As the world observes World Nature Conservation Day, Cairn Oil & Gas, part of Vedanta Ltd., stands out as a committed guardian of biodiversity in Assam - one of India’s most ecologically rich states.

With a focused approach to environmental sustainability, Cairn’s conservation ethos goes beyond compliance, rooted in a belief that economic growth and ecological preservation must go hand in hand. From protecting endangered species in Kaziranga to creating greenbelts across its other major operational sites in the country, Cairn is demonstrating how responsible energy production can support nature’s resilience.

Through its partnership with the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the last strongholds of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, Bengal Tigers, and Asiatic Elephants, Cairn along with parent Group company The Animal Care Organization (TACO), is establishing a surveillance center and multi-storey residential units for forest protection personnel in Bokakhat.

These efforts are critical in enhancing on-ground monitoring, reducing poaching risks, and supporting the dedicated field staff who are the backbone of conservation. Cairn has also partnered with Jorhat District Forest Department to provide surveillance vehicles and equipment for wildlife protection and conservation in the neighboring forest areas.

This commitment will not only support over 2,600 rhinos and the world’s largest population of Asiatic Water Buffaloes but also strengthen India’s position as a global leader in species conservation.

Cairn has started to undertake plantation drives around its areas of operation in Assam, as part of its larger goal to plant two million trees in the country by 2030. These green initiatives are part of Cairn’s ESG-driven mission to achieve Net Zero emissions and have already resulted in the development of around 4,000 acres of greenbelt, including 800 acres of mangroves across India.

These initiatives highlight Cairn’s nature-based approach to carbon sequestration, ecosystem restoration, and community-led conservation — essential pillars in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

On World Nature Conservation Day, Cairn reiterates that nature conservation is not a footnote to development, but a foundation for it. Through collaborations with government bodies, conservation experts, and local communities, Cairn is working to ensure that economic progress does not come at the cost of ecological degradation.