Keystone Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu, working since 1993 to support indigenous communities in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and other ecologically rich regions of India. Its work rests on a simple idea: the health of the land and the well-being of the people who depend on it are deeply connected.
Over the years, Keystone has focused on helping communities strengthen their relationship with the environment while improving their livelihoods and securing their rights. This includes support for food and farming systems, access to clean water, community health, land and forest rights, and biodiversity conservation. The organisation works with more than 16 indigenous communities, reaching over 350 villages across nine states.
Keystone’s approach blends traditional knowledge with practical, sustainable solutions. It helps form and strengthen local institutions—such as farmers’ groups, water user associations and forest rights committees—so that communities can manage natural resources themselves and advocate for their needs.
An important part of this work is creating fair and reliable income opportunities. Through its social enterprise, Last Forest, Keystone connects indigenous producers with markets for sustainably harvested forest and farm products. This ensures that the benefits of conservation directly support households and local economies.
Meet the team
Keystone Foundation, on LinkedIn
Mathew John, Co-founder & Director
Pratim Roy, Co-founder
The organisation’s teams include people with expertise in ecology, community development, enterprise, and research. They work side by side with community members, often in remote and challenging locations, to put plans into action on the ground. Keystone also engages in advocacy and influences policy to safeguard indigenous rights, drawing on decades of field learning.
Partnerships play a strong role in its work, whether with other non-profits, research institutions, government bodies, or fair-trade networks. This collaborative approach ensures that solutions are locally rooted yet connected to larger frameworks for sustainability and equity. From climate adaptation projects and pollinator conservation to education programmes for children and documenting tribal histories, Keystone’s work is varied but tied together by a long-term commitment to people and nature.
