Keystone Foundation Archives

Items

• Adaptive Management of Medicinal Plants and NTFP_2008
  The document discusses the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge related to the management of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) among communities in the Nilgiris, India. It highlights the rich traditional practices of local groups, such as the Kurumbas, who have relied on their deep understanding of the forest for their livelihoods, including honey harvesting. The document emphasizes efforts by organizations like the Keystone Foundation to document and promote this knowledge through initiatives such as seed banks, local language publications, and the preservation of cultural traditions. It underscores the need to protect this invaluable knowledge, which is at risk of being lost, and advocates for its integration into sustainable resource management practices to support the economic independence of indigenous communities.
• World indigenous peoples day_2007 08 31_The Local
  The writer is a member of the Kurumba community. She publishes a newsletter called Nilgiri Seemai Sudhi. In 1994 UN decided that the Internaional Indegenous People's Day on August 9 every year, this date is indicate the day of the first meeting in 1982.important milestone by keystone is "Nilgiri Seemai Sudhi", it’s a newspaper for the different communities.
• Profile of Banglapadugai centre_2006 February
  #of families living in the village, this irula village is situated between Rangaswami peak and Bhavani reservior. Land development work by keystone since 1999.Preparing, packing, weighing are done by this centre, womens progreesive Group founded in april 2004 with 6 regular basis workers.
• Profile of Combei center_2006 January
  Combei centre details, future plans for the centre, packaging capacity of the individual at the centre per day. Seasonal products and the packaging details of the final products of NTFP. Complete details of the full time and seasonal workers at the combei centre.
• Bees wax_2005 October - December_Expressions magazine
  In this magazine the editor gives an advice about how to build the fence between people who need peace in their life, reaching the targetted level of process maturity. Unique characteristics of bee wax, uses of bee wax in the various industries.
• Impressions of marketing on the job_2005 December_Voices from the Forest
  marketing details and processing of UMFI, NTFP-EP's work The marketing of MODI, Training expereince of fair trade system, implementation of marketing mix in practices.
• NTFP Exchange programme_2005 December_Intercooperation in India working paper series Box 4
• Ecology and Farming_2003
  advantages of certification and trademark registration for their products. Keystone initiatives in local market sales of honey, bees wax and their products like beewax candles.
• Bees and Bee products_2003_Non woods
  The document titled "Non-Wood News" is a special tenth anniversary edition that highlights the significance of non-wood forest products, such as bamboo, honey, and medicinal plants, in supporting the livelihoods of indigenous communities worldwide. It features contributions from various authors discussing topics like bioprospecting, ecotourism, and the economic potential of products like honey and bamboo, emphasizing their role in food security and environmental sustainability. The publication aims to raise awareness about the importance of these resources, encourage reader contributions, and reflect on the growth of the newsletter over the past decade, while also addressing challenges such as market access and product certification for rural producers.
• Local Agendas for Organic agriculture in Rural Development_2002
  The document discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by tribal communities in the Nilgiris region of South India as they engage in organic agriculture. It highlights the ecological fragility of the area due to the expansion of tea plantations and the depletion of traditional forests, which has led to soil erosion and a decline in biodiversity. The Keystone Foundation has been working with these communities since 1995 to improve market access for their organic products, such as honey, coffee, and pepper, while addressing issues like low procurement prices and lack of certification. The document emphasizes the potential for niche markets due to growing consumer awareness of organic products, but also notes significant constraints, including high certification costs and the need for better quality control and value addition. It raises questions about product standards and market development, stressing the importance of creating a transparent system that supports small growers in both local and export markets.
• Strengthening Livelihood_2002
  The document discusses the efforts of The Keystone Foundation, an NGO in southern India's Nilgiri Hills, to support indigenous communities, particularly the Kurumbas, who rely on honey hunting and beekeeping for their livelihoods. It highlights the challenges these communities face, such as declining honey hunting skills and lack of recognition, while detailing how the Foundation has implemented projects to improve honey extraction techniques, enhance product quality, and establish better market access. The narrative emphasizes the cultural significance of honey hunting, the importance of community involvement in development processes, and the potential of beekeeping to connect various aspects of rural development, ultimately advocating for a more integrated approach to sustainable livelihoods that considers the diverse needs of these communities.
• Tribal Communities-Sustainable Livelihood Options_2002-09-08_Report on Public Hearing on Environment & Development
  The document presents a report from a public hearing on environmental and development issues in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, focusing on the challenges faced by indigenous tribal communities such as the Todas, Kotas, and Kurumbas. It highlights the impact of migration, modern economic pressures, and environmental degradation on these communities, which traditionally lived in harmony with nature. The report discusses their changing livelihoods, reliance on daily wage labor, and the adverse effects of monoculture plantations on their food security and cultural practices. Additionally, it outlines the efforts of the Keystone Foundation to promote sustainable livelihood options through initiatives like beekeeping, while addressing broader environmental and development concerns in the region.
• Beekeeping & development_1999 September
  The document provides an overview of the diverse practices of beekeeping across India, highlighting the various species of honey bees such as Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, and Apis mellifera, and their regional significance. It discusses the traditional and commercial aspects of apiculture, emphasizing the impact of the Thai Sac Brood Virus on the indigenous Apis cerana populations in Southern India and the subsequent recovery efforts by local beekeepers. The document also addresses the importance of honey production for local economies, the role of rural beekeeping in the market, and the need for modern techniques to enhance traditional practices. Additionally, it underscores the challenges faced by beekeepers, including disease management and market dynamics, while advocating for sustainable practices and the preservation of biodiversity in beekeeping. Beekeeping & development, Honey Bees in India, pros and cons in marketing/promoting honey and bee waxes, Growth of apis cerana in south India. TSBV effect and restorative.
• Honey Hunters of the Nilgiris - The Road to Sustainability_1997 December_Beekeeping & Development
  The document discusses the traditional practices of honey hunting among tribal communities in the Nilgiris Hills of Tamil Nadu, India, particularly focusing on the Kurumbas, Irulas, and Kathnaickens tribes. It highlights the cultural significance of honey hunting, which is intertwined with rituals, beliefs, and community cooperation, such as marking honey colonies and performing prayers before harvesting. The document also addresses the ecological and economic challenges these communities face due to changes in their environment and market dynamics, emphasizing the need for documentation and support to sustain their traditional livelihoods. Through a survey conducted by the NGO Keystone, the text aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these practices and the knowledge associated with them. Traditional methods/ways/techniques of honey hunting, material/Tools used for hunting, seasons of hunting, rituals/prayers follwed by the hunters before/after hunting.Beliefs/superstitions/traditioin of the hoeny hunterscommunities.
• Village map of Bangala padigai, kotagiri
• Village Map of Nedugalcombei, Coonoor
  This is a PRA map which shows details such as spring well, tank, temple, agricultural lands. It details land parcels belonging to individuals and common lands.
• Log hives of Sorag_1996 September- October _Beekeeping & Development
  The document discusses sustainable beekeeping practices in a village in the Pindar Valley, Uttar Pradesh, India, where local farmers use log hives made from hollowed-out logs of native trees to keep Indian hive bees (Apis cerana). These log hives, which are cost-effective and constructed from local materials, provide excellent insulation against cold temperatures, allowing large bee colonies to thrive during harsh winters. Honey is harvested twice a year, primarily for personal use rather than sale, while wax is typically discarded. The article emphasizes the advantages of this traditional beekeeping method, including the ease of passing down knowledge through generations and the hives' resemblance to natural nesting sites, highlighting a sustainable approach to beekeeping that aligns with local environmental conditions.
• The Honeyhunters of Tamil Nadu-Climbing Through a Period of Change_1995_Forest Trees & People Newsletter no 29
  The article explores the lives and traditions of honeyhunters and beekeepers in Tamil Nadu, focusing on their cultural practices, the challenges they face due to modernization, and environmental changes. It highlights the rich diversity of tribal communities engaged in honeyhunting, their historical significance, and the rituals associated with this activity. The authors conducted a survey to document these practices and understand the socio-economic impacts of changing land use and government regulations on these communities. The article emphasizes the need for preserving traditional knowledge while adapting to new economic realities, advocating for support that respects and builds upon the indigenous practices of honeyhunters to ensure their livelihoods and cultural heritage are sustained. This is a newsletter which gives you the details of the honey hunting tech, rituals what they following, uses of the honey and the comb.
• Mutualistic relationships invovling the endemic Cycas circinalis L.: Field notes from the Appankappu forests, Nilambur, Kerala, India - The Cycad Newsletter, Vol. 30, No. 4
  About Cycas Circinalis in the Nilambur region and the ecology it supports.
• World Indigenous People's Day - The Local Vol. 1, Issue 8, August 31, 2007
  About efforts to revitalise indigenous cultural practices through various efforts like the Niilgiri Seemai Suddhi
• Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge in the Nilgiri Hills of India (IUCN magazine - Conserving Medicinal Species - Securing a Healthy Future)
  A quick overview of Keystone's efforts to document and revitalise indigenous knowledge in the Nilgiris.
• Kurumba and Irula (India - World Food - Communities)
  The story of two indigenous communities that live in the Nilgiris
• Trade and marketing issues when dealing with tribal products
  A brief history of Keystone's livelihood interventions with the honey hunting communities of the Nilgiris, developing markets for wild honey, promoting bee keeping etc.
• Tribal Communities: Sustainable Livelihood Options (Public Hearing on Environment and Development)
  An overview of indigenous ways of living in the Nilgiris. Based on a paper presented at the Udagamandalam Public Hearing.
• Working with Indigenous Communities in the Nilgiris of Southern India
  The document discusses the efforts of The Keystone Foundation, an NGO focused on improving the livelihoods of indigenous communities, particularly honey hunters and beekeepers in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. It highlights the cultural significance and declining practice of honey hunting among the Kurumba tribe, who rely on this activity for their livelihoods. The Foundation's approach includes enhancing honey extraction techniques, improving market access, and addressing challenges such as lack of recognition and fair pricing for honey products. Through community engagement and capacity building, the Foundation aims to create sustainable development pathways that integrate beekeeping with broader natural resource management and economic opportunities for these communities. Issues faced by honeyhunting communities in the Nilgiris