This programme area encompasses a huge swathe of activities that Keystone is directly involved in at the village level - it not only involves the resources that are available in and around the village but also the people who are a part of that system
Conservation is a prime area for Keystone and every project has a conservatioin driven approach. We are now working at a larger landscape level and the conservation focus has to grow.
As the fulcrum, that seeks to balance development activities, we seek to explore the creation of adivasi village institutions through facilitation, using local / traditional governance and institutional development mechanisms.
Enterprise in a development context, is sometimes a fine line to tread. How do issues of sustainability become an integral part of the process rather than a byword? At Keystone, there has been a conscious attempt to make sure that the marketing activities hold their own - it should be an economically viable activity alongwith a strong conservation & livelihood emphasis.
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve extends over the 3 adjoining states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The major area lies in Tamil Nadu state, accounting for nearly 50% of the 5400 square kilometres.
Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are ways of being able to bring in a large number of farmers into the organic fold who have not been able to access the third party systems of being certified organic. It is a response to the bureaucratic and expensive systems that exist. Today, thousands of farmers all round the world have devised systems that are simple, transparent and adhere to the basic principles of organic agriculture
will write soon...
will write soon...
This is hopefully, a helpful guide to get you to our place, Kotagiri. The address, phone numbers and email IDs are provided to get you across in the shortest and easiest way. We even have a small map which provides you with an overview.
The campus of the organization sits nestled in the hills, just a couple of kilometres from the centre of Kotagiri town. Spread over an acre, the different spaces provide an opportunity to work independently on different projects & activities, yet within a composite whole. The buildings are primarily made of rammed earth - a technology which uses mud from on-site. This is mixed with sand and a small percentage (3-5%) of cement. A combination of open spaces and replanting of traditional native species of plants helps to create a lively, informal and creative atmosphere.
Darwin Mid Term Report
Coffee
Wild Foods of the Lower Nilgiris
Honey Trails
Abstracts - Monitoring Harvests of Wild Plants