department, NGOs and individuals, regarding conservation-purposes. For example, the Department along with the Forest Department fortifies the Tungareshwar Reserve Forest, from intrusion and illicit roadway-enlargement.

The dedicated Conservation Department, provided financial assistance through the City Forest Fund, to the Forest Department for the development Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai .

The resettlement of villages, in the Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary, is a worth-mentioning attempt. Similar endeavor has been noticed during the shifting and re-establishment of irrigation-colony of the Corbett National Park .

Mumbai Natural History Society has organized three vital surveys in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh for viewing the situation of Wild Buffalo and recognizes migratory passageways in these states.

Rediscovering the threatened species, called Jerdon Courser, in 1986, 80 years later, is a groundbreaking achievement for the scientists of the Conservation Department of the Mumbai Natural History Society, Mumbai.

Enlightened by the field-observations of conservation Department, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India incorporated 15 species of seashells in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, furnishing them absolute fortification. Clathrus delicates, another worldwide-endangered species were re-found and then re-registered after 65 years in Mumbai. They are one of the priorities in the list of conservation, charted out by the Mumbai Natural History Society, Mumbai.

Training sessions are also scheduled by the Conservation Department, of the Mumbai Natural History Society, Mumbai. There are one-year distant education courses: Awareness Programme in Oceans: Biodiversity, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development. They provide the right knowledge and right training.

The Society`s Sálim Ali Nature Conservation Fund (SANCF) donates small grants for plunging into conservation-concerned field assessments for young conservationists. Mumbai Natural History Society has still yet patronized for more than 50 field surveys.

The Flora and Fauna of India, have received deserved focus, from the Mumbai Natural History Society, Mumbai. The Society, which today, houses one of the awesome repertory of Natural History in Asia, spawned as a small unit in 1883. In 1883, eight devoted research-fellows, exchanged notes related to Natural History and accumulated specimens, which were the first insertions in the repository of deposits, collected by them, has today resulted in one of the finest Natural History Collections of Asia.

The Collections, being dated to pre-independence period, consist of items from the Oriental lands, such as present day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The Jerdon`s Courser, the Lesser and Bengal Floricans, Great Indian Bustard and Whitewinged Wood Duck, top among the exclusive specimens of the collection. Again, the Pinkheaded Duck , extinct in the recent times, is a highly celebrated asset . Other kinds of rare mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, beetles and insects of the Indian Sub-continent speak volumes for the biodiversity of the fauna in India.

The latest collections have been procured after immense survey throughout Indian. The catalogue and computerized data of the bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian have augmented convenience. Specimens classified on the basis of taxonomy and species. However, uncommon gatherings from out-of-boundary places, like, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. An aggregate of 26,000 birds, 20,000 mammals, 7500 amphibians and reptiles and 50,000 insects are well preserved in this Mumbai Natural History Society Museum. The collections have been acknowledged the acclaim of being a National Heritage Collection.

The reference collections have turned out to be an ever-enchanting subject of study for researchers, hailing, from institutions of India and abroad. The collection itself is one of the most authentic sources for the information on bio-diversity of India. The Society`s Collection, more than a century old, forms a highlights the recent times` environmental alterations and decline of biodiversity. The Collection, emitting fascinating data and exemplifications, has inspired multiple publications, such as the Book of Indian Animals, Book of Indian Birds, The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians and the Butterflies of Sikkim, Himalayas.

The Mumbai Natural History Society, Mumbai, leads one into a world of marvelous sights, rare knowledge and a lost ecological Paradise, towards which we strive every moment.