Our Work – cognisphere

To realize our vision of a “sustainable and equitable planet,” we have organized ourselves into two interdependent and cyclical functions – our execution wing called CAPE and innovation wing called ICAL.

Each function is led by teams with decades of experience working directly with vulnerable communities. Our operations are guided by four core principles: sustainability, equity, collaboration, and innovation.

CAPE – Climate Action Project Execution

Our primary functional unit CAPE focuses on designing and implementing on-ground decarbonization projects. Our existing projects aims to sequester 6 million metric tonnes of CO2 by 2040.

We differentiate our work by fostering comprehensive socio-economic growth within participating communities, all while delivering high-integrity carbon credits that adhere to the highest standards. We design our projects that adheres to the global carbon registries, including Gold Standard and Verra, ensuring alignment with High Quality Carbon Principles.

Revitalization of degraded lands through soil conservation

Tree plantation on these lands to offset global warming

Silk production to create livelihood for local women farmers

Impact tracking and measurement to guide decisions

Why Does CAPE Focus on Measurement and Tracking?

Our experience shows that inadequate monitoring often leads to decarbonization project failures. At CAPE, we prioritize effective operations through four key objectives:

Holistic Assessment

Holistic Assessment

We assess both carbon sequestration and community impact using technology-driven Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) methods, supported by a cloud-based MIS for efficient data storage and access.
Knowledge Repositories

Knowledge Repositories

Our MIS enables the creation of accessible knowledge repositories for partners. The innovation lab (ICAL) conducts evidence-based studies and provides baseline and endline analyses to enhance decarbonization initiatives.
Communication Impact

Communication Impact

We help partners develop clear documents to communicate the results of their decarbonization efforts to customers and shareholders.
Informed Decision-Making

Informed Decision-Making

We use insights from our MIS to further enhance socio-economic conditions in the communities we serve.

Holistic Assessment

We assess both carbon sequestration and community impact using technology-driven Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) methods, supported by a cloud-based MIS for efficient data storage and access.

Knowledge Repositories

Our MIS enables the creation of accessible knowledge repositories for partners. The innovation lab (ICAL) conducts evidence-based studies and provides baseline and endline analyses to enhance decarbonization initiatives.

Communication Impact

We help partners develop clear documents to communicate the results of their decarbonization efforts to customers and shareholders.

Informed Decision-Making

We use insights from our MIS to further enhance socio-economic conditions in the communities we serve.

How we do it?

We work in the tribal belt of Central India with local tribal communities on their degraded lands. As part of our work, we convert thousands of hectares of unproductive private lands into forests that can be used for rearing silk. We train and support the participating tribal communities, especially women, to rear and process Tasar silk, thus directly improving their socio-economic conditions. Our efforts contribute not only to effective carbon reduction but also to the sustainable development of the communities we serve.

A typical project will include 5 well-defined steps aimed at engaging local community, establishing sustainable practices and enhancing livelihood through economic opportunities.

Community Engagement and Mobilization

1. Project Introduction - Share project goals in community sessions and organize visits to successful afforestation sites for interested farmers

2. Farmer Mobilization - Secure formal agreements with farmers, form women farmer groups (Tasar Vikas Samiti) to ensure their participation and decision making

Land Preparation and Afforestation

3. Land Preparation - Prepare fallow or barren land and conduct training on land preparation, nursery raising, and maintenance.

4. Tree Selection and Planting - Select tree species, raise saplings, monitor plant growth and maintenance

Impact Monitoring

5. Tree Audits- Monitoring tree health and survival to ensure the carbon sequestration is meeting the project’s climate goals.

6. Soil Carbon Assessment- Evaluating soil carbon to optimize practices for enhanced soil health and carbon storage.

7. Social Impacts- Assessing community impacts time to time to maximize positive outcomes.

8. Grievance Redressal- Continuously gathering feedback from stakeholders for project improvements and better outcomes.

9. Project Management Information System- Offers real-time data and analytics for stakeholder-informed decisions and proactive strategies.

Income Generation and Skill Building

10. Sericulture Integration - Introduce Tasar silkworm rearing on planted trees to generate additional income

11. Setting of Seed Production - Establish grainage facilities and establish supply chain for Disease-Free Laying eggs (DFLs) or seeds of Tasar silkworm.

12. Production support for silkworm rearing Management – Train and Support farmers in managing and harvesting high-quality cocoons

Processing and Market Integration

13. Cocoon Collection and Market Connection - Aggregation of cocoons from small producers and establishing linkage with terminal markets.

14. Silk Production - Process harvested cocoons into silk yarn through spinning and reeling

Innovations Lab (ICAL)

ICAL is our test, research and strategy wing that was founded to inject the spirit of innovation into everything we do. We are a diverse group of experimenters and thinkers that tests, learns, builds and iterates fast every day. At our core, we believe that innovation emerges through community interaction and the freedom to learn and experiment.

Our teams at ICAL focuses on 4 iterative actions –

Engage with the community and learn from the frontlines; Explore new models and new geographic frontiers

Test new ideas on-ground

Collaborate for cutting-edge research

Create knowledge repositories and share our knowledge with the climate-action community

Know More

News & Insights

August 13, 2024

The Journey of Tasar Silk: From Forest to Fabric

Tasar silk, a remarkable textile derived from the wild and rustic silkworm, begins its journey in the lush forests of India. Produced by the Antheraea mylitta species, these silkworms thrive on the leaves of native trees such as Sal, Arjun, and Asan. Found abundantly in regions like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, these trees […]

August 13, 2024

Empowering Rural Women: Cognisphere’s Path to Sustainable Livelihoods

In rural India, women are often the heart of their communities-nurturing families, managing daily tasks, and playing a crucial role in farming and natural resource management. Despite their significant contributions, many rural women face challenges such as limited access to jobs, education, and decision-making roles. That’s where Cognisphere steps in, striving to change the narrative […]

August 13, 2024

Revitalizing Barren Lands: Cognisphere’s Green Revolution in Dindori

Welcome to Dindori, a district in Madhya Pradesh that was once celebrated for its lush, dense forests in the Satpuda region. The poet Bhawani Prasad Mishra famously wrote about the “Satpuda Ke Ghane Jungle,” but today, that vibrant green landscape has transformed into a vast expanse of barren, gravel-covered land—degraded and lifeless. Years of neglect […]