Mathew John, Snehlata Nath and Pratim Roy (left to right), who grew up in different parts of India, arrived in New Delhi to pursue their aspirations. Soon after, a fortuitous association spanning decades began to unfold in India’s first-ever biosphere reserve.
Since 2001, Keystone has been the recipient of national and global awards for our achievements. See below a list of accolades graciously accepted by us.
Barefoot Ecologists, a project under the Climate Change programme won the ‘Transformational’ category of the Gender-Just Climate Solutions Awards at the UN COP27 held in Sharm-al-Sheikh, Egypt. The project was selected for its spotlight on the knowledge and observations of Indigenous women in the Nilgiris in the context of ecosystem changes. Bhavya George, programme coordinator of Climate Change, accepted this award on our behalf.
Founder-Director Snehlata Nath received the Nari Shakti Puraskar Award from the President of India in Delhi, on International Women’s Day. It is the highest civilian honour for women in India. Sneh has been extensively active in eco-development, livelihoods, and sustainability efforts in rural areas of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Through her work, she has carved a niche for indigenous women in the Nilgiris and has also improved women’s financial stability through social enterprises.
Robert Leo, Advisor at Keystone, received the J.C. Bose Memorial Award for his contribution in designing technology, revival of organic agriculture and promoting beekeeping of Apis Cerena species. The award ceremony was held on National Science Day conducted by Indian Science Monitor. The award was conferred by Padma Vibhushan Dr. M.R. Srinivasan, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission.
Snehlata Nath, Founder-Director at Keystone, received the Jamanlal Bajaj Award for her outstanding contribution over the decades, within the field of Science and Technology. The award was presented by Honourable Pranab Mukherjee, President of India.
Keystone was nominated as a finalist, with the ‘Cliffhanger’ title as part of the BBC World Challenge, chosen for our efforts in enhancing and supporting the sustainable practice of traditional honey-hunting in South India and in helping them find lucrative markets to sell their produce for a fair price. “Keystone Foundation is keeping an ancient and sustainable tradition alive by creating markets for wild honey,” wrote BBC.
Keystone Foundation, along with the District Administration and residents of the Nilgiris, received a Guinness World Record certificate for participating in the record for planting the highest number of trees (42,182) in one day. The certificate was awarded on June 24, 2002.
‘Honey Hunters of the Blue Mountains’, a film conceived by Keystone, and directed by Mike Pandey, founder of Riverbank Studios, was nominated for three categories of awards at the 11th International Wildlife Film Festival held in Albert, France, in March 2001. The categories are: the Prix Spécial du Jury (Special Jury Prize), the Prix de la Relation Homme-Animal (Best Picture on Human-Wildlife Conflict) and Prix Spécial du Meilleur Son (Best Sound).
Keystone received a medal at the Pro Meritis 37 Apimondia (International Apiculture Congress) held in South Africa in 2001, for the film ‘Honey Hunters of the Blue Mountains’.
