A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices
Imprints of Ecological Footprints ‌. A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices Aug 2016 Authors: MV Rama Chandrudu Beneta Mahanta Waseem Mohammad Anitha Reddy V MB Vali Saab Editors: K Suresh MV Rama Chandrudu Visuals:Cheriyal Nakashi Artists Family - Shri D Vaikuntam and his family members Mrs. D Vanaja (wife); D Vinay and D Rakesh (sons). Design and Layout : Ankush Copy Left : These case studies could be used for non-commercial use, with proper acknowledgement. Supported by : Indian Foundation for Humanistic Development, Bengaluru Produced by : WASSAN (Watershed Support Services and Activities Network) Produced for Leaders For Nature Program. This program is collectively organized by CII; Hivos; IUCN; Wild Life Trust of India. IFHD is anchoring the Leaders for Nature Program. Published by: IFHD, Bengaluru
Acknowledgements I am very happy to present "Imprints of Ecological Footprints ‌. A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices". I take this opportunity to thank all organizations and individuals who contributed to the process of documenting these good practices. They were kind to frankly share with us their experiences, thoughts, challenges and achievements. They also shared relevant data to substantiate any critical point from their experiences. Some of them even prepared the first drafts of these case studies. They also revised them, based on our feedback. All the organizations/ individuals happily gave consent for publishing these case studies and using them for learning purposes under "Leaders for Nature" program of IFHD, IUCN, CII, Hivos and Wild Life Trust of India. The entire process of producing this compilation was an enriching and fruitful experience. It is also a humbling experience for us to learn several lessons from these interactions and visits to several villages/ sites. We genuinely believe that this compilation truly enriches the learning processes of "Leaders for Nature" program. The Writeshop was one of the important events of this process. We got guidance and feedback on the '0' drafts from the participants of the writeshop. This was useful in refining the initial drafts. The participants of writeshop also made important suggestions on the presentation and utility of these case studies. From their busy schedules, they spared few days for refining these case studies, which is a very kind gesture. I thank everyone who participated in the writeshop. Their inputs are invaluable. I thank Ms. Aruna Rangachar Pohl, IFHD for having faith in WASSAN and entrusting us the responsibility of compiling these case studies. She is an active team member at all critical stages of the project and guided us on choice of case studies, structure/ framework, presentation, etc. The partnership with IFHD is really cherished by all of us, at WASSAN.
I also thank the family of artists of Cheriyal - Shri D Vaikuntam, Mrs D Vanaja, Mr D Vinay and D Rakesh, who visualized these experiences in their own unique style. My team -MB Vali, Anitha Vustela, Waseem Mohammad, Benita Mahanta, Radhashree who spent considerable time on this agenda. I also thank K Suresh for providing editorial inputs and support at various stages of this process. MV Rama Chandrudu WASSAN Aug 2016
Foreword It is almost three decades back, the threats to "Our Common Future" were formally identified and deliberations started gaining more steam and support from governments too‌ (Our Common Future,Gro Harlem Brundtland, 1987). Climate Change and its implications were also slowly getting recognized during this period. The need for "producing more with less" was also part of this thinking process, as a means to address the challenges of the future. Over a period of time, the world witnessed more economic distress, unemployment, political turmoil and ecological disasters across different countries and regions of world. Those early predictions seemed to be less threatening than the current reality. The global gloom got predictable companions - unscrupulous industrial growth, irresponsible urbanization, careless global politics, dishonest governments, self-centric citizenship, which tried to glorify the current trends as achievements and inevitable solutions. In the middle of such despair and misery, there is a hope. "Imprints of Ecological Footprints - A Compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices" is a compendium of good practices that brings the efforts made by relentless civil society organizations, citizens and community based organizations, to change the direction of this trend. These experiences bring cheer and hope in the lives of thousands of rural, tribal and urban citizens in India, who are part of these experiences. They were able to take a different path that is less travelled and troublesome. There were several challenges, at each step and milestone. But they continued their journey and proved that "producing more with less" is possible. They also ensured that the ecological and environmentally sustainable processes are feasible for improving economic standards and quality of life of poor communities. These case studies give a hope and confidence that we can face the cruel world and transform the same into a comfortable place for all - including endangered species, poor and marginalized communities. While Corporate Social Responsibility is gaining more support
from governments, corporate agencies and development agencies, these experiences provide guidance and help them to think about alternatives. These experiences help the willing and discerning development agencies and investors in social change, to transcend the mundane "photo stories" of majority of current CSR interventions. They provide an array of options, strategies and ideas that proved themselves in different parts of the country. I thank all the organizations and agencies who shared their stories - highs and lows of it, with us frankly and completely. I thank them for providing leadership on the chosen theme - promoting biodiversity; conservation and governance of natural resources; promoting ecologically sensitive production processes; enhancing livelihoods by developing environmentally harmonious economic models and several others. These experiences are invaluable and are certainly useful for provoking thoughts in the minds of participants of "Leaders for Nature" programs, which are jointly organized by IFHD, IUCN, CII, Wild Life Trust of India, HIVOS and other like-minded organizations. I thank WASSAN for producing this compilation of case studies and supporting us in this endeavor.
Aruna Rangachar Pohl IFHD, Bengaluru Aug 2016
21 Eco Systems for Economic Enterprises….
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This is my company… I am a shareholder of this company. I get my money immediately here ……. Yesterday, my son and I gathered about 20 kg of amla from the forests in my village. I brought that here today by bus. My company paid me immediately, after weighing and assessing the quality of amla. Ever since I became a shareholder in this company, I have stopped selling to others. Like me, several other tribal farmers are also shareholders in this company. We trust this company for its commitment for fair price, prompt payments and concern for tribal farmers. Our company will process the amla (and other products) and sell them in shops, big markets..… We are earning good profit." Mutthu was profoundly happy about his position in "Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited" (APPCL) as a shareholder. APPCL is providing a stable space for tribal communities to compete with strong and, more often than not, unfavorable market forces; and is also helping them reach out to discerning consumers. APPCL is one of the two Eco Systems for Economic Enterprises….
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organizations (the other being Last Forest Enterprises) gestated by Keystone Foudation in keeping with their mission to enhance the quality of life and the environment with indigenous communities using ecodevelopment approaches. The Nilgiri region is one of the important biodiversity hotspots of India and is home to some of the rarest species of flora and fauna in the world. More than 30 indigenous communities live here - Irula; Cholanaicken; Toda; Kota; Alukurumba; Betta Kurumba; Jenu Kurumba are but some of them. These communities have lived in harmony with the forests in this region for generations; their culture, livelihoods, agriculture, and traditions closely reflecting the rhythms of the forest. Over a period of time, especially in the last 30-40 years, changes in land use i.e., shift to monoculture with heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, deforestation and urbanization have had a significant negative impact on local biodiversity and ecological balance. These negative impacts are visible in the form of increasing human-wildlife conflicts, reduced productivity of forests, drying up of springs and wetlands, soil erosion and other such ecological disasters. In 1994, a study on apiculture was conducted in Tamil Nadu by the core team of Keystone Foundation which helped understand the complexity of forest ecosystems and dependency of indigenous people on these ecosystems. Though the focus of the study was on honey, the team could realize and appreciate the importance of ecological wellbeing of the region for harmonious development of the indigenous people. So began the conceptualizing of design and approaches for promoting appropriate instruments of change - institutions; appropriate technology; friendly markets that could empower indigenous people. Keystone Eco Systems for Economic Enterprises‌.
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Foudation hus took a firm step forward to a conservation-centric ecodevelopment approach for the region. Working with the honey gathering communities was considered as an appropriate entry point for facilitating change that is ecologically sensitive and economically viable. Keystone Foudation is now synonymous with honey. But the design of the development model of Keystone Foudation is sweeter than honey. Let us explore this design and institutional architecture. Keystone Foudation started working with indigenous people in the Kotagiri region in 1995. Creating awareness and developing knowledge sharing systems (community radio, conservation education programs), natural resource conservation programs, research and monitoring of ecological aspects of the region (e.g. monitoring human-wildlife interactions), promoting governance of forest areas and livelihoods of local people, value addition to forest/ agricultural products, water resource development, skill development of local youth - are some of the interventions of Keystone Foudation since then. Principles of conservation are strongly entrenched in the programs and approaches of Keystone Foudation. However, these principles have to be juxtaposed with business principles, as the indigenous people have to ultimately sell their products in markets. In the course of its journey with its tribal partners, Keystone Foudation realized that along with marketing linkages, value addition and presentation is crucial for tribal products (food and lifestyle) to find favour in the customer's eye. Keystone Foudation soon realized that dealing with markets requires new sets of skills, orientation and attitudes. And also, new institutions are required to engage with markets. The products have to be of high quality to attract consumer. Creating a loyal consumer base is important as is competitive 234
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pricing of products and branding for visibility in the markets. There is a need for capital for procuring raw products, most of which are seasonal. Investments are required for establishing processing facilities. There are operational costs for staff salaries, rent of shops; transport of products and so on. There are also several legal formalities like payment of taxes; licenses and so on. Taking the right decision at the right time is an important skill that is necessary for ensuring profits (e.g. When to procure material, when to sell, at what price and where). This entire process was challenging for the indigenous people and also for Keystone Foudation, but was an essential part of the mandate. This realization helped to promote a variety of eco-enterprises. Keystone played an important role in creating; nurturing and supporting these new-age business models that are deeply rooted in the fair-trade principles. Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited (APPCL) is one such eco-enterprise promoted by Keystone. Before APPCL became a reality, six production centres were developed since 2004 providing space and technology to improve the final product destined for the markets. The Thumbithakaadu production centre in Hasanur handles the largest volume of products and also assists with developing new products and technologies for processing. Through the initial years, Keystone Foudation provided complete support to the production centres while simultaneously grooming personnel in the nuances of procurement, quality control, finance management, etc. Keystone conducted frequent trainings and workshops on hygienic and sustainable harvesting of NTFP, value of traditional food crops from both the environment and consumer perspective, while simultaneously focusing 236
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on reviving traditional practices that emphasized the indigenous identity while protecting/ preserving the environment. Keystone Foudation has been consistently engaged with designing equipment and machinery that reduced the burden (associated with processing) and improved productivity (of persons who process the products). The hand-operated tool that separates the amla seed from the fruit is one such example. Keystone Foudation conducted series of experiments on the design of this tool in collaboration with engineering colleges/ universities and stabilized the design. The design of this tool was improved in three to five stages, based on the experiences of women who used this tool. Now a woman who uses this improved tool could process 35 kg of amla per day (separate seed from fruit). Earlier, she could process only 3 kg of amla per day. These production centers also have steaming machines that further process amla pulp, for other value added products. Each of these six production centers specialized on a set of products based on its locational advantages within the region. Keystone Foudation continues to build capacities (skills, knowledge and perspectives of shareholders and others) on variety of issues and is engaged with a variety of action research projects and innovations that help to improve production process and make it ecologically sustainable. In 2013, the production centres were formally brought together and APPCL was registered. APPCL today has a shareholder base of 1609 producers of whom 775 are women. This company is wholly owned and run by indigenous communities in the NBR (Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve). The company started by providing marketing linkages, storage/ warehousing facilities, value-addition processes and logistic support to the shareholders who brought in NTFP (non-timber forest produce) such 238
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as honey, gooseberry, spices, silkcotton, etc. The company procures material/ products from its shareholders and makes payment to them immediately. The raw material is graded, processed, value-added, packaged and transported to different outlets in the country. This value-addition process helps the producers access a greater share of the consumer's spending by directly selling the products to them without any middlemen. It also generates employment to the shareholders engaged in the value addition process. These are largely women, who are specially trained on various methods/ protocols for processing. So far, various varieties of forest products (nellikai (gooseberry/ amla); poochakai (soapnut); shikakai; thandrikai (fruit), jamun fruit (Indian blackberry), bee-wax; seemar (brooms made from phoenix spp leaves), honey, and fig; 3 varieties of millets (ragi or finger millet, semai or little millet, thenai or foxtail millet); varieties of spices ( Pepper; Mustard); 2 varieties of grains (Lablab; horse gram); coffee and silk cotton are procured from the shareholders. These are processed, graded, value-added and sold in different outlets. In 2013-14, the company sold products worth Rs 25.21 lakhs and in 2014-15, the sales stood at Rs 48.64 Lakhs. APPCL is able to sell part of its products in its own local shops (24%) and through agents (32%). The remaining 44% of the products were supplied to Last Forest Enterprises Private Limited. This is another initiative of Keystone that specializes in marketing of forest products. Last Forest Enterprises or LFE is a business enterprise that is rooted in new ethical values of fair trade that is supportive to tribals, indigenous communities, farmers engaged in sustainable agriculture, craftsmen and women. This enterprise is associated with about 40 groups across the country and offers marketing support to their products. These products 240
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could be dry fruits from Leh-Ladakh (J&K State); bells from Tamil Nadu; handlooms from Uttarakhand or honey from Nilgiris. The "Green Shops" of LFE are getting recognition as eco-enterprises that are rooted in conservation and biodiversity and helping the excluded communities to get better profits. The increasing numbers of consumers of the Green Shops and a growing demand for its products indicate that there is a growing realization that markets have to be considerate about the production processes and natural resource base. Unsustainable production processes cannot sustain markets and economy. Sustainable production processes go a long way in sustainable economic growth, which is also equitable, as a reasonable share of the profits goes to the producers. The development model of Keystone Foudation based on an ecodevelopment approach is innovative and comprehensive. While the development agenda is nurtured by empowerment ethos, the marketing processes are guided by fair-trade principles. Separate institutions co-exist and promote interdependence of systems. The eco-system of this new enterprise is thriving on co-existence, conserved natural resources, empowered producers, sustainable production systems, biodiversity and ecological well-being. Can this be the future of trading of the world?
MV Rama Chandrudu, WASSAN Based on inputs from Ms Leena and interviews with teams of Keystone Foudation; Last Forest and APPCL and adivasis of Kotagiri region.
Eco Systems for Economic Enterprises‌.
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About Cheriyal Paintings Shri D Vaikuntam and his family members Mrs. D Vanaja (wife); D Vinay and D Rakesh (sons) are keeping the tradition of Cheriyal Paintings of Telangana state, for generations. All members of the family are engaged in protecting and conserving this rare art form, that is not likely to survive for long. This is the only family in the country that is still engaged in this traditional art form. The Cheriyal Art has a unique character - red color background; vivid presentation of figures (men, women, animals, flowers, plants and others) with unique strokes and style. This art form belongs to "nakashi" form of paintings in India. But Cheriyal paintings contextualized this nakashi format to local Telangana and improvised it, with their unique styles. Apart from paintings and scrolls, Cheriyal Masks are also very attractive and unique with their bright colors and large eyes. D Vaikuntam received several awards from Central/ State governments, for his unique contribution to Cheriyal Art. D Vaikuntam and his family members agreed to present the key messages of these case studies. They spent time with us to understand the essence of each case study and presented it in their own style. These pictures further enriched the experiences, which are already exemplary in several ways. WASSAN thanks the family of artists of Cheriyal for their support in visualising these case studies. Pictures of some of the paintings/ scrolls and masks could be seen on this blog: http://vaikuntamnakash.blogspot.in/
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"…..In the middle of such despair and misery, there is a hope. "Imprints of Ecological Footprints - A Compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices" is a compendium of good practices that brings the efforts made by relentless civil society organizations, citizens and community based organizations, to change the direction of the trend. These experiences brought cheer and hope in the lives of thousands of rural, tribal and urban citizens in India, who are part of these experiences. They took a different path that is less travelled and troublesome. There were several challenges, at each step and milestone. But they continued their journey and proved that "producing more with less" is possible. They also ensured that the ecological and environmentally sustainable processes are feasible for improving economic standards and quality of life of poor communities…"Aruna Rangachar Pohl, IFHD, Bangaluru. "……these experiences are invaluable and are certainly useful for provoking thoughts in the minds of participants of "Leaders for Nature" programs, which is organized by IFHD, IUCN, CII, Wild Life Trust of India, HIVOS and other likeminded organizations.The entire process of producing this compilation was an enriching and fruitful experience. It is a humbling experience for us to learn lessons from the interactions and visits to their villages/ sites. We genuinely believe that this compilation truly enriches the learning processes of "Leaders for Nature" program" - MV Rama Chandrudu, WASSAN