ATREE is a global non-profit organization that generates interdisciplinary knowledge to inform policy and practice to achieve environmental conservation and sustainable development. Since 1997, ATREE has addressed various local and global socio-environmental issues aimed at achieving sustainable development guided by principles of environmental justice. ATREE is currently serving as a think tank, an academic institution, and a grassroots organization. ATREE is certified as a scientific and Industrial Research Organisation by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. 

ATREE envisions a society committed to environmental conservation and sustainable development through social justice. Our mission is to generate rigorous, interdisciplinary knowledge for achieving conservation and development, enable the use of this knowledge by policymakers and society, and train the next generation of scholars and leaders.

To deliver on this mission, ATREE works across issues such as conservation of biodiversity, water resources, land, and forests through appropriate governance, deriving ecosystem services, achieving human well-being, and addressing climate change mitigation and development.

ATREE integrates social and scientific research; links research with policy analyses; and uses outputs for stakeholder action to bring about change. It employs a highly collaborative approach, which is an essential ingredient to our ongoing capacity-building and knowledge-sharing approach. 

ATREE helps develop the capacity of future environmental leaders offering a unique interdisciplinary doctoral program with a full suite of coursework and field research. 

ATREE engages with local communities across the country to empower them with improved livelihoods.

ATREE makes its knowledge accessible - publishing open-access reports and briefs in addition to articles in leading academic journals and other media.

Currently, ATREE has three research centers, seven community conservation centers, 20 faculty, and over 40 student project sites. ATREE's organizational structure is designed to promote creative interdisciplinary approaches that integrate research with policy and action in addressing critical environmental problems. Two research centers, the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and the Center for Environment and Development, two implementation centers, the Center for Social and Environmental Innovation and Center for Policy Design, along with the Academy of Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies, provide the structure to conduct insightful research that fuels our thought leadership on policy issues and drives our capacity building activities.

• Conducting Interdisciplinary research
• A unique Academy that trains the next generation of environmental leaders in interdisciplinary research on conservation science and sustainability
• An environmental think tank ranked among the top 20 in the world, working on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Monitoring and Conservation, Sustainable rural livelihoods, Water security, OneHealth, and restoration of degraded landscapes pan India.
• ATREE initiated and led the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well Being funded by the PSA's office, Government of India.
• Community Conservation Centers
• Our Center at Biligiri Rangaswamy Tiger Reserve works with the indigenous Soliga community on sustainable livelihoods through NTFPs, coffee plantations, etc.
• Center at Malai Mahadeswara Hills WildLife Sanctuary works with the Soliga community to improve their livelihoods through Lantana crafting.
• Center at Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve working with the local community imparting training on conservation of their ecosystem and wetlands for sustainable management of heronry.
• Center at Vemband Wetlands works with the local community and schools to help monitor and maintain the lake water quality, and adopt sustainable fishing and farming livelihoods.
• The Regional Office at Sikkim works with the local community in the Northeastern states to help mitigate the impact of climate change through various initiatives and sustainable livelihoods.
• Centre at Banni engages with the pastoralists to support grassland conservation and sustainable livelihoods in the landscape
• Centre at Kanakpura conducts environmental education programs for schools.

ATREE’s research and outreach have created a huge impact in the past 25 years. Our work focusing on sustainability has contributed to Western Ghats being designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.Forest Conservation effected in the Western Ghats through participatory monitoring. Promoted wellbeing of forest-associated Soliga communities empowering them through provisioning of the forest rights in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Hills and Malai Mahadeswara Wildlife Sanctuary. ATREE pioneered the access of forest and land rights to the indigenous Soliga community.

Built the capacity of the Soliga community towards sustainable NTFP harvesting practices and established value-addition units for NTFPs to enhance NTFP based livelihoods.

ATREE contributed to the conservation and restoration of Manas and Kaziranga National parks (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) imparting training on sustainable livelihoods and mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts.

In Vembanad (Ramsar site) and Agastyamalai Wetlands, ATREE conducted conservation education programs for schools and various stakeholders to protect their habitat. ATREE leads India's Mission on Biodiversity funded by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister's Office, Government of India.

ATREE harbors a unique Ph.D. program leading to the development of next-generation environmental leaders.ATREE’s One-Health program is addressing the much-needed work on Emerging zoonotic diseases to prevent future pandemics such as Covid-19. 

ATREE is conducting a project on land restoration to meet India's commitment to Carbon Sequestration funded by David and Lucile Packard Foundation.Various National and International Donors are continuously supporting ATREE over the years supporting our endeavors in achieving sustainable development.