About Ecobasics

Our story

In the bustling corridors of Mumbai University, two friends—Abhay and Hemant—found a shared spark during their postgraduate studies in Environmental Botany. Hemant was already immersed in conservation work at a leading NGO, compiling datasets used in environmental impact assessments. Day after day, he watched in dismay as government bodies and corporations relied on generic, often misrepresentative data to make vital ecological decisions. When he confided in senior colleagues, they identified a glaring problem: a shortage of motivated field professionals willing and able to gather rigorous, accurate data on the ground.

Around the same time, Abhay was working with a prominent environmental agency, charged with conducting large-scale tree censuses. He saw firsthand how expensive and labor-intensive mapping projects could be—especially when agencies tried to cut corners by hiring young, under-skilled graduates. While this saved money in the short run, it often led to a worrying lack of precision. Mistakes in tree identification or census counts rippled outward, ultimately affecting land-use decisions at both municipal and regional levels. Taxpayer funds were wasted each time local governments had to correct the flawed data or commission fresh surveys.

Despite these frustrations, Abhay and Hemant found common ground. They met regularly, sharing stories of fieldwork gone awry and dreaming of better ways to collect and interpret environmental data. As time passed, they each ventured deeper into their specialisations. Hemant moved to Shivaji University in Kolhapur to further his ecological research, while Abhay delved into remote sensing and GIS, becoming an expert in land-use and land-cover mapping.

In 2011, they reunited, energised by their parallel experiences and determined to offer the kind of robust, field-based data collection they believed was sorely lacking in the industry. Their goal was simple yet ambitious: to help environmental consultants, NGOs, and government agencies obtain the accurate, reliable data needed for informed ecological impact assessments. Leveraging their networks, they began with small projects, mostly biodiversity surveys, habitat mapping, tree censuses, and agricultural studies. The results were so well received that work kept pouring in—more than they could handle on their own.

Recognising that running and scaling a new venture demanded business acumen, Hemant reached out to Punit, a friend, passionate nature enthusiast and experienced networker. Punit jumped aboard, becoming Ecobasics’ third co-founder. Ecobasics quickly became known for reliable biodiversity and socio-economic surveys, precise land mapping, and thorough tree censuses. Over time, the team expanded its expertise to encompass sustainability reporting and carbon development projects. From their humble days as students alarmed by the inaccuracies in environmental data, Abhay and Hemant—together with Punit—established Ecobasics in 2011. Today, the company continues to champion robust field data collection, transforming ecological research and decision-making.

We believe in your success and are committed to leveraging advanced data collection, analytics, and ecological expertise to deliver the best outcomes for your projects. Whether it’s biodiversity conservation, sustainability planning, or environmental impact assessments, our solutions are tailored to help you achieve your goals while fostering ecological resilience and compliance.

10

152

Qualified employees

Not only is our team full of professionals – we're a fun bunch, too.

Projects delivered

In the last few years, we successfully completed 150+ individual projects.

Key industries

We have specialist experience in a handful of industries.

5

Tree Census

38

Biodiversity Surveys

Social Surveys

Remote Sensing

Sustainability Projects

57

12

26

19

Who are we

Field Researchers

Specialists in advanced sampling methods, remote sensing, and digital monitoring tools, collecting and processing biodiversity, carbon, and socio-economic data for robust analyses.

Data Analysts

Experts in interpreting complex ecological datasets, ensuring that critical insights are both clear and actionable for effective decision-making.

Expert Team

A multidisciplinary team covering plant taxonomy, wildlife studies, remote sensing, ecosystem management, community engagement, agricultural systems, and overall project coordination—ensuring seamless execution and comprehensive coverage.

Sustainability Consultants

Armed with in-depth knowledge of environmental policies, carbon markets, and ecosystem management, they tailor solutions to align with project objectives and promote long-term ecological and socio-economic resilience.

Why choose us?

Global experience

From tropical rainforests to savannas, our team has supported diverse ecosystems and communities across multiple continents, tailoring our methods to local conditions and cultural contexts.

We believe that robust ecological data can transform any project, regardless of scale or location, by bridging the gap between development and sustainability.

Quality for value

We hold ourselves to the highest scientific standards—collecting precise field data, employing advanced analytics, and delivering evidence-based insights that drive meaningful outcomes.

Tailored Solutions

Every engagement is customised to your project’s unique ecological and socio-economic goals, ensuring strategies that are both cost-effective and aligned with long-term sustainability.

High standards

We use standardised protocols, cutting-edge monitoring tools, and transparent reporting to guarantee accurate, actionable results—helping you lower risks, ensure compliance, and maintain stakeholder trust.

Our team

Meet our team—a dynamic collective of experts blending science, technology, and innovation to transform environmental challenges into sustainable solutions. United by purpose, we’re here to empower progress and protect the planet.

Abhay Barve

Co-founder & CEO

20+ years of expertise in ecological surveys, and project management. Spearheads strategic direction, combining deep community engagement, participative mapping, and spatial modeling to drive impactful initiatives.

Dr. Hemant Tripathi

Co-founder

20+ years of proven leadership and extensive experience in collecting biodiversity, land use, and community data across Africa and Southeast Asia. Deep expertise in carbon markets and advanced modeling techniques.

Prashant Gokarankar

Senior Project Officer

15+ years of work in Western Ghats, specialising in flora and fauna identification, with deep expertise in biodiversity and ecological systems. Leads tree censuses, botanical surveys, and wildlife documentation.

Punit Gandhi

Co-founder

20+ years of experience in business development, networking, and strategic growth. Specialises in scaling operations, forging partnerships and expanded its reach while maintaining a strong foundation for continual growth.

Kunal Gavit

Junior Project Officer

5+ years of experience in biodiversity surveys and habitat mapping. Proficient in field identification, stakeholder engagements, detailed data collection and reporting.

Shakti Pakhare

Junior Project Officer

5+ years of experience, focuses on tree census, vegetation mapping and biodiversity assessments, applying standardised survey methods and species identification techniques.

Dr. Santosh Yadav

Scientific Advisor

20+ years of extensive fieldwork experience and expertise in botanical surveys, plant-animal interactions, and rare species conservation. Contributed significantly to the conservation and management of plant species in Western Ghats.

Dr. Rupesh Maurya

Scientific Advisor

Distinguished scholar of plant classification, identification, and conservation. Led numerous plant exploration projects across diverse ecosystems, contributing significantly to the understanding and preservation of flora.

Gauri Marathe

Senior Project Officer

15+ years of impactful work in stakeholder management, socio-ecological research, and community engagement. Fosters collaboration creating meaningful change at the intersection of people, land, and ecosystems

Shrikant Tripathi

Operations Lead

8+ years of experience, specialising in project operations, online sales platforms, and remote sensing database management. Coordinates with field teams, leads logistics planning, roadmap development, and delivery.