India
We have been working with Keystone Foundation in India since 1993 to empower indigenous people and local communities in and around the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.
Supporting people to make a sustainable living through caring for bees, is central to our work there. Together we are helping to achieve livelihood security for indigenous communities, through beekeeping, capacity building, and conservation of biodiversity.
Keystone Foundation was found in 1993 with the idea to support ecosystems and provide opportunities for livelihoods for indigenous and local communities.
Our team in India
Pratim Roy
Founder-Director
Shiny Rehel
Senior Programme Coordinator
Justin Raj
Programme Coordinator
The Bees, Biodiversity and Forest Livelihoods Project
United in our aims and values which focus on improving the lives of disadvantaged people through harnessing the power of nature, we successfully delivered work examining the connection between bees, biodiversity and forest livelihoods in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve from 2006 – 2009. The project increased scientific and livelihood knowledge through research, strengthening the technical and research capacity of our partnership.
Trainer of the Trainers
In 2022, we delivered a Training of Trainers project, upskilling 35 local people and beginner beekeepers so that they could become independent and self-confident Apis ceranae beekeepers able to train others in their communities.
The urgent need for the more skilled beekeeper trainers has been raised by government agencies, local NGOs and community associations. To support this work Keystone Foundation upgraded the training apiary at their premises in Kotagiri, the trainees were helped to establish apiaries of their own so they could grow and progress as independent beekeepers, and we published a practical training manual.
“I have gained so much confidence in terms of handlings bees. Before this training opportunity I never used to go anywhere near beehives, let along train other people. I am now ready to give training to others and there are 4 people who are willing to take the training in my village”
– Sathya
Case Study
Sathya Kurumbapallam was trained in beekeeping by Keystone Foundation. While she used to be afraid of bees, she now trains others in the community.
“I have one colony, which was provided by Keystone Foundation after the training. I was able to harvest honey from this box, about half a litre. I offered it to temple as it was the first harvest and I also shared with my villagers. I plan to have a session on bees with the children in my village and the village elders.
I have benefited attending the training and gained a lot of knowledge on bees. I would not have known anything about bees, had not I come for the training.”
Sathya (right) examining a comb.
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