Rooted in the Nilgiris and fostering global movements in Conservation, Enterprise, and Livelihood
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in the Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats in South India. In September 1986, under the Man & Biosphere Programme, the ecosystem of the hill ranges of the Nilgiris and its surrounding environments, covering a tract of over 5000 sq. kms, was constituted as the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
An ecosystem of 5 National Parks & 4 Wildlife Sanctuaries, The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the first designated biosphere reserve in India with a heritage rich in flora and fauna. The biosphere reserve spans across 3 states and includes protected areas of the Mukurthi National Park, Mudumalai National Park, and Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu; Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park both in Karnataka; and Silent Valley National Park, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
The Nilgiris Foundation (TNF) Inc., is a not-for-profit established internationally to create awareness, share knowledge, and build bridges between eco-development initiatives in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and the rest of the world.
TNF, an off-shoot of Keystone Foundation, is an inclusive platform that leverages Keystone's 30 years of experience in grassroots education and sustainable living.
TNF is the organiser for the The Nilgiris Earth Festival 2023 (previously Nilgiris Wild Food Festival 2022). In its second year under TNF, the festival stands as a beacon in its series for awareness and conservation. Spanning five days, it accentuates the Nilgiris' culinary, cultural, and ecological facets. In line with TNF's mission, the festival seeks to stimulate discussions and heighten awareness around locally sourced foods, cultural heritage, and ecological sustainability, particularly in the context of a changing climate.
All proceeds from the sale of tickets, merchandise and events go towards The Nilgiris Earth Festival, a global initiative to bring together patrons, wellwishers and communities in eco-development, conservation and cultural preservation across the UNESCO-recognised Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.
Donors and purchasers are eligible for 80G tax exemption. Please write to contact@thenilgirisfoundation.org to obtain the receipts.
TNEF is a project of The Nilgiris Foundation, a non-profit entity.
Keystone Foundation founded in 1993 works on Conservation, Enterprise & Livelihoods, and Environmental Governance in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve primarily with indigenous, marginalized communities. Though we, the founders, met in Delhi, we consciously decided and relocated to a field base to work directly on ground, testing concepts of sustainable development, rural livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation.
A honey hunters and beekeepers survey in 1994 led us to the Nilgiris, where we started our work from Kotagiri. Land-based interventions of tribal communities in the eastern slopes, identification of forgotten grains and practices, revival of seed banks and local pollinators—these have helped in traditional agriculture revival. Over the 3 decades we have seen nutrition improve, local marketing channels start, and children and families find food security and health systems. This was done through extensive soil and moisture conservation of steep lands, farm-based ponds, contour bunding, and mixed cultivation of amaranthus, vegetables, millets, and other crops.
Rajesh is an entrepreneur and innovator, focused on mobile platforms for over two decades. An early proponent of the idea that mobile internet will fundamentally redefine our lives, his companies have delivered on that promise. Rajesh was chosen by MIT TR35 among 35 global technology innovators under 35 in 2002, a recipient of the Golden Mouse award for contributions to the Internet and has several patents in mobile technologies. In 1996, his first company, Unimobile, built the world’s first mobile internet platform and consumer messaging service (over IP and SMS) used by millions of users in over 130 countries and deployed 500 carriers globally.
Over the last two decades, the companies that he has built from an idea have gone on to become world-leading platforms with some of the smartest teams, raising capital from top tier venture capital and strategic investors while delivering value to hundreds of millions of users.
Pratim Roy started his career at Development Alternatives, New Delhi. He founded Keystone Foundation along with Sneh and Mathew in 1993 where he works on advocacy, fundraising and organisational development. He developed the Keystone Programme in the Nilgiris with a focus on Conservation, Enterprise and Livelihoods. One of the key members of the Save Western Ghats Movement, Pratim is a Rockefeller Bellagio Residency Scholar-Practitioner in Italy and has done an Environmental Diplomacy Course in Geneva organised by the UNEP and the University of Geneva.
He is a Hubert Humphrey Fellow at Cornell University (2011-2012) and has exhibited proficiency in building teams and working with multidisciplinary approaches. The brain behind the Nilgiris Field Learning Centre, a collaboration of Keystone Foundation and Cornell University, he has extensive work experience in Evaluation Missions for Development & Environment Project which includes formulating new programme areas of work. Climate change, rural development, ecology-enterprise in the NGO space and working with the government and donors are his forte.
He has travelled extensively across countries like Costa Rica, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Turkey, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, USA, Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Qatar on work, assignments, studies, etc.
Ramya, a visual artist and professional photographer for over fifteen years, is particularly drawn to blurring the lines between the physical and imaginary worlds, often imbuing her work with a dreamlike quality. She embraced the artistic possibilities of the camera early in her career and pursued her passion for photography at the Light and Life Academy, Santa Fe Workshops, and Parsons School of Design. Her work, which has been exhibited both in India and internationally, explores the boundaries of visual storytelling. Collaborating with boutique lifestyle and hospitality brands including Taj Hotels and Forest Essentials, Ramya has brought her vision to a wide audience. Her photography has also featured in numerous publications, including Conde Nast, Michelin Guides, Vogue, and various coffee table books and photography journals. Her book "Soul of the Nilgiris" emerged from a profound nine-year documentation of the indigenous landscape of The Nilgiris, offering a richly woven narrative through personal stories, over 300 photographs, and in-depth writings.
As the founder of Coonoor&Co, Ramya extends her vision into a broader lifestyle realm. This brand and literary journal embody the ethos of slow living, drawing inspiration from the serenity of mountain landscapes, including The Nilgiris. Coonoor&Co represents a fusion of art, sustainable practices, and storytelling, reflecting a commitment to both preserving and contemporizing indigenous art forms. With upcoming verticals, the brand is set to explore new dimensions of slow, mindful living.
In her additional role as a director at The Nilgiris Foundation, Ramya continues her commitment to cultural and ecological preservation, an ethos that deeply influences her work.
Sara is a director at The Nilgiris Foundation and head of admin at Keystone Foundation. She worked as a sales assistant at Erode before walking in for a job at the Keystone Foundation in Sept 2003. Sara had initially joined the marketing team but switched to administration soon after. As an administrator, she handles all operations from pin to plane. Being in the administration for the past 17 years, she coordinates with the labour office, the FRRO and the district administration. She has been involved in diverse projects and events ranging from TNUSSP & TNC, Coimbatore to organising relief materials during floods in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
As an administrator at Keystone, she also has hands-on experience with setting up projects like Last Forest, Aadhimalai and the NNHS. She was involved in setting up the Bee Museum and later, was a part of the core team of Place to Bee, the slow food restaurant. She is a core team member of the NFLC and went to Cornell, US for the signing of the MoU. She was instrumental in implementing the Windflower project, a Keystone community housing programme in 2010. Sara played an active part in launching the US office—the Nilgiris in San Francisco—in 2019 and is working on opening a fund-raising hub.
Apart from working as an administrator, Sara also shows interest in working for the betterment of children living in the slums.
Divya Chandran has been an ardent admirer of the Nilgiris since childhood. Much like her ancestors who scaled the Nilgiris on foot for trade reasons, she has seized every opportunity to explore the Nilgiris on a bicycle or foot whenever possible. More recently, she has taken a liking to the feathered residents of the Nilgiris and one may find her in the Shola patches or grassy slopes with her camera looking for the endemic species. That said, her true passion lies in the kitchen and she enjoys indulging in the culinary scene of the hills, be it the local cuisine or the many restaurants. With her experience in working with the Coimbatore Cancer Foundation and the Crafts Council of Tamil Nadu to organise fund raising events, she is excited about being part of the team for the Nilgiris Earth Festival since it’s purpose is to protect and showcase all things she holds dear to her heart.
Prabhu Viswanathan is a businessman and a collector of rare books and contemporary art. He promotes causes that revolve around Indian culture,traditions and artisans and works with several NGOs in this regard. As a part time resident of Kotagiri for the last two decades, he is deeply passionate about the Nilgiris, the land and its people.
Nelson, the digital marketing manager at The Nilgiris Foundation, is an engineer turned marketer. After completing his undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering and PG MBA in HR & Operations, Nelson decided to follow his newfound passion in digital marketing and began his career as a digital marketing manager at an IT firm before joining TNF. He enjoys learning new things, reading books, adventure trips, and fast cars.
Former sports journalist turned content strategist, Samyukta, wants to make a difference through effective communication and responsible marketing. She is an advocate for climate resilience and possesses a profound curiosity for indigenous cultures.
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Diya is a graphic designer, illustrator and energy healer based out of Bali. She enjoys working with organisations and people that help make the world a happier place. When she isn’t working, you can find her exploring waterfalls, gardening, swimming in the ocean and finishing the children’s book she has written and illustrated herself.
A Nilgiri child, a forest bather and lover of everything botanical. I’ve grown up amidst gurgling streams, bees and bison. My connect to the Nilgiris is more than skin deep! My formative years and youth spent amidst wilderness and nature has heightened my creative instincts. I passionately strive to stride alongside creative minds, dedicated professional & in-born naturalists — all humans who gently walk alongside me on this earth bearing deep respect and cognisance for how we live, contribute to the well-being of each other and Mother Nature while we co-exist with all species.
A brand and business development & digital transformation strategist, creative director, content creator and writer, I’ve worked with numerous individuals & organisations in the pursuit of knowledge and creativity.
A recent master's graduate of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse, New York, Madison is committed with The Nilgiris Foundation as an event coordination and outreach specialist. She supports TNF's project implementation, event advertisement, and sponsor management for The Nilgiris Earth Festival. In her personal time, Madison teaches and practices yoga, loves spending time with her kitten, enjoys trekking throughout the Western Ghats, and is passionate about data opportunities in which she can utilize mapping and analytics skills to communicate regional trends.
Jenny has done many things in her life from making films to making hand made paper and designing lights. She loves cooking and she travels to expolre food cultures and often writes on her food jouneys. She's published a cook book "Love to cook, Cook to love" in 2015 and was a concept and menu consultant for Go Native, a chain of organic food restaurants in Bangalore based on sustainable, slow food principles. Through all these meanerings, what's remained consistent is her interest in the environment and her for love Nilgiris, where she now resides.
Balasubramanian (Balu) Iyer is the Regional Director of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Asia and Pacific. Balu serves as the administrator for the Domus Trust and is on the steering committee of the World Co-operative Monitor. He is also part of the strategic academic advisory board of the Xavier School of Sustainability. Balu brings strong management and operational credentials in strategic planning, budgeting, performance assessment, compliance and audit to the job. His project experience across Asia extends to the areas of co-operatives, business associations, water, food security, women’s empowerment and economic development. He has worked with The Asia Foundation, The International Development Exchange, ActionAid India and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in the past. He has served the Goldman School of Public Policy Alumni Board and was part of the team that co-founded the Global Women’s Leadership Network.
Hemant R. Habbu worked for a small boutique firm before he joined his family’s extensive law practice covering varied areas as customs, excise, labour, corporate, intellectual property, international trade and general litigation. Habbu graduated with an LL.M. degree from Tulane University after which he worked at a law firm that focused on business, corporate, and tax for a few years.
In 1993, Habbu founded his own law firm in San Jose, California. He now focuses on the areas of corporate/business, immigration and international transactional matters. He assists numerous corporations (both domestic to the US and international), cultural organisations, non-profit institutions, multinationals, etc. in meeting their legal needs and provides guidance on federal and state income tax, California sales tax and India taxes.
Pratim Roy started his career at Development Alternatives, New Delhi. He founded Keystone Foundation along with Sneh and Mathew in 1993 where he works on advocacy, fundraising and organisational development. He developed the Keystone Programme in the Nilgiris with a focus on Conservation, Enterprise and Livelihoods. One of the key members of the Save Western Ghats Movement, Pratim is a Rockefeller Bellagio Residency Scholar-Practitioner in Italy and has done an Environmental Diplomacy Course in Geneva organised by the UNEP and the University of Geneva.
He is a Hubert Humphrey Fellow at Cornell University (2011-2012) and has exhibited proficiency in building teams and working with multidisciplinary approaches. The brain behind the Nilgiris Field Learning Centre, a collaboration of Keystone Foundation and Cornell University, he has extensive work experience in Evaluation Missions for Development & Environment Project which includes formulating new programme areas of work. Climate change, rural development, ecology-enterprise in the NGO space and working with the government and donors are his forte.
He has travelled extensively across countries like Costa Rica, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Turkey, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, USA, Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Qatar on work, assignments, studies, etc.
Ramya, a visual artist and professional photographer for over fifteen years, is particularly drawn to blurring the lines between the physical and imaginary worlds, often imbuing her work with a dreamlike quality. She embraced the artistic possibilities of the camera early in her career and pursued her passion for photography at the Light and Life Academy, Santa Fe Workshops, and Parsons School of Design. Her work, which has been exhibited both in India and internationally, explores the boundaries of visual storytelling. Collaborating with boutique lifestyle and hospitality brands including Taj Hotels and Forest Essentials, Ramya has brought her vision to a wide audience. Her photography has also featured in numerous publications, including Conde Nast, Michelin Guides, Vogue, and various coffee table books and photography journals. Her book "Soul of the Nilgiris" emerged from a profound nine-year documentation of the indigenous landscape of The Nilgiris, offering a richly woven narrative through personal stories, over 300 photographs, and in-depth writings.
As the founder of Coonoor&Co, Ramya extends her vision into a broader lifestyle realm. This brand and literary journal embody the ethos of slow living, drawing inspiration from the serenity of mountain landscapes, including The Nilgiris. Coonoor&Co represents a fusion of art, sustainable practices, and storytelling, reflecting a commitment to both preserving and contemporizing indigenous art forms. With upcoming verticals, the brand is set to explore new dimensions of slow, mindful living.
In her additional role as a director at The Nilgiris Foundation, Ramya continues her commitment to cultural and ecological preservation, an ethos that deeply influences her work.
Sara worked as a sales assistant at Erode before walking in for a job at the Keystone Foundation in Sept 2003. Sara had initially joined the marketing team but switched to administration soon after. As an administrator, she handles all operations from pin to plane. Being in the administration for the past 17 years, she coordinates with the labour office, the FRRO and the district administration. She has been involved in diverse projects and events ranging from TNUSSP & TNC, Coimbatore to organising relief materials during floods in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
As an administrator at Keystone, she also has hands-on experience with setting up projects like Last Forest, Aadhimalai and the NNHS. She was involved in setting up the Bee Museum and later, was a part of the core team of Place to Bee, the slow food restaurant. She is a core team member of the NFLC and went to Cornell, US for the signing of the MoU. She was instrumental in implementing the Windflower project, a Keystone community housing programme in 2010. Sara played an active part in launching the US office—the Nilgiris in San Francisco—in 2019 and is working on opening a fund-raising hub. Apart from working as an administrator, Sara also shows interest in working for the betterment of children living in the slums.
Rajesh Reddy is an entrepreneur and innovator, focused on mobile platforms for over two decades. An early proponent of the idea that mobile internet will fundamentally redefine our lives, his companies have delivered on that promise.
Rajesh was chosen by MIT TR35 among 35 global technology innovators under 35 in 2002, a recipient of the Golden Mouse award for contributions to the Internet and has several patents in mobile technologies.
In 1996, his first company, Unimobile, built the world’s first mobile internet platform and consumer messaging service (over IP and SMS) used by millions of users in over 130 countries and deployed 500 carriers globally. Over the last two decades, the companies that he has built from an idea have gone on to become world-leading platforms with some of the smartest teams, raising capital from top tier venture capital and strategic investors while delivering value to hundreds of millions of users.
Balasubramanian (Balu) Iyer is the Regional Director of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Asia and Pacific. Balu serves as the administrator for the Domus Trust and is on the steering committee of the World Co-operative Monitor. He is also part of the strategic academic advisory board of the Xavier School of Sustainability.
Balu brings strong management and operational credentials in strategic planning, budgeting, performance assessment, compliance and audit to the job. His project experience across Asia extends to the areas of co-operatives, business associations, water, food security, women’s empowerment and economic development. He has worked with The Asia Foundation, The International Development Exchange, ActionAid India and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in the past. He has served the Goldman School of Public Policy Alumni Board and was part of the team that co-founded the Global Women’s Leadership Network.
Hemant R. Habbu worked for a small boutique firm before he joined his family’s extensive law practice covering varied areas as customs, excise, labour, corporate, intellectual property, international trade and general litigation. Habbu graduated with an LL.M. degree from Tulane University after which he worked at a law firm that focused on business, corporate, and tax for a few years.
In 1993, Habbu founded his own law firm in San Jose, California. He now focuses on the areas of corporate/business, immigration and international transactional matters. He assists numerous corporations (both domestic to the US and international), cultural organisations, non-profit institutions, multinationals, etc. in meeting their legal needs and provides guidance on federal and state income tax, California sales tax and India taxes.
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