Dailymirror.news,Mumbai, 28 November 2025:Tata Steel has become the first company in India to successfully complete a mid-term self-assessment of a Nature-based Solutions (NbS) project fully aligned with the prestigious IUCN Global Standard. The Sukinda Ecorace Conservation Project in Odisha scored an impressive 60% (well above the 25% minimum threshold) and received an “Adequate” rating across all eight IUCN criteria after independent review by IUCN India.

The pioneering initiative, led by Tata Steel Foundation in collaboration with the Central Silk Board and Central Tasar Research & Training Institute (CTRTI), has brought a native trivoltine Tasar silkworm — the Sukinda Ecorace — back from the brink of extinction. Once abundant in Odisha’s Sukinda region, the species had nearly vanished due to habitat loss and replacement by commercial strains.

To restore its natural ecosystem, Tata Steel has regenerated over 26 hectares of degraded mixed deciduous forest by planting thousands of Arjun and Asan trees — the primary host plants for Tasar silkworms. These restored forests now serve as thriving biodiversity corridors and active carbon sinks.

More than 200 local households are directly benefiting:

  • 50 families engaged in plantation and forest maintenance
  • 150 families revived traditional sericulture livelihoods

Rajiv Mangal, Vice President – Safety, Health & Sustainability, Tata Steel, said: “This IUCN validation is a proud milestone that reinforces our commitment to genuine, measurable impact through nature-based solutions. It also sets a replicable blueprint for corporate India on biodiversity conservation and aligns directly with the Tata group’s Aalingana sustainability vision.”

D. B. Sundara Ramam, Vice President – Corporate Services, Tata Steel, added: “The Sukinda project proves that ecological restoration, community empowerment, and economic revival can go hand-in-hand — this is sustainable development in its truest form.”

The initiative strongly supports India’s national priorities, including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), while contributing to the National Biodiversity Action Plan.

With this achievement, Tata Steel continues to lead the Indian industry in delivering high-integrity, science-based environmental and social outcomes.