Keystone Foundation

If you haven't listened to our cool climate-positive podcast, Cool it Down, then listen to it now: https://lnkd.in/gqsvMjHB Cool It Down features innovators, changemakers, and entrepreneurs who are taking actions, creating solutions and inspiring many. Hosted by RJ Sayema, the series features voices of experts and practitioners who unpack the problem to solve and discuss emerging opportunities for mitigating climate change. Each episode explores and offers simple, doable actions that individuals can take, and ideas and inspiration for entrepreneurs to build businesses. Saket Dave Forplanet Ingredients, Kalpana Sastry Regulagedda, Dr. V. Shubhalaxmi R., Jayshree Vencatesan, Sishir Garemella, Madhura Joshi E3G, Anshu Sharma STS Global, WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, Pratim Roy Keystone Foundation, Gigi Mathews Enviu, Professor Parikshit Goswami, Snehal Verma NatureDots, Srinivas Chary Vedala, Mandeep Manocha Cashify, Veena Sahajwalla, Rishika Reddy The Mend Packaging, Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad, PhD, FLS, Kelsey Rae Atul Bhalla Simarpreet Singh HARTEK GROUP, Anirudh Arun, Licypriya Kangujam Meghana, Sonal, Himanshi, Manisha, Soma, Varinder BBC Media Action Hubhopper

Our founder-director Pratim Roy just spoke on the Cool It Down podcast! Thank you to BBC Media Action for this opportunity and Sayema Rahman for being a wonderful host! Take a listen! "In this episode of Cool It Down, Pratim Roy and Supriya Sahu explore the intricate relationship between development, climate change, and community involvement. Pratim highlights the critical role of bees in ecosystems and their connection to climate change. He shares insights on entrepreneurship that empowers local communities and reflects on the journey of the Keystone Foundation, which he co-founded." -- Cool It Down https://lnkd.in/dQ3nVNF7

🧑🌾Malkangiri farmers empowered through Participatory Guarantee System training WASSANIndia with the support of WHH India - Welthungerhilfe (WHH) recently organised a three-day residential training on the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for leaders of 14 farmers’ groups under the Sustainable Integrated Farming System programme at Malkangiri, Odisha. Mr. Alexander Robert Leo, PGS expert from Keystone Foundation, was the resource person for the training. The training introduced participants to PGS organic certification, a cost-effective and community-driven approach to organic farming. With a focus on peer review, trust, and transparency, this initiative empowered smallholder farmers to self-certify their organic produce, building consumer trust and supporting sustainable farming practices. Farmers also learned about digital tools for certification and market access, enhancing their capacity to reach wider markets. #Malkangiri #Markets #Certification #SustainableFarming #SmallHolderFArmers #ParticipatoryGuaranteeSystem #IntegratedFArming #OrganicCertification #Farmers

🌿 We are excited to present Last Forest's Annual Report for the financial year 2023-24! 🌿 A heartfelt thank you to our incredible team, partners, customers, and community members for your unwavering support and dedication throughout the year. Together, we've made strides and strengthened our commitment, mission and vision! As we look back on this successful year, we are filled with gratitude and inspiration for the journey ahead. Here's to continued growth, innovation, and impactful collaborations as we work towards the future in FY 2024 - 25 and beyond! 🌍 Take a look at our key milestones, achievements, and the impact we've created together in this report. Your support has been the driving force behind every success. #AnnualReport #Sustainability #CommunityEmpowerment #EthicalBusiness #LastForest #LookingForward #SustainableFuture

Learn about the position and apply here! https://lnkd.in/da5pKx35

Thank you to the Ecological Restoration Alliance for this beautifully written feature on our very own Harshavardhini Angappan, it is an incredibly inspiring read! As Harsha is quoted in the article, “Witnessing the transformation of a dead landscape into a thriving forest fills me with a sense of optimism and inspiration. It reminds me that even the most degraded environments can be revitalized with dedication, perseverance, and collective effort." Kudos to Mandeep Singh for writing this article!

Our Director and ecologist Anita Varghese went to Nairobi for a meeting of the Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) community, where she spoke about gender equality and social inclusion in the field of environmental degradation and restoration! Thanks to REDAA for this exciting opportunity.

We had a great time hosting a Zentangle Drawing Workshop at Keystone the other day! Led by Dr. Sahithya Selvaraj, a nature educator from Coimbatore, 38 students from local communities created Zentangle drawings of wildlife. The Zentangle process involves drawing structured patterns to create beautiful images, in this case, flora and fauna. The workshop reinforced to students the importance of community based conservation in promoting coexistence between communities and wildlife. We are grateful to Synchronoss Technologies for their support in this workshop and many of our other educational initiatives!

The Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission met at Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri in The Nilgiris for two full days of making plans for the road ahead. Seen here, some of the most inspiring field botanists of Western Ghats and Sri Lanka-walking and talking plants in the mid elevation evergreen forests of the North Eastern Nilgiris. Fascinating discussions and presentations occurred around invasive plant species, citizen science, the uses of plants in Toda culture, plant identification, conservation planning, and more. Nature Conservation Foundation Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Sanjay Molur Shiny Rehel Mandar Datar Poorva Joshi Aditya Gadkari Ankur Patwardhan Anoma Perera Aparna Watve Dr. Charuta Patwardhan Gole Divya Mudappa Deepu Sivadas Harshavardhini Angappan Sharada Ramadass