UditVani, Jamshedpur : Tata Steel has completed its first Nature-based Solutions (NbS) assessment aligned with the IUCN Global Standard, marking a major milestone in its biodiversity conservation efforts.
The company’s mid-term Self-Assessment Test for the Sukinda Ecorace Conservation Project—a collaborative initiative with the Central Silk Board and the Central Tasar Research & Training Institute (CTRTI)—has been reviewed by IUCN India and rated “Adequate” with a score of 60%, significantly higher than the required 25% threshold.
The project focuses on reviving the Sukinda Ecorace, a native trivoltine Tasar silkworm species that had nearly vanished due to habitat loss and the introduction of commercial strains. Through targeted ecological restoration, over 26 hectares of degraded forest land in Sukinda, Odisha, have been rejuvenated with Arjun and Asan plantations—the natural host plants of Tasar silkworms. These restored green areas now serve as carbon-sequestering biodiversity corridors, rebuilding the region’s ecological balance.
Rajiv Mangal, Vice President – Safety, Health & Sustainability, Tata Steel, said the positive IUCN review validates the company’s commitment to nature-based solutions and serves as a model for corporate-led conservation aligned with the Tata group’s Aalingana goals.
D. B. Sundara Ramam, Vice President – Corporate Services, Tata Steel, highlighted that the project represents a powerful blend of ecological restoration, community upliftment, and long-term economic sustainability.
The initiative has also generated substantial livelihood benefits, engaging 200 households—50 in plantation work and 150 in sericulture. It directly contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), and aligns with the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
The Sukinda Ecorace project stands as a successful example of how conservation, climate action, and community development can be integrated to revive a nearly extinct species while supporting rural livelihoods.
