The concept of Keystone emerges from the nest-building behaviour of certain birds. These permanent nest structures serve as habitat for many life forms. The nests become essential parts of their ecosystems, a centerpiece which many different species benefit from. Such keystone species become crucial in providing opportunities for other beings to grow and evolve. The Keystone Foundation is born out of this simple ecological principle of the interdependence of natural systems, and strives to provide the opportunity for the growth of all life in the NBR.

THE WORK

Keystone believes in the mantra “small is effective/small is global” and hence, is focused on the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, where it currently works in 135 indigenous communities with an estimated number of 15000 individuals.

While Keystone’s focus was initially on poverty alleviation in the honey hunter community, through the dynamics of honey harvesting and marketing, the organisation grew and began to have an impact outside of the honey hunting community and poverty alleviation. Today, Keystone’s mission has led it to diversify its programme base to encompass all aspects affecting the wellness of indigenous communities.

Read more in the TreeFall Gap

THEMES

Today Keystone runs programmes, activities and research within the themes of NTFP, Honeyhunting, Apiculture, Community Wellness, Culture, Capacity Building, Environmental Governance, Networks, Water & Sanitation, Biodiversity & Restoration, Organic Farming and Enterprises; each geared to directly contribute the holistic wellbeing of individuals, their communities and, by extension, the environment.

The Community Newsletter (Nilgiri Seemai Sudhi) and Community Radio (Radio Kotagiri 90.4 MHz) has been instrumental in bringing communities closer to each other.

Looking to share the accumulated knowledge of 23 years of working in the field, Keystone regularly conducts external trainings and undertakes consultancies on request. The subjects range from sustainable harvesting and value addition of non-timber forest produce (NTFP), biodiversity assessment and eco-restoration, eco-tourism support, socio-economic surveys, to vocational skills such as carpentry, electrical planning, and wildlife filmmaking. Read more about them HERE.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Our work is expected to lead to the following outcomes for which the organization will be held responsible and accountable:

1. Increasing awareness of conservation and ecologically sound principles in all aspects of our work.
2. Increasing the availability of viable, natural resource-based, sustainable livelihood options for indigenous people.
3. Ensuring village groups and institutions take responsibility for managing existing programmes.
4. Sustaining traditional cultural practices.
5. Knowledge development through research and action projects,  that are owned by stakeholders, and put into practice.
6. Indigenous people being put in positions to participate in dialogue with decision makers.
7. Influencing policy & decision making towards environmental governance.
8. Promoting organic & fair trade principles in market based interventions.

ALLIED ORGANISATIONS

In keeping with the philosophy of being a ‘keystone’, the foundation has been responsible for conceiving, developing and nurturing three organisations that work together to increase social cohesion within indigenous communities, strengthen the natural resource production base, and protect biodiversity in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.

• Last Forest Enterprises (LFE) was set up with 2010 with the mandate of working towards developing fair trade markets for rural and small enterprises. LFE markets its products online through e-commerce sites as well as through retail outlets known as “Green Shops” in Kotagiri, Coonoor and Ooty.

• Nilgiris Natural History Society (NNHS) was founded in 2010 and works towards a participatory approach to conservation through talks on the biodiversity of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, stakeholder workshops, trails and treks, and reaching out to local schools.
• Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Ltd (APPCL) began as a micro social enterprise and has since grown into a tribal producer company registered in 2013 with over 1600 members, managed solely by the indigenous communities.