Media & Events
Press Engagement
TREE Foundation has been working with the press and dailys for many years as this is an effective way to deliver our conservation message to the broader public. There are many opportunities to create awareness through this medium and we are frequently featured in the media for events such as rehabilitated turtle releases, visits to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and seasonal hatchling releases. We are very grateful to all those in the media who support our work by reporting on it and creating awareness among the general public through their print and online mediums.
In the News
How a dead Turtle on a Chennai beach led one woman to launch a movement
“In November 2001, I happened to watch a National Geographic documentary on world-famous environmentalist Dr Jane Goodall in which she said each and every individual can make a difference to the environment.
Of Turtles & Trees
It was primatologist Jane Goodall’s simple words that got Supraja Dharini thinking. “I was watching a programme on Jane Goodall in National Geographic and I heard her saying, ‘Each and every individual can make a difference.’ These words really made an impact on me.” Subsequently, while walking along Periya Neelangarai beach, Dharini…
Chennai's Sea Turtle Warriors
At least a dozen trees tower over the building. Three dogs nap in the shade outside, while three cats run amok on the ground and first floors. Under makeshift roofs on the ground are kept, big blue tubs, each one home to an Olive Ridley turtle in rehabilitation.
As Supraja Dharini, founder trustee…
Supraja Dharini And Her Turtle Protection Super Squads
Until some years back, he would dig out the leathery, cricket-ball sized turtle eggs from their sand pits and use them to play cricket with his friends. And he was not the only one doing so in the fishing village of Periya Neelangarai on the East Coast Road (ECR), a few kilometres from Chennai, Tamil Nadu…
Meet the Chennai woman behind one of India's largest sea turtle conservation programmes
A chance encounter can change lives. For Dr. Supraja Dharini, Founder and Chairperson of TREE Foundation, it was a chance encounter with a sea turtle that changed hers. TREE Foundation, a trust for environmental education, conservation and community development, was founded in 2002 by Dr Supraja…
The Explorers Club
Dr. Supraja Dharini featured one amoung 50 explorers changing the world today
Seasonal Events
Annual Coastal Clean-up
The coastal cleanup was initially started at Texas in 1986 and has become a global event in the form of an annual international coastal cleanup. It is the worlds largest all volunteer event for the ocean. The International Coastal Cleanup Day is conducted in various parts of the world in September every year on the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and South Asian Co-operative Environmental Programme (SACEP) in the South Asian Region. The Indian Coast Guard has been Coordinating this activity since 2006.
Indian Coast Guard (East) and TREE Foundation have been jointly conducting the International Coastal Cleanup Day since 2006 with the support from various organizations and schools/ Colleges.
Around the time of the annual event awareness programmes are conducted to sensitise the coastal dwellers about the importance of protecting the Ocean as much as possible from human induced pollution. The program includes a cleanup of the beach by members from the Indian Coast Guard, TREE Foundation and Roots and shoots, India, students from various schools/colleges, NSS and NCC.
Notice: Annual Coastal Clean-up 2021
Due to the ongoing health situation the details of the 2021 Annual Coastal Clean-up will be announced closer to the proposed event date across our social media. We encourage voluntary participation from concerned members of the public wishing to improve the coastal area and prevent beach trash from entering the marine ecosystem. Each one of us has the power to make a change for the better for our environment.
Seasonal Turtle Walks
Due to the ongoing health situation the details of the 2021 Annual Coastal Clean-up will be announced closer to the proposed event date across our social media. We encourage voluntary participation from concerned members of the public wishing to improve the coastal area and prevent beach trash from entering the marine ecosystem. Each one of us has the power to make a change for the better for our environment.
To give you the opportunity to see a nesting turtle or newly emerged hatchlings, TREE Foundation conducts seasonal turtle walks from early January to April.
Participants first gather at the TREE Foundation Chennai Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre where they watch a documentary screening about sea turtles and get to meet some of the patients in rehabilitation.
Afterwards one or more TREE Foundation guides brings the evenings participants to a nearby nesting beach where hopefully they will be lucky enough to witness an adult nesting turtle, newly born hatchlings or possibly even both.
In line with government mandated regulations we have been required to temporarily suspend turtle walk that for the 2020 / 2021 season. We will be resuming our turtle walks program as soon as regulations allow.
Public Speaking
Dr. Supraja Dharini, TREE Foundation Founder and Chairperson has attended and spoken at many conservation related events both nationally and internationally. She is also a former TedX speaker and the country head of the Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots India program network. Subject to schedule Dr. Dharini can be available to give share her story and inspire your audience at your event. Initial speaking request enquiries should be sent to treefoundation2020@email.com including venue date and location and nature of event.
Past Events
2019-2020 Events
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